Republicans are looking to take advantage of a difficult electoral map for Democrats in the Senate in November, but crowded primaries in key swing states could hurt the party's attempts to capture key Senate seats, according to some experts.
“Campaign tradition would suggest that any 'divisive primary' will benefit the other party at the polls overall,” said Jacob Neiheisel, an associate professor of political science at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
In Nevada, which will have its Senate primary on June 11, and Michigan, which won't see its primary until August, the Republican fields ended up being relatively large despite having clear favorites.
The Senate seats are held by Democrats, and Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., is running for re-election. However, Michigan became more competitive when Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., decided to withdraw from it at the end of her term.
ROMNEY BURNS BRAGG'S 'POLITICAL DECISION' IN THE TRUMP CASE: 'MALPRACTICE'
Divisive primaries in Nevada and Michigan could make the general election more difficult for frontrunners Sam Brown and Mike Rogers, should they receive their states' nominations. (Getty Images)
The Nevada Senate race is one of the few races considered “unlucky,” according to the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. Michigan Elections Get Labeled “Lean Democratic.”
“Trump's expected endorsement is causing the Senate GOP to hold its breath,” said Republican strategist Ron Bonjean, former top spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott and former chief of staff of the Senate Republican Conference. Senate, about the primaries in Nevada.
“If he supports [Jeff] Gunter on Brown and his popularity could very well give Senator Rosen and the Democrats the advantage to win here,” he explained, referring to Trump's former ambassador to Iceland, who is financing his own race against the favorite, the retired captain of the army Sam Brown. in the Republican Party primaries.
GOP'S MURKOWSKI REGRETS TRUMP'S 'BAGGAGE' AFTER GUILTY VERDICT
Brown previously lost the Senate nod to Adam Laxalt. (Brandon Gillespie/Fox News)
There are several contenders vying for the Republican Senate nomination in Nevada, the most notable being Brown, Gunter and former Nevada state Rep. Jim Marchant.
Rosen campaign spokesperson Johanna Warshaw told Fox News Digital in a statement: “While his extreme MAGA opponents, like Sam Brown, have been forced to spend the past year fighting to prove who is most loyal to Donald Trump and embracing a far-right agenda, Jacky Rosen is focused on winning the general election and sharing her record as one of the most bipartisan and effective senators delivering for Nevadans.
“The messy MAGA Republican primaries have been a stark contrast to Jacky's record of working across partisan lines to reduce costs for working families and be an independent voice for Nevada.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to Brown's campaign for comment.
SOROS' HEIR URGES DEMOCRATS TO HAMMER TRUMP AS 'CONVICTED CRIMINAL AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY'
While some suggested the drama of the primary season could spill over into the general election, others pushed back. According to Nevada Republican strategist Jeremy Hughes, “Crowded primaries are common in today's politics. In fact, Governor Lombardo had a primary in 2022 and was ultimately successful in the general.
“Republican voters will be united in November. Joe Biden, Alvin Bragg and the Democrats are making sure of it.”
“I think whether or not the Republican primaries in these states work to the advantage of Democrats will depend on several factors, including whether internal GOP battles give Democrats material they can use against the candidate in the general election,” he said. Neiheisel.
Rogers received Trump's endorsement. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
As for Michigan, former President Trump has already weighed in and endorsed former Rep. Mike Rogers for the Republican nomination. However, this has not stopped wealthy businessman Sandy Pensler, who is backed by former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, from pursuing his candidacy. Former Rep. Justin Amash is also running for the nomination. Another former representative, Peter Meijer, recently suspended his primary campaign.
“Trump's endorsement of Rogers emerging as the consensus candidate after a rocky road to becoming the front-runner is receiving mixed reviews from both hard-line Republicans and the establishment in the state,” Bonjean said.
THE REST OF THE SENATE IN BATTLE RACES CAREFUL TO OPERATE THE TRUMP VERDICT
While Rogers is the favorite to remain the favorite and secure the nomination in August, Michigan Republican strategist Jason Cabel Roe noted that “it only gives him three months to ramp up the general election campaign.”
“And if he has to continue fighting a real primary battle against Amash and Pensler, he will probably end the primary with no money in the bank and will have to replenish it,” he added.
Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., is the favorite to win the Democratic nomination, while also facing a primary rival: actor Hill Harper. But Slotkin has spent little time campaigning against her, mounting a campaign focused on the general election.
Roe noted Slotkin's fundraising prowess and predicted he will have “many millions of dollars” by the time the primaries are over.
Slotkin is the favorite to win the Democratic nomination. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)
“That becomes a much more expensive career for Rogers and for the [National Republican Senatorial Committee] and the Senate Leadership Fund,” he added.
As things stand, the Republican strategist believes Pensler and Amash “are sand in Rogers' gear as he tries to build a campaign that can compete with someone like Slotkin.”
In a statement to Fox News Digital, the NRSC expressed confidence in both Rogers and Brown in the November election.
“Mike Rogers and Sam Brown are leading their primaries by wide margins because their opponents are never Trumpers or former Democrats. We are confident they will win their respective primaries and make Michigan and Nevada extremely competitive in November,” said NRSC spokesperson, Maggie. Abbot.
In his own statement, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) spokesperson Tommy Garcia said: “The Senate Republicans' recruiting list is reeling from a series of reports uncovering their lies about their biographies, linked vulnerabilities to his finances and a lifetime of toxic statements and political positions.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“Meanwhile, their primaries in states like Nevada and Michigan are exploding into chaos. The NRSC's big gamble of backing a bunch of unvetted blowhards looks worse by the day.”
According to Neiheisel, the general elections in both states will ultimately depend on the candidates.
“The particular candidates who emerge from these races will likely stand out as the biggest determinant of the final outcome,” he said. “The quality of candidates remains important even in a polarized political era.”
