In the first test of the 2014 mid-term elections, voters in Texas stuck with their incumbent members of Congress, turning back almost every challenger in both parties, as Republicans shrugged off calls from within for major election upheaval in the U.S. House and Senate.
The results in the Lone Star State were a setback for Tea Party groups that had hopes of recapturing their GOP primary energy of 2012 in Texas, when they unexpectedly launched Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) to a U.S. Senate victory, as the GOP Establishment showed its strength with an easy Republican primary win by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX).
"Congrats to my good friend John Cornyn on his big victory tonight," said Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT). "He’s a great leader who fights hard for the conservative values we share."
Cornyn had 62% of the vote in an eight candidate field, as he brushed aside a challenge by Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX) and six others.
"We wish Senator Cornyn best of luck in November and urge everyone to vote for, volunteer for and support the whole Texas GOP ticket," Stockman said last night.
Stockman had spent weeks slamming Cornyn - mainly on Twitter, instead of on the campaign trail - but Stockman's somewhat unconventional campaign earned him the stink-eye from some Tea Party groups, as he failed to generate any big challenge to Cornyn.
"It was like watching the political version of suicide by cop," tweeted Congressional elections expert Jennifer Duffy, who labeled Stockman's campaign "truly bizarre."
As for Cruz - who pointedly refused to endorse Cornyn in the primary - the GOP primary results did not provide him political momentum in his bid to change the direction of the GOP in the Congress.
"Guess we will see down the road if refusing to support your state's senior Senator & publicly undercutting him is smart long-term politics," mused GOP strategist Brian Walsh.
In races for the U.S. House, only one Texas member was forced into a runoff, and the Tea Party had nothing to do with that, as Rep. Ralph Hill (R-TX) now must face former U.S. Attorney John Ratcliffe, who received 30% of the primary votes.
The 90 year old Hall is the oldest member of the House; his 46% of the primary vote was not enough to avoid a second meeting with Ratcliffe, who now hopes to rally the votes of four others who were in the primary against Hall.
Often a runoff can be dangerous ground for an incumbent; Hall says this would be his last run for Congress, as he is the only World War II veteran still serving in the U.S. House.
In other Republican primaries for the House in Texas, the Tea Party was also shut out; top hopeful Katrina Pierson - even with an endorsement from Sarah Palin - struggled to get over 30% against Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX).
Other Republicans and Democrats with primary opposition also cruised to victory; none of them received less than 63% of the vote.
Defeating sitting members of Congress in a primary is not a common occurrence - we'll see how Tea Party groups do in coming months in other states.
The next primary night is March 18 in Illinois, then May 6 in Indiana, North Carolina and Ohio.
We will know which party controls the House and Senate eight months from today.
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