Smackdown: McMahon Wins Connecticut Primary

Former professional wrestling executive Linda McMahon will be Connecticut’s Republican Senatorial candidate after securing a 48% victory over businessman Peter Schiff and Rep. Rob Simmons (R-Conn.) in the state’s GOP primary.

McMahon, the spouse of World Wrestling Entertainment figurehead Vince McMahon, will be going up against state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal. A poll released last week by Quinnipiac University puts Blumenthal ahead by 10%, a noticeable decline from his 17 percent lead in mid-July.

As the general campaign opens, McMahon has downplayed the effect her WWE career will have on the race. However, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee issued a statement shortly after McMahon won accusing the candidate of turning a blind eye to questionable practices within the enterprise.

“Connecticut Republicans today nominated a corporate CEO of WWE, who under her watch violence was peddled to kids, steroid abuse was rampant, yet she made her millions,” the statement reads. “Connecticut voters will face a choice between a corporate CEO who looked out for herself, and a crusading Attorney General who has spent his career looking out for them.”

Connecticut’s primary was one of four that took place Tuesday. In Colorado, Senate Democrat Michael Bennet won his party’s nod and former Minnesota Senator Mark Dayton won the Democratic gubernatorial primary. In Georgia, the results for a run-off in Georgia’s GOP gubernatorial race are too close to call.