Flake challenger: Trump ‘is what the country wanted’

Sen. Jeff Flake’s (R-Ariz.) primary challenger praised President Trump’s agenda on Sunday, saying he has “lofty” goals that need to be accomplished. 

“I think President Trump and his leadership is what the country wanted — that’s why he’s in the White House — and I think he’s got lofty goals that we should accomplish that will put America first,” Kelli Ward told Fox News’s Maria Bartiromo on “Sunday Morning Futures.” 

{mosads}Ward was responding to speculation that establishment Republicans could mount a 2020 primary challenge against the president, which Ward said “would be a big mistake for the establishment wing of the Republican Party to attempt.” 

Flake said last Thursday that Trump is “inviting” a 2020 challenger because he is paying too much attention to appealing to his base. 

Ward’s comments come after a report surfaced last week that Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) and Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) were considering a challenge to Trump in 2020. 

Hickenlooper later dismissed the report. 

Ward, a Republican state senator, is mounting a 2018 challenge to Flake, who is a vocal critic of Trump. 

The president has repeatedly praised Ward while targeting Flake. 

Great to see that Dr. Kelli Ward is running against Flake Jeff Flake, who is WEAK on borders, crime and a non-factor in Senate. He’s toxic!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 17, 2017