Corey Lewandowski balks at Senate bid
After publicly toying with the idea for months, Corey Lewandowski announced Tuesday that he won’t run for U.S. Senate, saying he must instead prioritize his family and President Donald Trump’s reelection in 2020.
Lewandowski, who served as Trump’s campaign manager in 2015 and part of 2016, claimed to be “certain” that he would have beaten Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, who is seeking a third term. Democrats in the state had already begun to push back against Lewandowski’s potential bid, linking him to Trump and Gov. Chris Sununu, who are both up for reelection.
(1/3) After much consideration I have decided to forgo a campaign for the US Senate. While taking on a career politician from the Washington swamp is a tall order, I am certain I would have won. My priorities remain my family and ensuring that @realDonaldTrump is re-elected POTUS
— Corey R. Lewandowski (@CLewandowski_) December 31, 2019
(3/3) One who will support strict constitutionalist judges; and one who will fight for our values, not those of Washington, DC. Accordingly, I will be making an endorsement in the Republican Primary for US Senate in the near future to ensure we defeat Jeanne Shaheen in 2020.
— Corey R. Lewandowski (@CLewandowski_) December 31, 2019
Republicans who have declared their candidacy thus far include retired brigadier general Donald Bolduc, retired Army Ranger and trial attorney Bryant "Corky" Messner, and former New Hampshire House Speaker Bill O’Brien.
In a statement released Tuesday morning, shortly after Lewandowski’s announcement, New Hampshire Democratic Party spokesperson Josh Marcus-Blank sought to portray any and all of Shaheen’s potential GOP challengers as roughly the same.
"Every Republican running for Senate in New Hampshire has stood proudly with Corey Lewandowski and Donald Trump in their efforts to take away health care from tens of thousands of Granite Staters and reverse Roe vs. Wade," Marcus-Blank said.
"While Messner, Bolduc, and O'Brien tear each other down in the contentious primary Lewandowski has left behind, Senator Shaheen will continue working across the aisle for New Hampshire, leading efforts to lower prescription drug costs and making sure veterans and their families get the benefits they deserve."