WASHINGTON - Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson won the Republican nomination for a U.S. Senate seat Tuesday that the party is trying to capture for the first time in more than five decades.Thompson's win was one of the premier races as four states held primaries: Florida, Connecticut, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
The former governor and Health and Human Services secretary under President George W. Bush defeated three GOP rivals and marked Thompson's first time on the ballot since 1998.
He advances to face Democrat Tammy Baldwin in the Nov. 6 election. The seat became open with the retirement of Democrat Herb Kohl.
In Florida, longtime Republican Rep. John Mica turned back a challenge from Rep. Sandy Adams, a tea party freshman, in their GOP primary.
The 10-term congressman, who wields considerable Capitol Hill clout as chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is expected to win in November in the Republican-leaning district. Adams fell short despite backing from Sarah Palin.
Mica and Adams had landed in the same central Florida district due to redistricting, and the result was a nasty member-vs.-member primary.
Mica's victory was a disappointment for tea party forces and other conservative activists hoping to add to big wins this year in the Indiana and Texas GOP Senate primaries. Tea party candidates scored major gains in the 2010 congressional races, but they have had mixed success since then.
Also in Florida, Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson will face Republican Connie Mack IV in November after winning handily in their primaries.
In Wisconsin, Thompson was governor for 14 years, but his party had become more conservative since he joined the Bush administration in 2001.
Former Rep. Mark Neumann boasted the most support from tea party groups, including the Tea Party Express, as well as the conservative Club for Growth and Sens. Jim DeMint (R., S.C.) and Rand Paul (R., Ky.). Polls suggested Neumann had surged in recent weeks, putting him in position to pull a late surprise.
In Connecticut, former wrestling executive Linda McMahon, the GOP's endorsed candidate, beat former Rep. Christopher Shays in the Senate primary there. Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent, is retiring.
McMahon will face Democratic Rep. Chris Murphy, who beat former Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz.
The former governor and Health and Human Services secretary under President George W. Bush defeated three GOP rivals and marked Thompson's first time on the ballot since 1998.
He advances to face Democrat Tammy Baldwin in the Nov. 6 election. The seat became open with the retirement of Democrat Herb Kohl.
In Florida, longtime Republican Rep. John Mica turned back a challenge from Rep. Sandy Adams, a tea party freshman, in their GOP primary.
The 10-term congressman, who wields considerable Capitol Hill clout as chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is expected to win in November in the Republican-leaning district. Adams fell short despite backing from Sarah Palin.
Mica and Adams had landed in the same central Florida district due to redistricting, and the result was a nasty member-vs.-member primary.
Mica's victory was a disappointment for tea party forces and other conservative activists hoping to add to big wins this year in the Indiana and Texas GOP Senate primaries. Tea party candidates scored major gains in the 2010 congressional races, but they have had mixed success since then.
Also in Florida, Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson will face Republican Connie Mack IV in November after winning handily in their primaries.
In Wisconsin, Thompson was governor for 14 years, but his party had become more conservative since he joined the Bush administration in 2001.
Former Rep. Mark Neumann boasted the most support from tea party groups, including the Tea Party Express, as well as the conservative Club for Growth and Sens. Jim DeMint (R., S.C.) and Rand Paul (R., Ky.). Polls suggested Neumann had surged in recent weeks, putting him in position to pull a late surprise.
In Connecticut, former wrestling executive Linda McMahon, the GOP's endorsed candidate, beat former Rep. Christopher Shays in the Senate primary there. Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent, is retiring.
McMahon will face Democratic Rep. Chris Murphy, who beat former Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz.