Corey Stewart may have won over Republican voters in Virginia, but he hasn‘t gotten the support of many GOP lawmakers. | Calla Kessler/The Washington Post via AP Senate GOP shuns Stewart in Virginia The National Republican Senatorial Committee hasn’t endorsed the divisive GOP nominee and has no plans to spend money on the race.

President Donald Trump may be excited about Corey Stewart’s primary win in the Virginia Senate race, but Senate Republicans certainly aren’t.

The Senate GOP's campaign arm hasn't endorsed Stewart, who has made defending Confederate monuments a central plank of his political career. And its chairman said that the committee has "no plans" to spend any money on Stewart in his race against Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.).


"At the senatorial committee we're focusing on Missouri, Indiana, North Dakota, Montana, West Virginia and Florida. There are great races around the country. [Virginia] is not the map," said National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Cory Gardner (R-Colo.). "We have a big map this year, and what I've laid out in races that I've talked about, Virginia's not on it."

"Sometimes in the primary process, the thing we try and get done is get the most electable candidate on the ballot in the fall. And that doesn't always happen," conceded Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the No. 3 GOP leader.

And Thune, like other Republicans expressed ignorance of Stewart despite his affinity for earning press with stunts like protesting outside the RNC in 2016, which got him ousted from Trump's official campaign apparatus. Stewart also drew criticism for refusing to condemn white nationalists after last year’s violent rally in Charlottesville.

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), said he has "no idea who he is. Not at all."

And Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas, a two-time NRSC chair, couldn’t say whether he will endorse Stewart because he doesn’t know him.

“I’ve just heard a few things about him,” Cornyn said. “I just don’t know anything about him.”

The feeling is mutual. Stewart held a press conference outside the NRSC in May to rail against party leaders for not supporting his campaign.

But the president has something else in mind.

"Congratulations to Corey Stewart for his great victory for Senator from Virginia. Now he runs against a total stiff, Tim Kaine, who is weak on crime and borders, and wants to raise your taxes through the roof. Don’t underestimate Corey, a major chance of winning!" Trump tweeted Wednesday morning.

Congratulations to Corey Stewart for his great victory for Senator from Virginia. Now he runs against a total stiff, Tim Kaine, who is weak on crime and borders, and wants to raise your taxes through the roof. Don’t underestimate Corey, a major chance of winning! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 13, 2018

Stewart has vowed to run an aggressive race against Kaine, much in the mold of Trump, and is drawing plaudits from the White House. Virginia is also in Trump's backyard and will make for an easy campaign trip if the president is so inclined.

GOP leaders had hoped to block Stewart, making a late play to boost state Del. Nick Freitas, who narrowly lost to Stewart on Tuesday evening. Republicans said privately it's a huge blow to the Virginia GOP's down-ticket races, particularly in competitive House races, even if they never saw a serious path to defeating Kaine.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who did events and campaign work for Freitas, said he was "disappointed" in the result and refused to say he will support Stewart. He said the race is now up to the "people of Virginia."

"I guess I didn't do enough. But it was really close," Paul said of Freitas. "He would have been great to the party because he'd bring new people into the party.

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Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) said supporting Kaine over Stewart “has crossed my mind.”

“I don’t think he has a prayer,” Flake said. “I won’t be doing anything for Stewart, I’ll put it that way.”

Democrats, meanwhile, were ebullient that the GOP had nominated Stewart, who wants to protect Confederate monuments nationwide and like Trump, is focused on cracking down on illegal immigration.

"It's going to be a real choice for Virginians, because he's told everybody it's going to be ruthless and vicious. And I'm going to be an upbeat problem solver," Kaine said in an interview. "It's a race not just about two people, but it's like: Who does Virginia see when we look ourselves in the mirror."

Elana Schor contributed to this report.