Republican Sen. John Hoeven's biggest hurdle (which wasn't one at all) to re-election came back in early April when he easily defeated a far-right challenger at the state GOP convention. Hoeven had former President Trump's endorsement heading into the weekend, and he emerged with the endorsement of convention delegates over state Rep. Rick Becker on the first ballot. Becker could have still run in the June 14 primary, but had said prior to the convention that he would respect the delegates' decision.
Hoeven still faces a nominal primary challenger from oil worker Riley Kuntz, which he should easily beat back. The senator should also handily defeat whichever Democrat he faces in the fall on his way to a third term: he has never lost a race in the Peace Garden State and was the only governor in the state's history to win three times.
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