Tea party loses some steam in GOP races

Tea party loses some steam in GOP races

movement struggled in 2012, but claimed success with Ted Cruz’s Senate win in Texas and vowed a resurgence this year.

“I think the Mississippi Senate race is a great race to watch to evaluate this establishment versus anti-establishment dynamic that is going on within the Republican Party,” said Nathan Gonzales of the nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report.

The same fight has played out over the past two elections. Tea party candidates scored major gains in 2010 by winning contested Republican Party primaries in a number of states, though some of those challengers fared poorly in the general elections. The movement struggled in 2012, but claimed success with Ted Cruz’s Senate win in Texas and vowed a resurgence this year.

But a handful of candidates running under the insurgent banner have failed to gain traction in South Carolina against Sen. Lindsey Graham; in Kansas, Milton Wolf hasn’t dented the huge lead of Sen. Pat Roberts; and in Kentucky, Matt Bevin trails far behind Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Washington Times
3/4/14