“I don’t think 2020 is what people will want to think about,” Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told CNN when asked about Mastriano’s allegations.
The fear among Senate Republicans is that if Magriano falls apart in the general election, it could hurt their Senate candidate, according to several Republican sources. GOP Senate primary elections have not yet been called. Concerns over Mastriano underscore the growing divisions in the Republican Party over fake allegations by former President Donald Trump about the 2020 election, especially among those who say such allegations would hurt the party’s election chances in November.
GOP Whip Senate John Thune also expressed concern about Mastriano’s previous comments, telling CNN: “Some of the statements I think this man has made are not perfect.” He added: “But I think people, I hope, when it comes to the autumn elections, are very perceptive and will be able to distinguish the governor candidate from the Senate candidate.”
Other GOP senators had a similar message.
“If you’re running across the state, you have to know the state, and I think in some of these particularly combative states, that may not be a winning message,” said Sen. Tom Tillis of North Carolina about the stolen election allegations of Masstiano.
Tillis said Republicans need to focus on economic and border issues – not 2020.
“Why focus on things where you can split up evenly or have a losing battle?” Tillis said.
Others were clear that Mastriano was not their preferred candidate.
“It wouldn’t be my choice,” said Utah Sen. Mitt Romney.
GOP Sen. Pat Toomie of Pennsylvania, whose retirement creates a vacancy in the Senate, told CNN that he did not know Mastriano and did not vote for him – and instead supported candidate Bill Maxwayne. But he said he would “suspend Mastriano’s judgment” until he met him and talked to him.
Asked about Mastriano’s false allegations about the 2020 election, Tumi said: “I am aware that he said things I would not agree with.”
Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said the GOP Senate candidate’s commitment to Mastriano would be “natural” and Democrats would try to “show that Republicans have nominated far-right candidates and for both the governor and the Senate, and that increases our ability to win. “
Tumi downplayed the influence Mastriano would have on other Republican candidates in the state.
“I think these are separate competitions, really separate competitions. So I feel very good about our prospects of retaining the Senate seat, “he said.
Others said voters must judge the truth about 2020.
“I just encourage all voters to look at it objectively, not only what you read on the Internet, but also what seems real, to make your own decision,” said GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.
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