United States Senate

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Former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz, once considered a long-shot underdog for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate, defeated Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in the party’s Tuesday primary runoff, and the reason appears to be his strong support from state tea-party conservatives. It’s a sign of the movement’s growing national clout. (Associated Press)

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Republican U.S. Senate candidate Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst makes a campaign stop, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in Amarillo, Texas. U.S. Senate hopefuls Dewhurst and Ted Cruz are crisscrossing the state three days before a runoff election for the Republican nomination. (Associated Press)

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Tim Kaine, running for the U.S. Senate in Virginia as the Democratic Party candidate, is the subject of an ad run by Crossroads GPS that prompted a complaint to the Federal Elections Commission. (Richmond Times-Dispatch via Associated Press)

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Linda McMahon is running again as an outsider for the U.S. Senate after losing her first race two years ago. She spent nearly $50 million of her own fortune in 2010 in a losing bid for U.S. Senate against Democrat Richard Blumenthal. (Associated Press)

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Sen. Marco Rubio (left), Florida Republican, endorses Virginia Republican George Allen (right) for the U.S. Senate at a press conference at Company Flowers, a family-owned small business, in Arlington on Thursday, June 14, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Tim Kaine, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Virginia, said voters will have a clear choice between political philosophies in November. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

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Former Virginia Governor and Republican U.S. Senate candidate George Allen talks with Martha Woodbury of Springfield, Va., at the Orange Hunt Elementary School precinct in Springfield, Va., Tuesday, June 12, 2012. (Rod Lamkey Jr/The Washington Times)

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Former Virginia Governor and Republican U.S. Senate candidate George Allen takes a look at student's butterfly collection as he greets kids arriving to school at the Silver Brook Elementary School precinct in Fairfax Station, Va., Tuesday, June 12, 2012. (Rod Lamkey Jr/The Washington Times)

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Former Virginia Governor and Republican U.S. Senate candidate George Allen gives an interview on his phone as he sits back in his SUV at the Orange Hunt Elementary School precinct in Springfield, Va., Tuesday, June 12, 2012. (Rod Lamkey Jr/The Washington Times)

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A table has offerings of campaign material for Former Virginia Governor and Republican U.S. Senate candidate George Allen at the Orange Hunt Elementary School precinct in Springfield, Va., Tuesday, June 12, 2012. (Rod Lamkey Jr/The Washington Times)

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Former Virginia Governor and Republican U.S. Senate candidate George Allen greets kids arriving to school at the Silver Brook Elementary School precinct in Fairfax Station, Va., Tuesday, June 12, 2012. (Rod Lamkey Jr/The Washington Times)