The RINO Establishment supported primary challenges against party-endorsed Republican candidates like Nathan Wesenberg (SD10), Mike Wiener (SD5), Aaron Brutger (SD13), Mark Striemer (10A), John Jose (14A), Sara Bertschinger (20B), and Natalie Barnes (54B). In 5 of those 7 races, the party-endorsed candidates defeated the RINOs.

As seen in recent A4L reporting, Wesenberg won his primary with over 74% of the vote. Despite MCCL, RINO Ron Kresha, and other Establishment forces trying to tear Wesenberg down, he prevailed due to massive grassroots support. In the deep red district of SD10, Democrats have no chance at defeating Wesenberg in the general election.

In the 10A race, party-endorsed businessman Mark Striemer defeated Brian Lindquist. Lindquist pledged in writing to abide by the party endorsement but chose to file for the primary on the last day of the filing period. Striemer defeated Lindquist in the primary by over 14%.

Like SD10, deep red SD5 had a GOP primary for the State Senate seat. Incumbent Paul Utke was easily defeated by State Rep. Mike Wiener for the party endorsement for Senate. Local sources tell A4L that MCCL sent a mailer supporting Utke toward the end of the campaign. Though the media falsely reported the results in this race last night and had to put out a correction story, Wiener prevailed with a narrow victory. While Wiener’s voting record could use some improving, he will clearly bring stronger conservative representation for the district than RINO Paul Utke is doing.

As seen in previous A4L reporting, Sara Bertschinger (20B) had an unendorsed RINO opponent who wants to eliminate the caucus and party endorsement process. Bertschinger won with nearly two-thirds of the votes in the primary.

Nurse Natalie Barnes, who had run against RINO Eric Pratt in 2024 for State Senate, won the party endorsement for State Rep in district 54B. In this cycle, Pratt endorsed Barnes. One of the individuals who Natalie defeated for the GOP endorsement, Chris Steward, continued his campaign to the primary. Barnes defeated Steward by winning over 66% of the vote.

The Establishment was able to undermine the local party endorsement in two cases this primary. This included the 14A race between party-endorsed conservative John Jose and RINO-backed Mike Conway. The other race was the Senate District 13 race between party-endorsed Aaron Brutger and RINO-backed Jared Gapinski. Aside from the Establishment RINOs like Jeff Howe working against him, Brutger likely struggled convincing GOP primary voters that he was the conservative candidate in the race since he has a punkish lip-ring on his face.

In five of seven contested primary races between party-endorsed candidates and Establishment RINO opponents, the grassroots was successful. The local wins for conservatives show that it is often more effective to organize locally.

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