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Biden-Backed Shontel Brown Defeats Progressive Nina Turner In Ohio Democratic Primary

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Updated Aug 4, 2021, 10:17am EDT

Topline

Shontel Brown, a candidate backed by the Democratic party establishment, managed to ward off her progressive challenger in a primary for the 11th Congressional district in Ohio, in a race that drew national attention as it became a proxy battle between the Democratic party establishment and its progressive left-wing.

Key Facts

Brown, who promised to be a loyal supporter of President Biden and his agenda, defeated former Bernie Sanders surrogate Nina Turner.

Turner conceded the race around 10 p.m. ET, telling her supporters not to be sad as “we still have more work to do.”

With the Ohio 11th district leaning heavily Democratic, Brown is now the favorite to win the November election to replace former Rep. Marcia Fudge, who joined President Biden’s cabinet as housing secretary.

In a separate Congressional primary race in the redder-leaning Ohio 15th district, Trump-endorsed newcomer Mike Carey easily beat out 11 rivals which included several established names in Ohio politics.

Key Background

For months, Turner both outraised Brown and built an early lead in the polling. But Brown, the chair of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party, managed to close the lead significantly in the final weeks after gaining support from national surrogates including Congressional Black Caucus member Jim Clyburn. Moderate Democratic groups also unleashed an advertising blitz attacking Turner’s professionalism and even compared her political style to that of Trump. In her concession speech, Turner claimed “evil money” had manipulated and maligned the election and said she would work to ensure this never happens to a progressive candidate again. In the 15th district Republican race, newcomer Carey’s win will once again help shore up Trump’s credibility as the kingmaker in the Republican party. That credibility had taken a hit last week after a candidate he endorsed lost a special House election in Texas.

Further Watching

Further Reading

Shontel Brown, who stuck close to Biden, wins Democratic primary for House seat in Ohio (NBC News)

Democratic Insider and a Republican Backed by Trump Win Ohio House Races (New York Times)

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