McMahon Wins Conn. GOP Primary

In Connecticut, wealthy former wrestling executive Linda McMahon, the GOP's endorsed candidate, defeated former Rep. Christopher Shays in the Senate primary. Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent, is retiring.

Shays, a moderate who had represented a district anchored by Greenwich and other wealthy suburbs outside New York City since 1987, lost his seat in 2008. He had hoped his Washington experience could blunt McMahon's wealth and official party support.

AP

Wisconsin Republican U.S. Senate candidate... View Full Caption

Wisconsin Republican U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde greets supporters at a GOP campaign office on Monday, Aug. 13, 2012, in Fitchburg, Wis. Hovde, a political newcomer, is in a four-person race for the Republican nomination against former Gov. Tommy Thompson, former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann, and state Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer) Close

McMahon spent about $50 million of her own money in her failed 2010 Senate race. It was the largest amount of money spent on any campaign in state history, as well as the largest amount per vote nationwide. She outspent Shays and attacked him as a career politician.

In Connecticut's Democratic Senate primary, Rep. Chris Murphy, who was the party's endorsed candidate, beat former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz. Looking past Shays, McMahon has already aired an attack ad against Murphy.