After a chat with President Trump, Las Vegas businessman Danny Tarkanian has changed his mind about running against Sen. Dean Heller (R) in Nevada. He will be redirecting his efforts toward the state's 3rd congressional district.
ABC NEWS: Danny Tarkanian, GOP Senate candidate who had been mounting primary challenge to Nevada Sen. Dean Heller, drops bid after outreach from Pres. Trump. He will instead run for Congress in Nevada's 3rd congressional district. pic.twitter.com/lSbgNeQUIy
— Josh Caplan (@joshdcaplan) March 16, 2018
Trump confirmed that that was his wish on Twitter, while complimenting both men.
It would be great for the Republican Party of Nevada, and it’s unity if good guy Danny Tarkanian would run for Congress and Dean Heller, who is doing a really good job, could run for Senate unopposed!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 16, 2018
Trump sticking his neck out for Heller may have seemed out of the question last year. Trump publicly scolded the senator over the summer for waffling on the GOP effort to repeal and replace Obamacare. He did so while sitting right next to him at a White House lunch.
"He wants to remain a senator, doesn't he?" the president said, clearly meaning to the man to his right.
TRUMP to HELLER: "Look, he wants to remain a senator, doesn't he?" pic.twitter.com/LFiwuEY693
— JM Rieger (@RiegerReport) July 19, 2017
It now appears that Heller's rebellion on the Obamacare vote is long forgotten. It came at a good time too. In October, it was clear that Tarkarian was giving the senator a run for his money.
