Latest news with #OhioRepublicanParty
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Vance's and Marco Rubio's Senate successors avoid GOP primary drama
As JD Vance and Marco Rubio shot to the top of Donald Trump's list of possible running mates last year, a mix of joy and dread set in for Republicans in Ohio and Florida. The joy was self-explanatory, springing from the clout that comes with having a favorite son in the White House. The dread was more complicated. Even though either case would see a GOP governor appoint a successor if one of the then-senators resigned to assume the vice presidency, such scenarios can invite messy primaries — in states where the Republican Party does not lack for rivalrous internal factions or ambitious candidates eager to exploit them. In the end, both Vance and Rubio joined the new Trump administration — Vance as vice president, Rubio as secretary of state. And their appointed successors, Jon Husted in Ohio and Ashley Moody in Florida, are facing smoother than expected paths, at least for now. Neither Husted nor Moody has a credible primary opponent at the moment. Husted scored an early Trump endorsement, while Moody has made efforts to get closer to the president's political team. Both also are coming off strong fundraising quarters that could scare away any Republican tempted to challenge them. In the meantime, the political drama in both states has revolved more around how term-limited Govs. Mike DeWine in Ohio and Ron DeSantis in Florida are meddling in the GOP races to succeed them in 2026. 'Costly primaries are a waste of resources when we have the right leader in Jon, who has President Trump's endorsement and a proven record of fighting for Ohioans,' said Mehek Cooke, a conservative consultant in the state. 'I am proud to stand with him and fight for Ohio.' Given recent trends in both states, the Republican nominees will enter their 2026 special elections as favorites in November, too. But Husted would face a much tougher race if former Sen. Sherrod Brown, who was unseated last fall by businessman Bernie Moreno, is the Democratic candidate. Brown has acknowledged that he is considering a run for the Senate seat or a bid for governor. In Florida, Democrats have struggled to find a top-tier candidate. Husted's hustle Husted's clear primary field is particularly significant in Ohio, where the two most recent Senate races gave rise to brutal Republican primaries, including the one Vance won in 2022. Trump's endorsement, which came at a much later stage in that primary, propelled his future running mate to victory that year. Trump's support also helped lift Moreno out of a crowded 2024 Senate primary. Already this year, the president's backing helped secure unusually early endorsements for Husted from the Ohio Republican Party and the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. Brenton Temple, who managed DeWine's 2022 re-election campaign, with Husted as his lieutenant governor, said Husted's long track record in Ohio has also helped his cause. 'Compared to the last two Senate races, there wasn't anybody like Jon Husted in those fields,' Temple said. 'Husted has been around for 25 years. He's got a lot of contacts, both in the donor community and the grassroots community … so he brings all of that to both the office and the campaign. And you combine all of that with the Trump endorsement and you clear the field.' Husted, 57, has held one elected office or another since 2001, including serving as Ohio's state House speaker and secretary of state. On the one hand, that makes him precisely the type of establishment staple that Trump and other MAGA figures like Vance have vanquished in recent years. On the other, it positioned him as one of the best-known politicians in the state. He had been preparing to run for governor next year. But when Trump-aligned Vivek Ramaswamy signaled plans to jump into that race, DeWine appointed Husted to the Senate to avoid a collision course between them. 'He has a two-decades-long conservative record in Ohio that voters know but that also the political establishment and class knows,' said Niraj Antani, a former state senator who is seeking the GOP nomination for state treasurer. Husted's positions on gun rights and school choice issues, Antani added, have earned him goodwill with the party's base. 'These things are hard to run against. His record is a solid record. I think he has the respect and likely admiration of virtually everyone in Ohio Republican politics,' Antani continued. Husted, in an interview with NBC News, described himself as someone who's been able to bridge old Ohio GOP factions with the newer coalition led by Trump. 'We are a state that is conservative, but we also are a state that is working-class,' Husted said. 'I understand what the Republican Party is like in Cleveland versus what it's like in Appalachia versus what it's like in rural western Ohio. I mean, I just reflect the people that I have come to know over the course of the last 20-plus years that I've been doing this.' Husted said he's forged a 'solid' relationship with Trump and noted that the president invited him to the White House when he signed Husted-sponsored legislation rolling back Biden-era energy efficiency standards. He also recalled how Trump called him in April, minutes before posting his 'Complete and Total Endorsement' of Husted on Truth Social. Trump's endorsement, Husted said, 'has proven in a Republican primary in Ohio to be unbeatable.' The $2.6 million his campaign reported having in the bank entering July helps, too. 'I was planning on running for governor. I had 88 counties ready to activate. I had a whole team ready to activate,' Husted said. 'It's not like I just got appointed to the Senate out of nowhere. I'm tested. We're tough. We know what we're doing and we've got a great campaign.' As for the prospect of a clash with Brown, 'I don't bother myself worrying or wasting time about who the Democrats might or might not nominate. We just run our campaign and we'll win.' Moody's muscle Since her appointment to the Senate in January, Moody has enhanced her ties to Trump while also building a significant war chest that should ward off any serious challengers. She ended June with $2.2 million cash on hand, putting her on strong financial footing in a state with 10 expensive media markets. Meanwhile, a Moody-aligned super PAC has raised $7 million. Moody, 50, was already a well-known part of the state's Republican establishment. As the Florida attorney general, she won two statewide races in dominating fashion, facing no primary challenge during her 2022 re-election bid. 'Any primary opponent to Sen. Moody would be running against her backing by a united Republican Party machine and quickly find their candidacy crushed,' said David Johnson, a veteran Florida GOP operative. During her six years as attorney general, Moody was seen as a solid Republican, but generally stuck to state-level issues. But upon moving into federal politics, her ability to get close with the president — a necessary step toward clearing a primary field — had been an open question. Moody's super PAC has since hired Trump world heavyweights Chris LaCivita, who helped run Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, and Florida-based Tony Fabrizio, who has long been one of the president's top pollsters. There was a moment earlier this year where Rep. Cory Mills was considering entering the primary, but momentum has disappeared. Mills is now facing his own brewing scandal related to a lawsuit seeking his eviction over alleged failure to pay thousands of dollars in rent at a property in Washington, D.C. As the 2026 midterms approach, there is not a single indicator pointing to Moody facing a credible primary challenger. Josh Weil, who got national attention earlier this year when he ran closer than expected to Rep. Randy Fine in a congressional special election for an overwhelmingly Republican district, is running for the Democratic nomination. But few believe that Florida Democrats have the resources or statewide infrastructure to win a Senate seat after Republicans have quickly turned the state deep red over the past few election cycles. Trump carried Florida by 13 percentage points in 2024. Johnson said that in order to compete in a contested Florida Senate general election, candidates need to be able to spend upward of $50 or $60 million on TV alone, 'not just raising the amount in gross dollars via small-dollar grifting like Weil did in his special election.' 'Just like Kamala, they won't play here,' Johnson said. This article was originally published on
NBC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- NBC News
Vance's and Marco Rubio's Senate successors avoid GOP primary drama
As JD Vance and Marco Rubio shot to the top of Donald Trump's list of possible running mates last year, a mix of joy and dread set in for Republicans in Ohio and Florida. The joy was self-explanatory, springing from the clout that comes with having a favorite son in the White House. The dread was more complicated. Even though either case would see a GOP governor appoint a successor if one of the then-senators resigned to assume the vice presidency, such scenarios can invite messy primaries — in states where the Republican Party does not lack for rivalrous internal factions or ambitious candidates eager to exploit them. In the end, both Vance and Rubio joined the new Trump administration — Vance as vice president, Rubio as secretary of state. And their appointed successors, Jon Husted in Ohio and Ashley Moody in Florida, are facing smoother than expected paths, at least for now. Neither Husted nor Moody has a credible primary opponent at the moment. Husted scored an early Trump endorsement, while Moody has made efforts to get closer to the president's political team. Both also are coming off strong fundraising quarters that could scare away any Republican tempted to challenge them. In the meantime, the political drama in both states has revolved more around how term-limited Govs. Mike DeWine in Ohio and Ron DeSantis in Florida are meddling in the GOP races to succeed them in 2026. 'Costly primaries are a waste of resources when we have the right leader in Jon, who has President Trump's endorsement and a proven record of fighting for Ohioans,' said Mehek Cooke, a conservative consultant in the state. 'I am proud to stand with him and fight for Ohio.' Given recent trends in both states, the Republican nominees will enter their 2026 special elections as favorites in November, too. But Husted would face a much tougher race if former Sen. Sherrod Brown, who was unseated last fall by businessman Bernie Moreno, is the Democratic candidate. Brown has acknowledged that he is considering a run for the Senate seat or a bid for governor. In Florida, Democrats have struggled to find a top-tier candidate. Husted's hustle Husted's clear primary field is particularly significant in Ohio, where the two most recent Senate races gave rise to brutal Republican primaries, including the one Vance won in 2022. Trump's endorsement, which came at a much later stage in that primary, propelled his future running mate to victory that year. Trump's support also helped lift Moreno out of a crowded 2024 Senate primary. Already this year, the president's backing helped secure unusually early endorsements for Husted from the Ohio Republican Party and the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. Brenton Temple, who managed DeWine's 2022 re-election campaign, with Husted as his lieutenant governor, said Husted's long track record in Ohio has also helped his cause. 'Compared to the last two Senate races, there wasn't anybody like Jon Husted in those fields,' Temple said. 'Husted has been around for 25 years. He's got a lot of contacts, both in the donor community and the grassroots community … so he brings all of that to both the office and the campaign. And you combine all of that with the Trump endorsement and you clear the field.' Husted, 57, has held one elected office or another since 2001, including serving as Ohio's state House speaker and secretary of state. On the one hand, that makes him precisely the type of establishment staple that Trump and other MAGA figures like Vance have vanquished in recent years. On the other, it positioned him as one of the best-known politicians in the state. He had been preparing to run for governor next year. But when Trump-aligned Vivek Ramaswamy signaled plans to jump into that race, DeWine appointed Husted to the Senate to avoid a collision course between them. 'He has a two-decades-long conservative record in Ohio that voters know but that also the political establishment and class knows,' said Niraj Antani, a former state senator who is seeking the GOP nomination for state treasurer. Husted's positions on gun rights and school choice issues, Antani added, have earned him goodwill with the party's base. 'These things are hard to run against. His record is a solid record. I think he has the respect and likely admiration of virtually everyone in Ohio Republican politics,' Antani continued. Husted, in an interview with NBC News, described himself as someone who's been able to bridge old Ohio GOP factions with the newer coalition led by Trump. 'We are a state that is conservative, but we also are a state that is working-class,' Husted said. 'I understand what the Republican Party is like in Cleveland versus what it's like in Appalachia versus what it's like in rural western Ohio. I mean, I just reflect the people that I have come to know over the course of the last 20-plus years that I've been doing this.' Husted said he's forged a 'solid' relationship with Trump and noted that the president invited him to the White House when he signed Husted-sponsored legislation rolling back Biden-era energy efficiency standards. He also recalled how Trump called him in April, minutes before posting his 'Complete and Total Endorsement' of Husted on Truth Social. Trump's endorsement, Husted said, 'has proven in a Republican primary in Ohio to be unbeatable.' The $2.6 million his campaign reported having in the bank entering July helps, too. 'I was planning on running for governor. I had 88 counties ready to activate. I had a whole team ready to activate,' Husted said. 'It's not like I just got appointed to the Senate out of nowhere. I'm tested. We're tough. We know what we're doing and we've got a great campaign.' As for the prospect of a clash with Brown, 'I don't bother myself worrying or wasting time about who the Democrats might or might not nominate. We just run our campaign and we'll win.' Moody's muscle Since her appointment to the Senate in January, Moody has enhanced her ties to Trump while also building a significant war chest that should ward off any serious challengers. She ended June with $2.2 million cash on hand, putting her on strong financial footing in a state with 10 expensive media markets. Meanwhile, a Moody-aligned super PAC has raised $7 million. Moody, 50, was already a well-known part of the state's Republican establishment. As the Florida attorney general, she won two statewide races in dominating fashion, facing no primary challenge during her 2022 re-election bid. 'Any primary opponent to Sen. Moody would be running against her backing by a united Republican Party machine and quickly find their candidacy crushed,' said David Johnson, a veteran Florida GOP operative. During her six years as attorney general, Moody was seen as a solid Republican, but generally stuck to state-level issues. But upon moving into federal politics, her ability to get close with the president — a necessary step toward clearing a primary field — had been an open question. Moody's super PAC has since hired Trump world heavyweights Chris LaCivita, who helped run Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, and Florida-based Tony Fabrizio, who has long been one of the president's top pollsters. There was a moment earlier this year where Rep. Cory Mills was considering entering the primary, but momentum has disappeared. Mills is now facing his own brewing scandal related to a lawsuit seeking his eviction over alleged failure to pay thousands of dollars in rent at a property in Washington, D.C. As the 2026 midterms approach, there is not a single indicator pointing to Moody facing a credible primary challenger. Josh Weil, who got national attention earlier this year when he ran closer than expected to Rep. Randy Fine in a congressional special election for an overwhelmingly Republican district, is running for the Democratic nomination. But few believe that Florida Democrats have the resources or statewide infrastructure to win a Senate seat after Republicans have quickly turned the state deep red over the past few election cycles. Trump carried Florida by 13 percentage points in 2024. Johnson said that in order to compete in a contested Florida Senate general election, candidates need to be able to spend upward of $50 or $60 million on TV alone, 'not just raising the amount in gross dollars via small-dollar grifting like Weil did in his special election.' 'Just like Kamala, they won't play here,' Johnson said.
Newsweek
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
JD Vance Heckled, Booed at California Dinner
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Vice President JD Vance was heckled by protesters as his motorcade left a restaurant in California on Sunday. Vance and his wife, Usha, had dined at the Michelin-starred Soichi Sushi in San Diego prior to the incident. Newsweek emailed Vance's office for comment by email outside of regular working hours. Vice President JD Vance speaking during the Ohio Republican Party dinner in Lima in June. Vice President JD Vance speaking during the Ohio Republican Party dinner in Lima in June. Lauren Leigh Bacho/AP The Context Vance was in San Diego over the Fourth of July weekend to attend events as part of his role as the finance chair of the Republican Party. He also attended the Claremont Institute's 2025 Statesmanship Award dinner that was held in his honor in the city on Saturday night. What To Know Video posted on social media showed people gathered on the street booing Vance's Secret Service motorcade as it left the restaurant. Some called out Vance for dining at an exclusive restaurant while flash floods were hitting Texas. The death toll from the floods has now climbed to more than 100 people. One man said: "Hope your Michelin-starred sushi was worth it with 82 people dead in Texas! Thanks for cutting the National Weather Service." Another protester shouted: "Get the hell out of San Diego, a******!" This is a breaking story. More to follow.
Newsweek
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Supreme Court to Hear JD Vance Case
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a Republican-led challenge to a federal campaign finance law provision that limits how much political parties can spend in coordination with candidates. The case, which centers on free speech claims, involves Vice President JD Vance, who was a U.S. Senate candidate in Ohio when the lawsuit was initiated. The justices took up an appeal from Vance and two Republican committees, contesting a lower court's decision that upheld the spending limits. The challengers argue the restrictions violate constitutional protections by capping party spending influenced by input from supported candidates. Vice President JD Vance speaks during the Ohio Republican Party dinner, Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in Lima, Ohio. Vice President JD Vance speaks during the Ohio Republican Party dinner, Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in Lima, Ohio. Associated Press The Supreme Court is set to hear the case during its next term, which begins in October. The Trump administration, under then-Republican President Donald Trump, filed a brief in support of JD Vance and the Republican committees. Vance, now serving as Trump's vice president, is a central figure in the case. The Justice Department also urged the Court to take up the matter and requested the appointment of an outside party to defend the lower court's ruling, given that the department no longer supports it. At the heart of the case is a constitutional question: Do federal limits on coordinated campaign spending between political parties and candidates violate the First Amendment's protection of free speech? The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, along with subsequent amendments, governs fundraising and spending in U.S. elections by imposing limits on how much individuals, organizations, and political parties can contribute to or spend on behalf of candidates. The law aims to curb corruption and undue influence in federal campaigns. Under this framework, political party spending that is made without coordination with a candidate's campaign—classified as an "independent expenditure"—is not subject to spending caps. In contrast, "coordinated expenditures", in which a party works in tandem with a candidate, are strictly limited. These limits vary by the population size of the state in which a candidate is running: lower in less populous states, and higher in more populous ones. According to court filings, the 2024 limits ranged from about $123,000 to $3.7 million for Senate races and approximately $62,000 to $123,000 for House contests. In a 2022 lawsuit, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, JD Vance, and former Ohio congressman Steve Chabot asked a court to block the Federal Election Commission (FEC) from enforcing these coordinated spending limits. The plaintiffs argued that the restrictions "severely restrict political party committees from doing what the First Amendment entitles them to do: fully associate with and advocate for their own candidates for federal office." In a 2024 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, based in Cincinnati, upheld the legality of the coordinated expenditure caps, finding them consistent with constitutional protections. The court cited precedent from a 2001 Supreme Court ruling in a similar case from Colorado, which had upheld the same kind of limitations. The 6th Circuit emphasized that it was bound to follow that Supreme Court precedent. When the plaintiffs appealed to the Supreme Court, they urged the justices to reconsider the older precedent. They argued that "developments in campaign finance" and shifts in the Court's broader First Amendment jurisprudence had undermined the logic of the 2001 decision. At the time of the appeal's filing in December 2024, JD Vance was already serving as vice president-elect. On Monday, the Supreme Court granted the plaintiffs' request to review the case and also approved a motion from three Democratic groups—the Democratic National Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee—to intervene in defense of the lower court's ruling. Marc Elias, attorney for the Democratic groups, told Reuters that the Republican Party has "spent decades trying to eliminate statutory limits on political party expenditures that are coordinated with candidates' campaigns." He added that the Democratic intervenors would offer "a vigorous and informed defense of the coordinated expenditure limits now under attack." This legal battle unfolds against the backdrop of the Supreme Court's influential 2010 Citizens United v. FEC decision, which struck down limits on independent expenditures by corporations and outside groups, ruling such restrictions violated the First Amendment's free speech clause. While Citizens United opened the door to unlimited outside spending, the legality of coordinated expenditures between candidates and parties remains at the heart of this newly revived constitutional debate.
Buzz Feed
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Buzz Feed
JD Vance's Failed Comedy Attempt Sparks Cringe
Vice President JD Vance cranked the cringe dial up to eleven with his latest attempt at a joke at the Ohio Republican Party dinner in Lima, Ohio, on Tuesday. 'I know it's not always easy to be a political candidate, trust me. In Washington, D.C., they have this thing, I think it means, 'We're No.1 in Washington, D.C.'' Vance: All the pink haired people throw up this sign *holds up middle finger* I think that means we're number 1 right? — Acyn (@Acyn) June 25, 2025 @acyn/C-SPAN / Via 'But all the pink-haired people throw up this sign and I think, you that means, 'We're No.1,' right?' He lowered his finger and then added, 'I choose to take that as that symbol in Washington.' But on social media, critics mocked the vice president's so-called gag and joked about him trying to outdo President Donald Trump, who'd earlier dropped an F-bomb while ranting about Israel and Iran breaking a ceasefire. I guess when daddy drops the f bomb you gotta act like you're really cool too… — Lib Dunk (@libdunkmedia) June 25, 2025 @lilbdunkmedia I'm not sure I even understand the joke he was trying to make lol — Lyss💙💛Аліса 🇺🇸 (@lyssa_fella) June 25, 2025 @lyssa_fella He should not try to be whatever he's trying to be. It's pathetic. — Chimes of Freedom (@throbbingvicar) June 25, 2025 @throbbingvicar No JD it means you're number two 💩 — Thomas St James (@Thomasstjames3) June 25, 2025 @thomsstjames3 Negative charisma — Anon (@anon_aii) June 25, 2025 @anon_aii Man, work that tight 5 at an open mic night. — Luka Lakers (@DCAZELY) June 25, 2025 @dcazely What's wrong with these ppl — (@mlatapapi8) June 25, 2025 @mlatapapi8 So, today— the president said 'fuck' in front of the press and the vice president gave the finger in front of a crowd. Remember when MAGA lost their damn minds because Joe Biden said 'son of a bitch' one f'ng time?!? — Jo (@JoJoFromJerz) June 25, 2025 @jojofromjerz Vance built his brand on fake populism and ended up crying about hair dye and hand gestures. From Hillbilly Elegy to high school energy. — Nikos Unity (@nikosunity) June 25, 2025 @nikosunity Huh? — Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) June 25, 2025 @mollyjongfast This dude is so fake and corny it's actually scary — Dan (@D_Danimal) June 25, 2025 @D_Danimal Most classless admin in history. I've known drunken frat boys with more decorum. — DrPareto (@DrPareto2025) June 25, 2025 @drpareto2025 It not even that he has negative aura, it's like if a piece of unusable furniture became a person. — kat ✨ (@KittyyyKatJ) June 25, 2025 @kittyyykatj
