In the North Carolina Democratic Primary for U.S. Senate, Elaine Marshall and Cal Cunningham are heading to a runoff election in June, as neither could crack the 40% mark in a crowded field. The winner of the June runoff will challenge Confederate Senator Richard Burr. In other Senate primary races last night, former Senator Dan Coats won his primary and will face Democrat Brad Ellsworth to replace Evan Bayh in Indiana. In Ohio, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher wins over Sec. of State Jennifer Brunner and will face Republican Rob Portman to see who replaces George Voinovich.
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It was a night of winners, as Joe the Plumber won a seat on the Confederate Party Central Committee in Springfield Township, Ohio. Seeing as it was his ramblings that sent the GOP into its current teabagger state, this is excellent news for the continued decline of the Republican Party.
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Here is an interesting side note to the North Carolina primary. Health Shuler and Larry Kissell are both Congressmen from that great state. The conservative Shuler was elected in 2006, and the netroots progressive Kissell was elected in 2008. Due to local political concerns, they both voted against healthcare reform. And they both got what turned out to be a vigorous primary challenge last night, from candidates who raised so little money that each did not file an FEC report (meaning less than $5,000). Shuler won just 61% of the vote, while Rep. Larry Kissell (D) won 62.2%. Their no name opposition garnered nearly 40% of the vote in each case. Progressive protest vote, to be sure.
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In Ohio, former “The Apprentice” contestant Surya Yalamanchili won the right to challenge Mean Jean Schmidt’s seat in the suburbs of Cincinnati. His Democratic opponent had suggested that the district’s voters wouldn’t vote for a name they couldn’t pronounce. Thankfully that idiot was condemned by the state and local Democratic Party, and now, by the district voters themselves.
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From A Price: