U.S. President Donald Trump has congratulated a supporter of a far-right group for her congressional primary victory in the southern state of Georgia.
Trump tweeted Wednesday that Marjorie Taylor Greene was a “real WINNER!” after coming out on top in the Republican primary for Georgia’s 14th congressional district.
Congratulations to future Republican Star Marjorie Taylor Greene on a big Congressional primary win in Georgia against a very tough and smart opponent. Marjorie is strong on everything and never gives up - a real WINNER!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 12, 2020
Greene is a supporter of QAnon, which promotes an unfounded theory of a “deep state” political system aimed at undermining Trump’s presidency.
Greene, also a gun rights activist, defeated John Cowan, who had the support of several high-profile Republicans, with 57% of the vote to Cowan’s 43%.
Greene is almost assured of winning the November election to Congress from the heavily Republican district as she faces off against Democrat Kevin Van Ausdal.
Congressman Adam Kinzinger, a fellow Republican from Illinois, tweeted after Green’s victory that “Qanon is a fabrication” and that “there is no place in Congress for these conspiracies.”
Qanon is a fabrication. This “insider” has predicted so much incorrectly (but people don’t remember PAST predictions) so now has switched to vague generalities. Could be Russian propaganda or a basement dweller. Regardless, no place in Congress for these conspiracies.
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) August 12, 2020
U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar won her Democratic primary election Tuesday, defeating a well-funded challenger.
Voters in Minnesota’s fifth congressional district backed Omar with about 58% of the vote compared to 39% for Antone Melton-Meaux.
Omar represents a solidly liberal district and is likely to win another term in Congress in the November general election.
In another Minnesota race, Republican Michelle Fischbach won her party primary and will face incumbent Democratic Congressman Collin Peterson in a race Republicans are targeting as a chance to flip a Democratic seat to their party. Voters in the district supported President Donald Trump by a 30-point margin in 2016, but Peterson is one of the most conservative Democrats in Congress and was first elected to represent the district in 1990.
Voters also cast primary ballots in the state of Wisconsin on Tuesday. In the 3rd congressional district, incumbent Democratic Congressman Ron Kind easily won his primary.
In the district’s Republican race, former Navy Seal Derrick Van Orden defeated public relations professional Jessi Ebben. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker have endorsed Van Orden.
The general election is November 3, with the president, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate are up for election. Democrats currently hold the majority in the House, while Republicans are the majority in the Senate.
