DENVER — Construction CEO Joe O'Dea decisively won the Republican nominee for United States Senate last night.
Here is a recap of some coverage last night and today, in case you missed it.
America's Newsroom — Joe joined Dana Perino (who grew up in Colorado!) to talk about his big win.
The Denver Post: Joe O’Dea beats Ron Hanks in GOP senate primary, to face U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet in November
O’Dea positioned himself as the more moderate option, explicitly telling reporters he’s less interested in divisive social issues than pocketbook things like inflation. He highlights his biography as an adopted son of a Denver police officer who went on to found a construction company. This is his first run for political office.
During his victory speech, he said he’d work with “reasonable people on both sides of the aisle, and stand up to the extremes.” He’d be “like a Republican Joe Manchin,” he added. Manchin is the Democratic West Virginia senator who anchors the conservative wing of his party and serves as a foil to many Democrats’ aims of expanded social programs.
The Hill: O’Dea wins GOP primary to challenge Bennet
O’Dea beat out state Rep. Ron Hanks, branding himself as a political outsider. The construction company executive ran on conservative bread-and-butter issues like inflation, backing law enforcement and reducing the national debt.
Colorado Public Radio: Joe O’Dea is the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate
While Colorado has tilted blue in recent elections, O’Dea is considered by many in the Republican establishment to be the candidate who has the greatest chance of besting Bennet in November.
O’Dea has made kitchen table issues like inflation and crime the bedrock of his campaign, unlike Hanks who focused on issues important to the base, such as election security.
Roll Call: Rating change: O’Dea win means Colorado’s Bennet faces tougher race
Construction company owner Joe O’Dea won the GOP nomination on Tuesday, giving Republicans a credible challenger to Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet in a race that could break their way if the political environment continues to trend away from President Joe Biden’s Democrats.
Colorado Sun: Joe O’Dea beats Ron Hanks in Colorado’s Republican U.S. Senate primary
O’Dea, who owns a Denver construction company, had 55% of the vote compared to the 45% of the vote that went to Hanks as of 2 a.m. Wednesday. Votes were still being counted, but it was clear that O’Dea had cruised to victory and will face Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet in November.
All of that money and effort, however, didn’t work. O’Dea appeared to be headed toward a commanding victory in the race.
Democrats made it clear that they preferred to have Hanks face Bennet in the November general election because they saw O’Dea as a more formidable opponent. And in a primary election in which polling showed voters didn’t really know either candidate, there was a potential for the spending to make a big difference.
Learn more about O'Dea's campaign here.
Original source can be found here
