In primary voting Tuesday night, incumbent Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) were all victorious against their opponents.
The McCain and Rubio victories came after three other incumbent Republican Congresspeople lost their races: Renee Ellmers (R-NC), Randy Forbes (R-VA) and Tim Huelskamp (R-KS). Incumbent Democratic Representative Chaka Fattah (D-PA), who was convicted of federal corruption charges early this year, also lost his race.
McCain, Rubio, and Wasserman Schultz all faced high-profile, politically charged races this primary season.
McCain was up against Kelli Ward, a conservative physician several years his junior, who made his age a factor during the election cycle, calling him “old” and “weak.” McCain was also facing serious backlash from many Republicans for his continued support of GOP nominee Donald Trump.
Rubio’s aim was initially for the presidency, but after losing to Trump, Rubio went back on a promise not to run for his Senate seat this year and ran against Carlos Beruff, a businessman who spent $7 million of his personal funds.
Wasserman Schultz stepped down as DNC chair after a series of emails leaked highlighting the DNC’s attempts to thwart Bernie Sanders campaign. Despite this, Sanders’ backing of her opponent Tim Canova, Wasserman Schultz still sailed to victory against the law school professor.
Photo: Flickr/Gage Skidmore
