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The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) has no plans to endorse Corey Stewart, the party's Senate nominee in Virginia, the group's chairman said Wednesday.
"We have a big map, right now we are focused on Florida, North Dakota, Missouri, Indiana. I don’t see Virginia in it," Sen. Cory Gardner
Cory Scott GardnerDemocrats brace for nail-biting finish to Senate battle Trump expressed doubt to donors GOP can hold Senate: report The Hill's Campaign Report: 2020 spending wars | Biden looks to clean up oil comments | Debate ratings are in MORE (R-Colo.), who leads the Senate GOP campaign arm, told CNN.
Cory Scott GardnerDemocrats brace for nail-biting finish to Senate battle Trump expressed doubt to donors GOP can hold Senate: report The Hill's Campaign Report: 2020 spending wars | Biden looks to clean up oil comments | Debate ratings are in MORE (R-Colo.), who leads the Senate GOP campaign arm, told CNN.Sen. Cory Gardner tells me NRSC has NO plans to endorse VA Senate candidate Corey Stewart, despite Trump tweet expressing support. “We have a big map, right now we are focused on Florida, North Dakota, Missouri, Indiana. I don’t see Virginia in it.”
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) June 13, 2018
Stewart, a controversial figure, won the GOP Senate nomination Tuesday night.
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He previously made a failed bid for Virginia governor, basing much of his campaign in 2017 around preserving Confederate statues.
Gardner's decision is a break with President Trump
Donald John TrumpTrump admin to announce coronavirus vaccine will be covered under Medicare, Medicaid: report Election officials say they're getting suspicious emails that may be part of malicious attack on voting: report McConnell tees up Trump judicial pick following Supreme Court vote MORE, who tweeted his congratulations to Stewart on Wednesday morning.
Donald John TrumpTrump admin to announce coronavirus vaccine will be covered under Medicare, Medicaid: report Election officials say they're getting suspicious emails that may be part of malicious attack on voting: report McConnell tees up Trump judicial pick following Supreme Court vote MORE, who tweeted his congratulations to Stewart on Wednesday morning."Congratulations to Corey Stewart for his great victory for Senator from Virginia. Now he runs against a total stiff, Tim Kaine
Timothy (Tim) Michael KaineDemocrats brace for nail-biting finish to Senate battle Democratic Senate emerges as possible hurdle for progressives Two Loeffler staffers test positive for COVID-19 MORE, who is weak on crime and borders, and wants to raise your taxes through the roof. Don’t underestimate Corey, a major chance of winning!" Trump wrote on Twitter.
Timothy (Tim) Michael KaineDemocrats brace for nail-biting finish to Senate battle Democratic Senate emerges as possible hurdle for progressives Two Loeffler staffers test positive for COVID-19 MORE, who is weak on crime and borders, and wants to raise your taxes through the roof. Don’t underestimate Corey, a major chance of winning!" Trump wrote on Twitter.It's not the first time Gardner has decided to not endorse a candidate who has received Trump's backing. The committee, under Gardner's leadership, refused to back controversial Alabama GOP Senate nominee Roy Moore
Roy Stewart MooreLong-shot Espy campaign sees national boost in weeks before election Ocasio-Cortez slams Tulsi Gabbard for amplifying ballot harvesting video Doug Jones says he will not support Supreme Court nominee before election MORE last year.
Roy Stewart MooreLong-shot Espy campaign sees national boost in weeks before election Ocasio-Cortez slams Tulsi Gabbard for amplifying ballot harvesting video Doug Jones says he will not support Supreme Court nominee before election MORE last year.Even when Trump endorsed Moore a month after the first allegations of sexual misconduct by women who were underage at the time surfaced against the candidate, Gardner refused to follow Trump's endorsement. That put the NRSC at odds with both the White House and the Republican National Committee, which also backed Moore.
Following his win Tuesday, Stewart is now set to face off against Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) in November.
Though Republicans are facing a favorable Senate map, Virginia isn't considered a top target. Instead, Republicans are focusing their efforts on a slate of vulnerable Democrats who are up for reelection in red or purple states won by Trump in 2016.
– Ben Kamisar contributed.
