President Donald Trump asked Wednesday in a tweet why Republicans wouldn't win the midterm elections when they have great candidates, tremendous energy, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) saying she will raise taxes if Democrats take control of Congress.
"The Republican Party had a great night. Tremendous voter energy and excitement, and all candidates are those who have a great chance of winning in November. The Economy is sooo strong, and with Nancy Pelosi wanting to end the big Tax Cuts and Raise Taxes, why wouldn’t we win?" Trump tweeted.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/994176238846664706
On Tuesday night, primary elections were held in Ohio, Indiana, and West Virginia, all states Trump won in 2016.
In Ohio, Rep. Jim Renacci won the GOP senate nomination and will face incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown (D.), while Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine won the GOP nomination for governor. Former head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Richard Cordray won the Democratic nomination for governor.
Indiana businessman Mike Braun defeated two sitting congressmen, Rep. Luke Messer (R.) and Rep. Todd Rokita (R.) for the Senate Republican nomination. Braun will face off against first-term Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelley.
Despite the intense media coverage, the ex-convict and coal baron Don Blankenship took third place in the West Virginia Republican primary. State Attorney General Patrick Morrisey won the nomination and will challenge incumbent Sen. Joe Manchin (D.)
The president urged West Virginia voters to not vote for Blankenship, arguing he would be unable to win in the general election against the Democratic incumbant. Blankenship was surrounded in controversy and media attention because he made several disparaging comments about Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.), calling him "Cocaine Mitch," and his family.
Trump pointed to Pelosi's stance on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act because despite her opposition to the law, it has resulted in reduced tax payments for the majority of Americans and has allowed more than 500 employers to offer pay raises, bonuses, and other benefits. In addition to calling the benefits from the tax reform law "crumbs," Pelosi gave Republicans another soundbite to use in their campaigns when she called an ad saying she wanted to raise taxes "accurate."