A little-watched Republican primary is dividing close allies of President Trump as politicians in Washington battle counterparts in Wisconsin for influence over a recently vacated congressional district in a key battleground state.
On one side are Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, and Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas, who have endorsed Afghanistan war combat veteran and first-time candidate Jason Church. On the other side are former congressman Sean Duffy and former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who are backing state Senator Tom Tiffany, a fixture of the GOP establishment in northern Wisconsin. Duffy held the seat until unexpectedly resigning from the House this fall.
Publicly, the factions have downplayed the scuffle, claiming that either Republican would be a good addition to Congress. But privately, both sides want to put their stamp on an important pro-Trump congressional district, installing a critical partner who might prove politically useful down the line.
“I don’t think you’d see Sen. Cotton saying negative things about Tom Tiffany, and you won’t find me saying negative things about Jason Church,” Duffy told the Washington Examiner. “I know what I’m getting for certain with Tom Tiffany, and that’s why I’ve endorsed him — he’s a good conservative.”
Indeed, Cotton declined to criticize Tiffany, 61, focusing instead on what drew him to Church, 30, who lost both legs to an improvised explosive device and walks with prosthetics.
“I met Jason, and I respect his service and his sacrifice and positive attitude,” Cotton said. “I’ve grown to respect him as a new conservative outsider, of the kind we need in Washington, D.C.”
Both Cotton and Church are combat veterans of 21st century wars — Cotton of Iraq and Church of Afghanistan. Both have law degrees and an interest in national security issues — Church previously worked as a military aide to Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin.
But for Cotton, who will cruise to reelection in 2020 and could run for president in 2024, supporting Church marks his first significant play as an electoral powerbroker out of Arkansas since coming to Congress. And he’s doing so in a swing state critical to Trump’s governing coalition.
Cotton has been heavily involved in raising money for Church, introducing him to the major Republican donors in his Rolodex, assisting with online and direct-mail fundraising, and headlining fundraising events — as he is scheduled to do in January. Cotton also is acting as Church’s Sherpa in Congress, introducing him to Republicans and urging them to endorse.
Cotton is appearing on both Wisconsin and national media outlets for Church and plans to stump for him in the 7th District next month ahead of the Feb. 18 Republican primary. Trump is neutral, although his endorsement in a district that delivered 57.7% of the vote to him in 2016 would be welcome.
