There have been a number of recent articles essentially saying congressional incumbents are not paying the price at the polls this election year for their support of Ukraine.  Obviously, this relates to Republican incumbents, and while this is not a partisan email, we do believe it is worth noting this weekend. The Wall Street Journal’s editorial emphasizes a truth coming out of the Republican primaries – Republican primary voters are not voting against incumbents who have supported Ukraine.

We hope all candidates and officeholders take note.

Republicans Win on Support for Ukraine

The vote for military aid has made no difference in GOP primaries.

By The Editorial Board | June 27, 2024, 5:36 pm ET

The cartoon is from The Economist

The prevailing press narrative is that nearly all Republicans are isolationists who want to withdraw from the world and leave a beleaguered Ukraine to fend for itself. Yet candidates running hard against U.S. support for Ukraine are getting thumped in GOP primaries. Let’s hope Donald Trump is reading these political tea leaves.

Exhibit No. 1 is Utah’s Senate primary this week. “It’s time to get out of Ukraine and close our border,” Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs tweeted this spring, repeating the phony choice between Kyiv and the U.S. southern border. Not even an endorsement from Mr. Trump could help against Rep. John Curtis, who won 49.9%-31.1%. Rep. Curtis supported this spring’s aid package in Congress: “Sending aid now can save American lives later.”

Or consider Idaho’s second Congressional district last month. “Russia cannot afford to lose a war to Ukraine and, in fact, is not losing,” Scott Cleveland told a local news outlet during his bid to knock off Rep. Mike Simpson. Mr. Cleveland argued for an “immediate diplomatic solution”—and lost by nearly 20 points. Rep. Simpson defended his vote for Ukraine aid as essential to “keeping America strong.”

In Iowa’s fourth Congressional district, a candidate who said he saw “no compelling argument” for supporting Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan lost to Rep. Randy Feenstra. In South Carolina on June 11, Rep. Joe Wilson won easily against anti-Ukraine challenger Hamp Redmond.

“Instead of committing additional resources to foreign conflicts, we must prioritize domestic issues and ensure that American taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars are used responsibly,” says the website of businessman Paul Bondar, who failed to unseat Rep. Tom Cole, who won roughly 64% to 25%. Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon also beat back a primary challenger and has been outspoken in favor of U.S. support for Ukraine.

The usual caveats apply: Voters don’t choose candidates solely or even primarily on foreign policy, and incumbency is an advantage. But it’s fair to conclude that Ukraine funding made no difference in GOP primaries.

This is a lesson for the Republicans in Congress who understand the stakes in Ukraine but still voted no on aid for fear of the politics. Most Americans want Ukraine to win, and good candidates can defend their support.

A recent poll from the Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute showed 75% of Americans think a Ukrainian victory is important to the U.S. But a growing share think Russia is prevailing. The obvious political high ground for Republicans, starting with Mr. Trump, is to tune out Ukraine’s loud but few reflexive critics—and highlight President’s Biden’s meandering weapons support as far too weak and halting.

ROBERT MCCONNELL

Co-Founder, U.S.-Ukraine Foundation

Director of External Affairs, Friends of Ukraine Network

The introduction is Mr. McConnell’s and does not necessarily represent the views of the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation or the Friends of Ukraine Network (FOUN).

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