Washington, DC – DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz issued the following statement today on the results of Tuesday’s primaries in Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon, and Pennsylvania:

“On behalf of the Democratic National Committee, I congratulate all of the candidates who secured the Democratic nomination in their respective races today. Across the country, Democrats have nominated candidates who are focused on moving our nation forward with commonsense initiatives that grow the economy, create jobs, and expand opportunity for all while Republicans push policies that benefit the fortunate few and special interests.

“It’s fitting that John Boehner admitted today what we already knew, that ‘there’s not that big a difference’ between the Tea Party and the GOP. Even the candidates purportedly backed by the establishment have been pulled so far to the right that it is a distinction without a difference. The civil war in the Republican Party is over and the Tea Party won.

“Strong, female Democratic candidates Alison Lundergan Grimes and Michelle Nunn will oppose Republican nominees who have been deeply hurt by their primary contests. The scrutiny placed on Mitch McConnell in the last few months has only shown that mainstream Kentuckians are sick and tired of someone they see as the embodiment of everything that’s wrong with Washington. David Perdue and Jack Kingston have made it to the runoff only by embracing the most extreme positions of the Tea Party that leaves the middle class even further behind. And they are about to move even further to the right as they begin a long, divisive runoff.

“Democrats will put Mark Pryor’s history of fighting for Arkansas families against Tom Cotton’s putting personal ambition and adherence to donors like the Koch brothers over the middle class. Tom Wolf, a smart, business-oriented leader, is well-positioned to defeat an embattled Tom Corbett, whose disastrous record of restricting voting rights and women's health care choices have, in part, made him the least popular governor in America. Jason Carter is a talented and dedicated public servant who is committed to fighting for middle class Georgians. Senator Merkley has been a tireless advocate for Oregon’s working families and he’s poised to run against a Republican who is woefully out of touch with the values of Oregonians.

“With House Republicans obsessed with voting to repeal health care reform and politically charged investigations instead of taking action to provide economic security for middle class families, it is no surprise that they continue to put forward extreme and out of touch candidates who put ideology above all else. Today’s Democratic nominees join the fight to provide opportunity for all, instead of the few, and will offer voters a clear choice in November.”