The 2018 Republican primaries will decide which GOP group, the House Freedom Caucus or the “governing wing” of the Main Street Partnership, takes control of the House should the party retain its majority in November, The Hill reports.
The House Freedom Caucus backed two winning candidates, Arizona’s Debbie Lesko and Idaho’s Russ Fulcher, but four of their preferred candidates lost after going head-to-head with the Main Street Partnership
"We’ve won lots of races, but, yeah, we’ve lost some, too," Freedom Caucus Leader Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, told the Hill.
Sarah Chamberlain, president and CEO of the Main Street Partnership and the head of the super PAC Defending Main Street, most recently saw Pennsylvania state Sen. Guy Reschenthaler, which her group supported, beat the Freedom Caucus-backed state Rep. Rick Saccone.
"Everywhere we went head to head with them we have defeated them, which hopefully gets us the best candidates in these districts in Pennsylvania and Ohio for the general election," Chamberlain, told the Hill.
"Our goal is not anti-Freedom Caucus,” she added. “Our goal is to win the seats that are not gerrymandered and make sure Republicans continue to control the House."
Jordan supported Melanie Leneghan, a local township trustee, in a bid for Ohio’s 12th District, which neighbors Columbus. However, she lost by under 700 votes to state Sen. Troy Balderson.
'In Columbus and Washington, the establishment was all in. We were out spent two-and-a-half to one. And we lost by 653 votes," he said.
"There is no substitute for winning," he added, saying he will attend a fundraiser for Balderson this week. "The fact that we were that close was amazing in and of itself. But I’m still ticked."
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