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Rep. Chris Van Hollen has defeated fellow Maryland congressman Donna Edwards for the state's Democratic nomination for Senate, CNN projects.
The White House does not typically get involved in Democratic primary races.
Rep. Chris Van Hollen has defeated fellow House member from Maryland Donna Edwards for the state’s Democratic nomination for Senate, CNN projected Tuesday.
Van Hollen’s victory ends a tense campaign between two colleagues to replace Barbara Mikulski, the state’s retiring senator. The Democratic nominee is favored to win in November.
The close race grew more contentious when the White House intervened earlier this month. A super PAC supporting Edwards was asked by aides to President Barack Obama to take down an ad using video in which he emotionally responded to a rash of gun violence in recent years. The ad was critical of Van Hollen’s stance on guns.
RELATED: White House asks super PAC to cut Obama from Senate ad
The White House does not typically get involved in Democratic primary races.
Hillary Clinton won the Democratic presidential primary in Maryland on Tuesday evening.
Van Hollen and Edwards shared similar voting records on taxes, the environment and a range of other issues. But they’ve differed greatly in style. The cerebral Van Hollen is a favorite of House Democratic leaders and twice led his party’s campaign committee.
Edwards is more of an outsider. She’s found few legislative allies during her nearly eight years in the House.
Both candidates represent the Washington, D.C. Suburbs and sought to expand their bases of support into populous Baltimore.
CNN’s David Mark contributed to this report.