Incumbent Senator Loses Primary to Challenger

An incumbent Republican senator lost a primary election on Tuesday to the state attorney general. The challenger won by 28 percentage points. The defeated senator told reporters after the concession speech that support for the Republican ticket would continue in the fall. The president described the senator as a friend and noted the decades of Senate service.

Senate leadership now faces another retiring member with reduced incentive to support the president's agenda. Leadership can afford to lose only three Republican votes on party-line measures. The retiring senator serves on two committees that may review Cabinet nominations in coming months. A single opposing vote could block nominees, as occurred with a Federal Reserve chairman earlier.

Two other retiring Republican senators have occasionally differed with the president on policy. One has criticized administration actions on foreign policy and a Justice Department fund. " Senators began a Memorial Day recess after the primary. Lawmakers return Monday, when the defeated senator will resume committee work.