Trump Convinces Third-Party to Exit House Race

President Trump personally intervened to ask a third-party candidate to drop from a House race in New York state—and the move worked. As a result, Democratic chances of flipping the seat held by the outgoing Elise Stefanik just fell dramatically, reports the New York Times. GOP state Assemblyman Robert Smullen said Friday that after meeting with Trump in the Oval Office, he is abandoning his plan to run on the Conservative Party line in November, per Spectrum News.

"I am deeply honored to have met with President Trump and grateful for our discussions," he said in a statement, adding that Trump spoke to him about the importance of having Republicans and Conservatives on the same page for the general election. Smullen lost the GOP primary to Sticker Mule CEO Anthony Constantino, who is endorsed by both Trump and Stefanik. Smullen's exit from the race leaves Constantino a much easier task of defeating Democrat Blake Gendebien, a dairy farmer, in the deeply red 21st district.