The tea party was crushed Tuesday night in key races in Kentucky, Idaho and Georgia, and loyalists vow to keep fighting. But in Kentucky, they may be siding with a former foe.
Matt Bevin’s Kentucky Republican primary challenge to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell fell far short and afterwards the Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund offered some hope it could embrace McConnell.
“Matt Bevin ran a tough, uphill, insurgent campaign espousing the values of personal freedom, economic freedom and a debt-free future. He was heavily outspent by an Establishment campaign that fought for the status quo. Sadly, Matt came up short,” said Jenny Beth Martin, the tea party group’s chairman.
She said Bevin “raised issues for tens of thousands of Kentuckians who wanted their voices heard. As we head toward the general election in November, we hope Senator McConnell has heard their voices.
“Of course, we want Alison Grimes to lose in November,” she said of the Democratic nominee. “We want Harry Reid to lose his job. As conservatives, we must unite toward that goal. Now, Senator McConnell must reach out to conservatives and espouse the values of liberty. If he does, and rejects Obamacare and amnesty, he‘ll prevail in November. We hope he chooses wisely.”