Ryan had almost $10 million in the bank and a primary opponent no one had heard of.
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But then Donald Trump got involved.
The Associated Press called the race for Ryan over Delavan businessman Paul Nehlen roughly 30 minutes after the polls closed Tuesday night.
Nelson ran unopposed in Tuesday’s primary.
A steady stream of voters turn at Franklin City Hall in Milwaukee, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016 to vote.
He took the speaker’s job past year at the urging of colleagues after conservatives forced John Boehner of OH to resign.
Republican Rep. Sean Duffy, who starred on MTV’s “The Real World” before running for Congress, will face Donald Raihala in a GOP primary in northern Wisconsin’s 7th District.
After stern admonishments from Republican leaders, including the head of the Republican National Committee and close friend to Ryan, Reince Priebus, Trump finally endorsed Ryan at a campaign stop in Green Bay on Friday -just four days before today’s primary.
The primary was not a national story until Trump, during an interview with The Washington Post, was asked whether he was endorsing Ryan in the race. Ryan said it needs to be renegotiated, and that the votes aren’t there to pass it. “I say what I mean and I don’t do it in a mean way. that’s why I think I won”.
Ryan won by about 70 percentage points, based on unofficial results.
“I know (Ryan’s) going to win, but it sends a message”, Simenson said.
He added: “We can’t afford another four years like the Obama years, and let it be very, very clear, that is exactly what Hillary Clinton and her party are offering”.
“I am humbled and honoured that Wisconsinites in the 1st Congressional District support my efforts to keep fighting on their behalf”, Ryan said in a statement.
He went into the primary with massive advantages in name recognition and money.
Republican Party chairman Reince Preibus hailed his victory, describing Mr Ryan as “trusted”.
Marquette University Law School surveys in June and July have shown he’s popular with Republicans – with 84% of those in his district viewing him favorably.
Nehlen first made a splash with a web video of him riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, showing his tattooed arms.
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For his part, Ryan has largely ignored that he even had a primary challenge. Nehlen attracted support from Sarah Palin and conservative provocateur Ann Coulter, with the latter appearing alongside Nehlen in the district over the weekend.
