GOP Primaries: Hogan Wins in Maryland, Justice in West Virginia

Image copyright: Chip Somodevilla/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images

The Facts

  • On Tuesday, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan won the Republican nomination for that state's US Senate race, and Gov. Jim Justice did the same in West Virginia.

  • Hogan, a two-term governor, will face Democrat Angela Alsobrooks, who's looking to become the state's first Black female US Senator.


The Spin

Republican narrative

Republicans are setting themselves up well to retake the Senate majority. Hogan is a Trump critic who's popular on both sides of the political aisle, and Justice has Trump's seal of approval but doesn't pander to the former president's whims or focus much on the party's culture-war issues. These two nominees show the GOP is more than just Trump.

Democratic narrative

Democrats will have their hands full maintaining control of the Senate, but don't be fooled by some GOP nominees' differences with Trump. It's imperative for Democrats to do whatever possible to make sure a second Trump term doesn't come with a Republican Senate willing to rubber stamp his sweeping policy changes, regardless of how independent some Republicans claim to be.


Metaculus Prediction


Political split

LEFT

RIGHT

More neutral political stance articles