 |
| House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., speaks about the
Republican tax bill and tax reform on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
on November 7, 2017. Crowley lost his primary challenge on Tuesday. File
Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
License Photo
|
By Ray Downs, UPI
Rep. Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., the fourth-ranking member of the House Democrats, was defeated by 28-year-old Democratic Socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in a primary race Tuesday night.
Crowley, 56, hadn't lost a primary in 14 years in his district, which encompasses Bronx and Queens, N.Y. And was widely believed to be the successor to Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., as the House Minority leader. But those plans were stopped by Ocasio, who launched an upstart campaign based on being more progressive and more attuned to working class needs.
Crowley was predicted to win the race against Ocasio, a former presidential campaign staffer for Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and had the backing of the Democratic Party establishment. But Ocasio won nearly 58 percent of the vote, compared to Crowley's 42 percent.
"Almost two years ago, I started what was then a completely 'impossible' bid for Congress. Since then, everything has changed," Ocasio wrote on Twitter shortly before the race was called in her favor.
President Donald Trump took the time to blast Crowley, a fellow Queens native who has been a harsh critic.
"Wow! Big Trump Hater Congressman Joe Crowley, who many expected was going to take Nancy Pelosi's place, just LOST his primary election. In other words, he's out!" Trump tweeted. "That is a big one that nobody saw happening. Perhaps he should have been nicer, and more respectful, to his President!"
Ocasio will go on to face Republican candidate Anthony Pappas and Conservative Party candidate Elizabeth Perri in November. But Democratic candidates in the Bronx and Queens are usually heavily favored to win congressional seats.
If Ocasio wins in November, she will become the youngest woman ever elected to Congress.
In Maryland, former NAACP President Ben Jealous won the Democratic primary for governor. Jealous, who like Ocasio, worked on the 2016 Sanders campaign, defeated a crowded field of Democratic challengers, including attorney Rushern Baker, by capturing 40 percent of the vote.
Jealous will go on to face incumbent Republican Gov. Larry Hogan in November.
In Colorado, the seat for governor is open and Democratic Rep. Jared Polis will represent his party in November against Republican winner Walker Stapleton.
Both candidates easily won their primary races, with Polis taking 45 percent of Democrats' votes and Stapleton taking 49 percent of the GOP tally.
Oklahoma's governor seat is also open, with many Republicans facing off each other to replace Republican Gov. Mary Fallin. But Mick Cornett squeaked out a victory with 29 percent of the vote, beating Kevin Sitt and Todd Lamb, who each won 24 percent.
Cornett will face Democrat Drew Edmondson, who easily won the Democratic primary with 62 percent.
Former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney is likely to be the next Senator of Utah after easily winning the GOP primary there with 73 percent of the vote. Romney, a former Governor of Massachusetts, will face Democratic candidate Jenny Wilson in November.
South Carolina concluded its run offs on Tuesday, with incumbent Republican Gov. Henry McMaster eating his challenger, John Warren.
And in Mississippi, David Beria beat Howard Sherman in a race to represent the Democrats in November against incumbent Sen. Roger Wicker
COMMENTS