Venture capitalist JD Vance’s come-from-behind victory in a crowded Republican primary for a US Senate seat in Ohio produced another winner: former US president Donald Trump.
Mr Vance, making his first bid for public office, defeated six other candidates in Tuesday’s Republican primary contest. All but one of the leading contenders had cast themselves as standard bearers of Mr Trump’s “America First Movement”.
A representative for Mr Trump on Tuesday credited the former president for Mr Vance's win, saying Mr Trump's endorsement “propelled [Mr Vance] into a commanding first place finish".
Mr Trump’s influence has been on display during the primary season, with candidates mimicking his style and staking claim to his legacy.
“Now this campaign, I really think, was a referendum on what kind of a Republican Party we want and what kind of a country we want,” Mr Vance said in his acceptance speech.
The president's endorsements will still be tested in the coming weeks with Republican primaries in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia.
The Ohio primary race was one of the most expensive in the country, with candidates and the committees supporting them spending more than $72 million — mostly to attack each other, media-tracking firm AdImpact reported.
Tuesday’s election took place a day after a leaked draft opinion indicated the Supreme Court was poised to overturn Roe v Wade, an issue that could sway suburban women voters in November’s general election and test whether Ohio has moved squarely away from being a swing state and is now solidly Republican.
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A woman wears a 'Keep Abortion Safe and Legal' sweatshirt outside the Supreme Court. Willy Lowry / The National -
A young woman holds a sign that reads 'Abortion is a human right' in front the Supreme Court. Willy Lowry / The National -
A woman holds a sign that reads: Catholics support abortion access in front of the Supreme Court. Willy Lowry / The National -
Savana Deretich a member of the group Students for Life of America records a video on her phone. Willy Lowry / The National -
A woman makes pro-choice prints in front of the Supreme Court. Willy Lowry / The National -
A pro-life protester squares off with two pro-choice demonstrators. Willy Lowry / The National -
Pro-choice supporters gather in front of the Supreme Court. Willy Lowry / The National -
Pro-choice supporters gather in front of the Supreme Court. Willy Lowry / The National -
A pro-choice protester squares off with two pro-choice demonstrators. Willy Lowry / The National -
A pro-life supporter stands in front of the Supreme Court. Willy Lowry / The National -
Members of the pro-choice group Students for Life of America pose in front of the Supreme Court. Willy Lowry / The National -
A woman makes fliers. Willy Lowry / The National -
People gather in front of the Supreme Court in Washington on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. Willy Lowry / The National -
Pro-choice supporters pose in front of the US Supreme Court. Willy Lowry / The National
Mr Vance now faces US Representative Tim Ryan, who easily won the Democratic Senate primary, in the bid to replace retiring Republican Rob Portman.
Mr Ryan is running a campaign focused on economic issues affecting working-class voters who left the party under Mr Trump and has already released an advertisement attacking Mr Vance’s ties to California.
In his victory speech on Tuesday night at an event in Cincinnati, Mr Vance said Mr Ryan “is running as a Trump Democrat”.
Mr Trump said in a “tele-town hall” call on Monday night that he endorsed Mr Vance because he’s the best candidate to defeat Mr Ryan. But dozens of Ohio Republican county chairmen, state committee members and 2016 delegates for Mr Trump urged the former president not to back Mr Vance.
The former president confused the names of Mr Vance and opponent Josh Mandell when backing the Hillbilly Elegy author at a Sunday rally.
“You know, we’ve endorsed Dr Oz. We’ve endorsed — JP, right? JD Mandel, and he’s doing great. They’re all doing good,” he said.
Mr Vance portrayed the race as a “battle for the soul” of the party between establishment Republicans and populists like Mr Trump and himself.
He even took an “America First” position that he cares more about illegal immigration and drug smuggling at the southern US border than Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Mr Trump’s endorsement came late, after early voting had started. But it helped Mr Vance peak at the right time and give him momentum that generated a sense that his victory was inevitable, said Mark Weaver, a veteran Republican strategist in Ohio.
His other high-profile endorsed candidate in Ohio, former White House aide Max Miller, won the Republican congressional primary in the 7th District against three other candidates.
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Former US President Donald Trump attends a rally to boost Ohio Republican candidates before the May 3 primary election. Reuters -
US Senate Republican candidate JD Vance, a writer and lawyer, was endorsed by Donald Trump for the coming primary elections. Reuters -
Supporters of former US president Donald Trump gather for a Save America rally at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in Ohio. EPA -
Supporters of former US president Donald Trump at Saturday's Save America rally. EPA -
The crowd at the Save America rally at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in Delaware, Ohio. EPA -
At the Save America rally. Reuters -
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose was acknowledged by former president Donald Trump at Saturday's Save America rally at the Delaware County Fairgrounds. AP -
A Trump supporter at Saturday's rally holds up an image of the former US president. AP -
A Trump supporter wears a 'God and guns' T-shirt as she waves two American flags at the Save America rally on Saturday. AP
The Associated Press contributed to this report
