This comes on the heels of Trump's unusually weak performance in Arizona for a Republican presidential nominee. Kelli Ward, who lost to Sen."I think Sen.Flake and Heller also are being stalked by the Left, thanks to the bleak map Senate Democrats see for themselves. Catherine Cortez Masto, swept.The Silver State also happens to be home to Trump's most loyal Republican constituencies. DeWit was one of Trump's biggest supporters during the campaign, and he could cause Flake heartburn if he runs and the senator fails to repair his relationship with GOP primary voters."Flake could be tested. (AP Photo)Gardner, of the NRSC, sidestepped when asked to comment on the possibility of Trump weighing in on the races.
Now I think it's going to be Trump versus non-Trump," said a GOP strategist, who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to speak candidly.A voting record largely in sync with the Trump administration should go a long way toward mending fences from Vintage Edison Bulb 2016, diminishing the prospects of an annoying primary. Heller do a great job at representing their states, and obviously, both of them put the interests of their states, Arizona and Nevada, first," Gardner said in an interview. If the president decides to get involved in the primary in support of a candidate, he could tip the scales. "The squeeze that some people may feel for them I don't think will ever materialize.Sen. Flake's political team in Arizona is downplaying suggestions that he could be in particular trouble. Flake in Arizona, and Heller in Nevada, running in states with diverse electorates and burgeoning Hispanic populations, offer the Democrats possibly their only hope of gaining ground.
Asked if he was concerned, Flake just shrugged.". When former Rep. Heller has to guard against that. "So, all you can do is continue to do what you're doing.In an interview, Flake acknowledged the pickle he might find himself in a year from now.Simultaneously, Nevada performed well for Democrats in that election, across the board.Political advisers for Flake and Heller concede the existence of ammunition that can work against them. Joe Heck, the GOP Senate nominee in 2016, disavowed Trump over news that he had joked about making unwanted sexual advances on women, it cost him at the ballot box. Heller has proven this strength once before, winning election in 2012 even as Obama was winning Nevada by 7 percentage points. The worst thing would be to try to calculate or navigate based on politics.
At the same time, they're relying on reputations for independence earned from crossing party lines to carry them through the general election.Flake was a leader in pushing Congress to ban earmarks, which are lawmakers' pet spending projects, and has consistently voted to reduce spending. He defeated Clinton by only 4 percentage points, winning under 50 percent of the vote. And make no mistake, he will work harder than anyone.He said Republicans shouldn't have to worry about it, nor should Trump be motivated to interject himself, if congressional Republicans deliver on their promises."In all of this, Trump is the wild card.Jeff Flake and Dean Heller are feeling the squeeze."The president and members of the Senate .On most litmus-test type issues — abortion, taxes, Obamacare, to name a few — Flake and Heller remain rock solid."But neither is out of the woods. Kelli Ward.
Most seats up for election in 2018 feature Democrats trying to hang on in conservative territory.Both Flake and Heller are Republican senators from out west who declined to support President Trump over Democrat Hillary Clinton.Republican insiders warn that it would be a mistake to assume Trump won't get involved in bigger contests of larger significance, say, a Senate primary. Pro-Trump Republicans, including state Treasurer Jeff DeWit and state Sen. Democrats and their allies are already taking shots at the two western senators, led by Allied Progress and its six-figure ad buy on Arizona and Nevada television.5 percent.. People sniff that out pretty fast. "A lot is going to depend on how much he personally gets engaged. Cory Gardner of Colorado, chairman of the NRSC, the Senate GOP campaign arm formerly known as the National Republican Senatorial Committee, rejected that either senator will feel any sort of pinch, arguing that the pair are doing what they need to do to win re-election. Heller has to guard against that.McCain, whose connection to Arizona conservatives has been contentious for years, rated more popular than Flake in a recent public opinion poll, according to Roll Call.
But Flake and Heller are unique among their colleagues in the pressure and potential vulnerability they're facing from both ends of the political spectrum — and the bright red targets they have on their backs. the day after the election about unity, about working toward more opportunities, about making sure we leave no one behind, then I think Jeff Flake and Dean Heller are going to be allowed to continue to serve their states.That is putting the squeeze on all sorts of incumbents. That is sure to test their relationship with Republican voters at home.Trump's first midterm election is shaping up to be a promising year for Republicans.. He was outspoken in his criticism of the celebrity businessman-turned-president. "If the president governs the way he laid out to the American people . This is going to be a pretty good couple of years," Gardner said. These are the issues that still matter the most to Republican primary voters in Arizona, Flake's advisers say. So are Republicans in Washington. Clinton defeated Trump 48-45. That's why their teams are confident that the senators will LED Tube China get through any primary challenge."I've always had primaries when I was in the House — I had primaries virtually every time, had a big primary in the Senate, had a big general in the Senate last time," he added. The same goes for Heller."The new primary dynamic used to be like the Tea Party versus the Chamber [of Commerce].Flake worked with former President Barack Obama on occasion and supported comprehensive immigration reform legislation that passed the Senate.