Dan Wainwright Jr. loses AG primary

CAROVA CITY, Car. -- There will be no Wainwright political family dynasty in Carova, at least not this year.

Dan Wainwright Jr., the son of former Gov. Dan Wainwright Sr. (C), lost his primary race for the state's attorney generalship, Saturday.

The younger Wainwright had been favored to win, having declared his candidacy a year ago and raised far more money than the other three candidates.

However, dark horse candidate Mark Hargreaves, a tax attorney from the northeastern suburbs of Carlingford, ended up taking the party's nomination.

Hargreaves narrowly edged out Wainwright Jr., taking almost 35% of the vote compared to just over 32% for Wainwright.

Former Interim Attorney General Jeff Littleton, who was appointed to the position back in 2011 by then-Gov. Sam Byelle (C), finished third with 24 percent, while little-known political newcomer Matt Handle, an attorney from rural Scotco County in the state's far northeast, came in last with just under nine percent.

All four candidates were strong in their Conservative credentials, and they largely agreed on policy.

Still, Hargreaves ran as a Conservative stalwart, casting Wainwright and Littleton as "moderates."

Wainwright disputed the moderate label, and leaned into his family name and his youth. He's 43 while Hargreaves is 62.

In the end, though, it didn't work. In a primary election, where older and more conservative voters typically participate at higher rates than younger and more moderate voters, Hargreaves was able to capitalize on his right-wing identity, and held back the rising star Wainwright Jr.

Hargreaves' win means Nationalists will likely have an easier time of winning the attorney generalship, with former AG Dan McGregor (N) running unopposed for his party's nomination.

Analysts expected McGregor to go up against Wainwright Jr. in what would have been a marquee race. 

Now, the race tilts in McGregor's favor. The former AG has more money and more name recognition than Hargreaves. McGregor is also hoping to ride the coattails of popular Gov. Dan Sallovich, who is also running for reelection.

Like Littleton, McGregor only served for less than two years. He won a special election in 2012 and served until 2014, when he was defeated by Conservative Sean Travern.

Travern toyed with running for governor this year, but decided to leave politics and return to the private sector.

If McGregor wins in the fall election, he will be the first Nationalist to win a full term as AG in Carova.

If Hargreaves wins the race, he will become the oldest attorney general in state history.

***Unofficial Election Results -- Carova Attorney General -- Conservative Primary***

672,152	Turnout:	24.05%	32.39%	34.89%	8.67%	161,622	217,723	234,500	58,306
672,152	15.75%	24.05%	32.39%	34.89%	8.67%
100.00%		Littleton	Wainwright	Hargreaves	Handle