Mitch McConnell’s Big Night

Tuesday night could have theoretically gone better for Mitch McConnell, but not by much. Voters selected Republican Senate nominees in three states that were won overwhelmingly by Donald Trump in 2016, and instead of picking wacky outsiders who could torpedo the party's chances in November, the rank-and-file opted for nominees who should be able to capably carry the torch for the next six months.

Morrisey beats Blankenship, Jenkins in West Virginia’s GOP primary

Morrisey beats Blankenship, Jenkins in West Virginia's GOP primary Morrisey's win likely boosts the GOP's chances against Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin in November's general election. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: https://usat.ly/2It9F0x West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey speaks during a press conference at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC on February 27, 2018.

The Latest: Blankenship concedes West Virginia Senate race

Cheryl Dolan of Alum Creek, W.Va, discusses her vote in the West Virginia Republican primary Tuesday, May 8, 2018, outside a polling place in Alum Creek. She said she appreciates the work that state Sen. Richard Ojeda of Logan County did to advance a bill through the West Virginia Legislature last year to make medical marijuana legal.

GOP frets over West Virginia as 4 states decide primaries

In this Jan. 18, 2018, file photo, former Massey CEO and West Virginia Republican Senatorial candidate, Don Blankenship, speaks during a town hall to kick off his campaign in Logan, W.Va. Voters in the heart of Trump country are ready to decide the fate of Republican Senate candidate Don Blankenship, a brash businessman with a checkered past who's testing the appeal of President Donald Trump's outsider playbook in one of the nation's premiere midterm contests.

In West Virginia, we’re about to find out whether there’s …

Interpretation of the news based on evidence, including data, as well as anticipating how events might unfold based on past events Is there such a thing in today's Republican Party as too anti-establishment? Is already being a member of Congress enough to sink your candidacy for Congress? And could a wealth of opportunity for Republicans to unseat Senate Democrats this November actually end up backfiring? Those are the key questions facing the Republicans in divisive congressional and gubernatorial primaries Tuesday in West Virginia, Indiana, Ohio and North Carolina. Democrats have their own intraparty drama that could portend what happens in November, which we'll get to.

Divisive former coal baron at center of party-backed super PAC primary fight

Former coal mogul Don Blankenship is at the center of a party-backed, super PAC , Senate primary fight in West Virginia as groups with obscure names and undisclosed donors spend millions. The proxy fight -- an effort to sway the Republican primary by influencing whether Blankenship makes it onto the ballot in November - has made the Senate bid one of the most expensive races so far this year.

Problems increase for GOP from ex-con candidate

Republican Don Blankenship doesn't care if his party and his president don't think he can beat Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin this fall. This former coal mining executive, an ex-convict released from prison less than a year ago, is willing to risk his personal fortune and the Republican Party's golden opportunity in West Virginia for the chance to prove them all wrong.

Ex-con candidate compounding GOP woes in West Virginia Source: AP

Republican Don Blankenship doesn't care if his party and his president don't think he can beat Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin this fall. This former coal mining executive, an ex-convict released from prison less than a year ago, is willing to risk his personal fortune and the Republican Party's golden opportunity in West Virginia for the chance to prove them all wrong.

Ex-con candidate compounding GOP woes in West Virginia

In this Jan. 18, 2018, file photo, former Massey CEO and West Virginia Republican Senatorial candidate, Don Blankenship, speaks during a town hall to kick off his campaign in Logan, W.Va. Blankenship doesn't care if his party and his president don't think he can beat Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin this fall.

‘It’s very humbling,’ Huntington fire chief says of making Time 100 list

A West Virginia fire chief is joining other global leaders, advocates, artists, scientists, activists and entrepreneurs on the Time 100 list for 2018. "But I think that the bigger picture here is that the world is actually paying attention to all the positive things Huntington, West Virginia is doing to turn the tide in this epidemic."

GOP Senate hopefuls set to debate April 23

Six months ago, no one predicted the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate during the May 8 primary election would be anything but a two-person race between current U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins and West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey.

As Teacher Rebellion Catches Fire, Oklahoma’s GOP Governor…

As teachers in the historically red states of Oklahoma , Kentucky , and Arizona are following in the footsteps of educators in West Virginia and turning out in droves to demand higher pay, reliable pensions, and greater government investments in the public school system, s ome Republican state leaders are sticking to their narrative that teachers are simply asking for too much-a strategy that could backfire during the November midterm elections. Her comments followed fiery remarks by Kentucky Republican Gov. Matt Bevin, who last month said that educators who were protesting legislation that would slash their retirement benefits were "ignorant," "remarkably selfish," and "throwing a temper tantrum."

Teachers in two states shut schools over pay

Thousands of teachers in Oklahoma and Kentucky walked off the job Monday morning, shutting down school districts as they protested cuts in pay, benefits and school funding. The state Capitol in Kentucky filled with teachers protesting pension changes and demanding increased school funding.

Oklahoma teachers who just got raises rally for more funding

But some teachers are saying the legislation signed by Gov. Mary Fallin last week was not enough. The measure increases taxes on cigarettes, fuel and oil and gas production to provide teachers with raises of about $6,100, or 15 to 18 Passage followed threats by educators to walk out of classrooms beginning Monday, following the lead of teachers in West Virginia who won a 5 Alicia Priest, president of the Oklahoma Education Association teachers union, said Monday's rally could lead to a longer walkout as teachers from across the state press their demands that lawmakers approve more funding for state classrooms.