May Primary Showdowns To Test Tea Party's Relevance
Mays test for the Tea Party
More than a month has passed without a 2014 Senate primary race, but that is about to change. Two weeks from today, the first of several competitive GOP primaries in May will take place. And if theres a common theme in several of these contests, its that the Republican establishment candidates appear to have the edge -- at least right now -- which presents a test for the Tea Party. In North Carolina (May 6), the Chamber of Commerce-backed Thom Tillis has the advantage, although a potential runoff (if no one gets more than 40% of the vote) could make things much more interesting for the North Carolina state House speaker. In Kentucky (May 20), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell looks to be solid shape against Tea Party challenger Matt Bevin (dont miss the new McConnell and Bevin TV ads). In Georgia (also May 20), the top-two candidates are the establishment-backed David Perdue and GOP Rep. Jack Kingston; by contrast, the most conservative Republicans (Reps. Paul Broun and Phil Gingrey) are trailing the field. And in Oregon (also May 20), the AP is calling abortion-rights supporter Monica Wehby as the biggest threat to incumbent Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR).
The establishment strikes back?
This is perhaps why so many outside conservative groups are focused so heavily in backing Ben Sasse against Shane Osborn in Nebraskas GOP Senate primary (on May 13). It also raises the stakes in the competitive House GOP primary in Idaho featuring incumbent Rep Mike Simpson vs. challenger Bryan Smith (May 20). And dont forget the Texas runoff between incumbent Rep. Ralph Hall and challenger John Ratcliffe (May 27), where Hall is probably the underdog to hold onto his job. We maintain that the Tea Party still remains a powerful force in Republican politics -- remember that 41% of GOP voters voted against Sen. John Cornyn in Marchs Texas primary. And there are many competitive primaries to watch in the months ahead (in Kansas, Mississippi, and South Carolina). But right now, the establishment has been fighting back and it appears to have the early edge in many of Mays contests. They ignored them in 2010, the Cook Political Reports Jennifer Duffy says of the establishment against the Tea Party. In 2012, they tried to be one of them. And in 2014, theyre just fighting back.
Democrats trying to influence these GOP primaries
Of course, one other thing is happening in these GOP primaries: Democrats are trying to influence their outcome. In North Carolina, Sen. Kay Hagans (D) campaign is up with this VERY interesting radio ad: Heres Republican Senate candidate Thom Tillis describing Obamacare: Its a great idea. Thats right, Thom Tillis called Obamacare a great idea. Geez, you think the Hagan camp is suggesting to North Carolina GOP voters that Tillis is an Obamacare-loving RINO? And while Democrats have done nothing overtly in Georgia, theres no doubt theyd love for either Broun or Gingrey to make the runoff. But for every action, theres an equal and opposite reaction: Weve been told that establishment Republicans will do everything they can to aid a Thom Tillis or a Jack Kingston in a runoff -- if theyre facing a Tea Party candidate.
Watching the Dem primary in Pennsylvania
Meanwhile, the biggest Democratic primary in May is the Pennsylvania gubernatorial contest (May 20) for the right to take on vulnerable Gov. Tom Corbett (R) in November. The relatively new front-runner in that race is businessman Tom Wolf, who shot up in the polls due to his early TV ad onslaught. Also running: Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) and state Treasurer Rob McCord.
Heres your primary calendar for May
May 6: IN, NC, OH primaries
Read more here:
May Primary Showdowns To Test Tea Party's Relevance
- Medicine Park Tea Party to add class to the rugged Wichita Mountain scenery - The Lawton Constitution - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Malti's adorable tea party with Priyanka Chopra's manager is the cutest thing. Pics - India Today - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Priyanka Chopra's Daughter Maltie Marie's Tea Party PICS Are The Cutest Thing On Internet Today - Times Now - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Tea Party on the Porch and Patio to be hosted at Mountainsides Levi Cory House - Union News Daily - May 17th, 2025 [May 17th, 2025]
- Care home marks 80th anniversary of VE Day with afternoon tea party - Yahoo News UK - May 17th, 2025 [May 17th, 2025]
- Wiltshire care home celebrated VE Day anniversary with 1940s tea party - Wiltshire Times - May 17th, 2025 [May 17th, 2025]
- Abundant Life hosts free mother-daughter tea party next Saturday in New Bern - WCTI - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]
- Channel your inner 'Bridgeton' on this Texas tea party tour bus - MySA - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]
- Cinderellas Tea Party kicks off enchanting afternoon at Berks Ballet Theatre performance - Berks Weekly - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]
- NOTL in Bloom - Setting up for a tea party fit for Alice at the NOTL Museum: Photo Gallery - Niagara-on-the-Lake Local - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]
- VE Day 80 marked at Newport Castle with community tea party - The Pembrokeshire Herald - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]
- A king-in-training: Prince George unexpectedly joins Prince William and the Princess of Wales to meet veterans at a Buckingham Palace VE tea party -... - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]
- Prince George makes surprise appearance at tea party for World War II veterans - as young royal, 11, joins Wil - Daily Mail - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]
- Prince George meets veterans in surprise appearance at VE Day tea party - The Independent - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]
- William tells of Georges interest in war veterans at Palace tea party - The Independent - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]
- William tells of Georges interest in war veterans at Palace tea party - Yahoo News UK - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]
- Kingwood Community Engagement to host 'Under the Sea' Mother's Day tea party - WV News - April 30th, 2025 [April 30th, 2025]
- Charity Gets Ready to Treat Township Grandmothers with the Sweetest Tea Party! - Good Things Guy - April 30th, 2025 [April 30th, 2025]
- Killeshin tea party in memory of much-loved Siobhn raised 12k - carlow-nationalist.ie - April 30th, 2025 [April 30th, 2025]
- King and Queen to host VE Day tea party for World War Two veterans - BBC - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Sip & Savor: Family Tea Party, a Gathering for Mothers, and a Cider Fest - southsoundmag.com - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Hosting an Adult Tea Party Will Make You the Diamond of the Seasonand It's Easy with These Pro Tips - Better Homes & Gardens - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- A tea party at the Palace to mark 80 years of peace with King Charles and Queen Camilla hosting - Royal Central - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- King and Queen to host veterans at Buckingham Palace VE Day tea party - The Telegraph - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- King and Queen to host palace tea party to celebrate VE Day anniversary - MSN - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- King Charles to host VE Day tea party for 50 World War Two veterans - and Wills and Kate will attend too - The Sun - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- King Charles and Queen Camilla to throw palace tea party to mark VE Day anniversary - lbc.co.uk - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- VE Day 2025 celebrations to include King and Queen hosting Buckingham Palace tea party - MyLondon - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- When are the VE Day celebrations as Charles and Camilla plan tea party for veterans? - London Evening Standard - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- The Boston Tea Party and the Haifa Spring Festival - VINnews - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Leicester Windrush Tea Party needs your help - voice-online.co.uk - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Tim Walz tries to spark a liberal Tea Party movement with trip to Ohio and other red states - Signal Cleveland - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Cahoon Museum Will Host Mermaid Tea Party - CapeNews.net - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Mad Hatter's tea party and egg hunt provides Easter fun for families - Daily Echo - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Luton care home celebrates National Tea Party Day - Leighton Buzzard Observer - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Amateur choir to mark VE Day with afternoon tea party in Guadalhorce valley - Sur in English - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Staten Island happenings this weekend: Historic tea party, neighborhood mixer and more - SILive.com - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- Valley Mall to host whimsical Mad Hatter's tea party for Easter celebration - KIMA - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- My expectations were high for fancy tea party at KC shop. It didnt disappoint - Kansas City Star - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- Christina Muoz to Headline EMpact One Ladies Tea Party Celebrating Women and Supporting Youth May 3rd - MySaline - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- An Anthropomorphic Wonderland: A Review of Beatrix Potter Tea Party at Raven Theatre - Newcity Stage - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- Beauty and the Beast-themed tea party to benefit community health initiatives in Taylor County, West Virginia - WV News - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- Mother & Daughter Tea Party is April 26 - Sequoyah County Times - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- Foodie Forecast: A tea party, a wine festival and a poolside lunch - San Diego Union-Tribune - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- Miss America Organization changing lives in Middle Georgia, looking ahead to princess tea party - 41NBC News - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- Tim Tebow's wife Demi-Leigh celebrates their first child at tea party-themed baby shower - sportingnews.com - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- EPS celebrates reunion with BJP, hosts tea party for Amit Shah - UNITED NEWS OF INDIA - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- Mayo groups invited to host Bealtaine Tea Party for Bealtaine Festival - Mayo News - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- Stoke aiming to break world record as it hosts Big Centenary Tea Party - Rayo - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- No bunnying around as Easter tea party tackles loneliness in rural Exmoor - Somerset Live - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- Rising anger among Democrats fuels talk of Tea Party-style backlash - The Hill - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- Todays Angry Democrats Are Not Tomorrows Tea Party of the Left - New York Magazine - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- Dr. Bombay takes the tea party to Grant Park, plus more from Atlantas dining scene - The Atlanta Journal Constitution - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- Peek inside a Mad Hatter Tea Party in Massillon - Canton Repository - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- Welcome to Washington: The Democrats Tea Party Arrives - The New York Sun - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- A great time on Friday evening at our Bridgerton Tea Party! - Z93 Country - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- Mad Hatters Tea Party Drag Brunch - University of Minnesota Twin Cities - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- Will Democrats Have Their Own Tea Party Moment? - The Cook Political Report - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- Local art studio holds first princess-themed tea party for kids - WVVA - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- Protests are as American as the Tea Party. But there have to be limits: Bob Paulson - cleveland.com - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- Why Democrats Are Considering A Tea Party ... Or Should Be - The Root - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- AOC and Bernie hit the road: Is the Democratic Party having its Tea Party moment? - The Independent - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- AOC and Bernie draw crowds of thousands: Is the Democratic Party having its Tea Party moment? - MSN - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- New 'Bluey' Toys Arrive at the Disney Store Online Including Tea Party Set, Cash Register Play Set, and More - WDW News Today - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Stories of faith shared at annual tea party - Sampson Independent - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Spin Master Releases New AriZona Iced Tea Party Game - Bleeding Cool News - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Timeless Tea in Women's History Tea Party - Evening News and Tribune - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Soroptimist of Tahoe Sierra celebrates 48 years with raffle, auction, and Mad Hatter Tea Party - South Tahoe Now - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- A Fashion Tea Party Worth Crashing at Kenzo Fall 2025 - Savoir Flair - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Glamorous afternoon tea party in St Helens Town Hall a huge success - St Helens Star - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Chuck Todd Warns Schumer, Jeffries Should Be Afraid of a Left-Wing Tea Party | Video - TheWrap - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- Gayle Bensons dog Petey treated to a tea party at Windsor Court - WGNO New Orleans - March 7th, 2025 [March 7th, 2025]
- Out and About: Made in Montana Trade Show, Former Felons Ball and a Princess Tea Party - KTVH - March 7th, 2025 [March 7th, 2025]
- Gayle Bensons dog Petey treated to a tea party at Windsor Court - Yahoo Life - March 7th, 2025 [March 7th, 2025]
- Coffs Harbour Creative Arts Groups annual Mad Hatters Tea Party to support CanDo - News Of The Area - March 7th, 2025 [March 7th, 2025]
- World Book Day 2025: Essex school pupils enjoy Alice in Wonderland themed tea party - Halstead Gazette - March 7th, 2025 [March 7th, 2025]
- Maharashtra Opposition boycotts tea party on Assembly session eve - The Hindu - March 3rd, 2025 [March 3rd, 2025]
- Criminals get a free hand: MVA boycotts govt tea party - The Times of India - March 3rd, 2025 [March 3rd, 2025]
- Opposition to boycott tea party on Maharashtra assembly session eve over governance failures, women safety - Deccan Herald - March 3rd, 2025 [March 3rd, 2025]
- Budget Session: Opposition to boycott tea party over 'governance failures', women's safety - mid-day.com - March 3rd, 2025 [March 3rd, 2025]