Huelskamp loses in primary

by Lisa Hagen - 08/02/16 11:28 PM ET

Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.) is projected to lose his GOP primary, making him the fourth House incumbent this cycle to be defeated in a primary.

{mosads}Huelskamp, a House Freedom Caucus member who helped push out former Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), was defeated by physician Roger Marshall in a primary for a safe Republican seat.

He now joins Reps. Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.), Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.) and Randy Forbes (R-Va.), who all lost primaries this year.

The race was close after polls closed, and Huelskamp’s campaign asked the media to leave its watch party in Hutchinson, Kan., as it waited for results, according to The Associated Press. The AP called the race close to 11:30 p.m.

Conservative groups that are typically allies found themselves on opposite sides of the Kansas primary fight.

The Kansas Farm Bureau and Ending Spending Action Fund opposed Huelskamp for his vote against the farm bill. He was kicked off the Agriculture and Budget committees in recent years for frequently bucking Boehner and establishment Republicans.

But the Kansas Republican received support from the Club for Growth and the network of conservative donors helmed by billionaires Charles and David Koch.

New York Times chief Washington correspondent Carl Hulse tweeted a picture of Boehner enjoying a glass of red wine as he awaited a final result.

Turns out Speaker Boehner is indeed enjoying Kansas primary night. Just received this from former staffer! pic.twitter.com/hIzmFt8hn0

— carl hulse (@hillhulse) August 3, 2016