Consultant Ann Wagner, Republican of Missouri, held onto her St. Louis-area Home seat on Tuesday, defeating a steep problem by Democrats to ship he
Consultant Ann Wagner, Republican of Missouri, held onto her St. Louis-area Home seat on Tuesday, defeating a steep problem by Democrats to ship her get together a victory in a nationwide battle for political dominance within the suburbs.
Ms. Wagner, a four-term congresswoman and paragon of the Republican institution, prevailed over Jill Schupp, a Democratic state senator, in a race that got here to be seen as a vital battleground. It confirmed the boundaries of Democrats’ attain into conservative-leaning suburbs that had been as soon as thought of Republican strongholds however are actually much more aggressive. Profitable in these districts was a vital factor of Democrats’ push to increase their Home majority.
Democrats, hoping to capitalize on the disillusionment of suburban girls alienated by President Trump, poured thousands and thousands of {dollars} into an effort to flip the district, which consists of a patchwork of white, prosperous municipalities outdoors St. Louis.
However Ms. Wagner, 58, was insistent she would win and present her get together a path towards rebuilding after Democrats worn out dozens of Republicans in 2018. After that loss, she based the Home Suburban Caucus to refocus on points like training, financial growth and well being care that would attraction to districts like hers. She tread rigorously round Mr. Trump, who nonetheless impressed deep loyalty among the many get together base in a lot of the district.
It labored, not less than for now, in line with outcomes reported by The Related Press.
Ms. Wagner was a co-chairwoman of the Republican Nationwide Committee and ambassador to Luxembourg beneath President George W. Bush, earlier than successful her Home seat in 2012.
Ms. Schupp ran a playbook Democrats had employed efficiently across the nation within the Trump period to claw again the Home majority. She hammered Ms. Wagner for her votes to repeal the Reasonably priced Care Act and accused her of siding with “particular pursuits” over seniors on drug pricing. Ms. Schupp additionally accused Republicans of mismanaging a lethal and economically painful pandemic.
Ms. Wagner fought aggressively for re-election, working to sow doubts about Ms. Schupp.
In a closely Catholic district, she highlighted her opposition to abortion, portray Ms. Schupp as outdoors the mainstream. After a summer season of generally violent racial justice protests in St. Louis, she declared hers a “legislation and order district” and accused Ms. Schupp of eager to defund the police. And though she promoted laws defending pre-existing situations, Ms. Wagner portrayed Ms. Schupp as a liberal radical masquerading as a average who would socialize the nation’s well being care.
Ms. Wagner by no means broke with Mr. Trump, whose divisive language and combative fashion, even within the face of a world well being disaster, alienated many citizens. Like different Republicans making an attempt to carry on in swing districts and states this 12 months, she wagered that it was higher to face by him and have a good time insurance policies like tax cuts and deregulation whereas stressing her personal stylistic variations with the president.
“We now have an excessive distinction, definitely, in tenor, in tone, in tweet storms and ‘Take a look at the shiny object over right here,’” Ms. Wagner informed St. Louis Public Radio within the last weeks of the marketing campaign. “I don’t get distracted by that. I do consider that his insurance policies — many and most of his insurance policies have been very, very sound for the US of America.”