Conservatives celebrate defeat of Renee Ellmers in North Carolina primary
By Seth McLaughlin - The Washington Times - Updated: 9:52 p.m. on Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Conservative groups celebrated Rep. George Holding’s primary victory over Rep. Renee Ellmers in a North Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District.
Mrs. Ellmers had a big bull’s-eye on her back coming into the race after staking out positions that angered various segments of the GOP — including pro-life activists and opponents of legalizing illegal immigrants.
That is why some were surprised that Mrs. Elmers received an endorsement from Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee who has called for an aggressive crackdown on illegal immigration.
Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, said Mrs. Ellmers‘ record on pro-life issues came back to haunt her in the primary against Mr. Holding.
“Susan B. Anthony List exists to support and amplify pro-life women’s voices. Rep. Renee Ellmers was our ally until she led the charge to derail the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. That’s why we had to flex the political muscle of the pro-life movement,” Ms. Dannenfelser said. “She has her own failed leadership to blame for this loss.”
Mrs. Ellmers was forced into a primary with Mr. Holding after a court-mandated redistricting redrew the state’s congressional lines.
David McIntosh, president of the Club for Growth, a top Trump critic, said that Mrs. Ellmers‘ loss “should be warning to any Republican who campaigns as an economic conservative, but votes for massive spending bills and for corrupt cronyism like the Export-Import Bank.”
“Voters confirmed that Ellmers had rejected their values and become part of the big-government establishment in Washington,” Mr. McIntosh said.
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