Hung Cao wins Virginia Senate GOP primary

Retired Navy Capt. Hung Cao has won the Senate GOP primary in Virginia to take on Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) this November, according to Decision Desk HQ.  

Cao, who received former President Trump’s endorsement in May, fended off a small handful of Republican challengers in the Republican contest.  

Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), chairman of the Senate Republicans’ campaign arm, said in a statement following Cao’s win in the primary that Virginia was a “real pickup opportunity” with Cao as their nominee.

“Hung Cao graduated from the Naval Academy and served our country honorably for decades. In Washington, Hung will fight to secure our border, improve education, and get prices under control,” Daines said. 

Cao, a retired Navy captain, is a familiar face given he ran against Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-Va.) in 2022 in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, though he lost to the Democrat by more than 6 points that cycle. 

Cao’s fight for the seat against Kaine is an uphill battle, though, as the nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates Kaine’s seat “solid Democrat.” 

At the same time, Cao benefits from polling in the state that’s shown President Biden and Trump in a tighter-than-expected match-up. An average of Virginia polls compiled by The Hill and Decision Desk HQ shows Trump and Biden tied at 44 percent support.  

Updated on June 19 at 8:41 a.m. EDT