Democrats eye Senate takeover after establishment wins

WASHINGTON – Democrats are increasingly optimistic they will take back control of the Senate in November’s elections.

Their hopes were boosted by Tuesday night’s outcome in the key battleground of Pennsylvania. The Democratic establishment choice, Katie McGinty, easily dispatched her opponent, Joe Sestak, in the Democratic primary.

McGinty, a former government official who has not held elected office, will go on to face incumbent Republican Sen. Pat Toomey in November. Republicans note that McGinty won only after last-minute cash infusions from national Democratic groups and say she will prove a weak general-election candidate.

Establishment Democrats scored another victory in the Maryland Democratic Senate primary to replace longtime Sen. Barbara Mikulski.

And in light of Donald Trump’s big win Tuesday night, Democrats are gleeful about linking Senate Republicans to the GOP presidential front-runner.