Bernie Sanders-aligned candidate who was defeated in Ohio primary blames 'evil money' for race she claims she 'didn't lose' as party's left complains voters prefer 'corporate government'

Progressive Ohio Congressional candidate Nina Turner blamed 'evil money' for her loss Tuesday night to Shontel Brown, a moderate Democrat supported by Hillary Clinton who said she'd back President Joe Biden and his agenda. 

'I am going to work hard to ensure that something like this doesn't happen to another progressive candidate again,' Turner said. 'We didn't lose this race, evil money manipulated and maligned this election.' 

Turner got pilloried by $1.2 million in super PAC ads from the group Democratic Majority for Israel.  

She lost the race by nearly 6 points - receiving 44.5 per cent of the vote to Brown's 50.2 per cent.  

Her 'we didn't lose this race' quip garnered comparisons to former President Donald Trump's 'frankly, we did win this election' line on social media.  

David Sirota, a journalist-turned-Bernie Sanders adviser, floated the theory that Turner lost because voters prefer a 'corporate government.' Turner, he said, 'ran a brave campaign.' 

Ohio Congressional candidate Nina Turner, who's politically aligned with Bernie Sanders and AOC, said in a concession speech Tuesday night, 'We didn't lose this race, evil money manipulated and maligned this election' 

David Sirota, a journalist-turned-Sanders adviser, blamed Turner's loss on voters preferring 'corporate government.' Turner ran against a $1.2 million campaign from the super PAC Democratic Majority for Israel

'More Dem voters supported her corporate opponent not just because an overwhelming amount of super PAC money was spent to destroy Nina, but also because in general more Dem voters want a corporate government than something else. This is reality,' Sirota wrote.  

Turner's race went similar to Sanders' 2020 run - with moderate Democrats eventually coalescing around a more mainstream candidate - in this case, the current president. 

Brown ran as a candidate who would support Biden. Beyond receiving Clinton's endorsement, she had the support of Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn, the kingmaker whose endorsement gave Biden a victory in South Carolina's presidential primary, thus saving his White House bid. 

She will face Republican Laverne Gore in the November election. The Democrat is favored to win. 

The primary battle in Ohio's 11th Congressional district became nasty as Democrats battled over who would replace Democratic Rep. Marcia Fudge, who Biden named as his housing secretary. 

The two special House elections in Ohio on Tuesday tested both political parties: Donald  Trump's sway on the Republican Party and the moderate and liberal divisions among Democrats.   

Shontel Brown, backed by Hillary Clinton and Rep. Jim Clyburn, beat a progressive favorite to win a crowded Democratic primary in an Ohio House race

Democrats were at war in the primary in the 11th Congressional district - Bernie Sanders endorsed Nina Turner, a progressive favorite

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has also endorsed Turner and campaigned for her in Cleveland last month

Brown and Turner emerged as the leading contenders among 13 Democrats running in the 11th district. 

Big name Democrats flooded the district. 

Clyburn was in to campaign for Brown while Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez stumped for Turner.

Brown, a member Cuyahoga County Council, has touted her support for Biden and his agenda. 

Turner is a former state senator and a leading Sanders supporter. She already has a national profile among progressives, who see her as a needed force in Washington D.C. to counter Biden's more moderate tendencies. 

Sanders, campaigning for her on Saturday, said: 'I would have come (to the district) because Nina is a close personal friend of mine and somebody I admire. But the real reason I am here is that we desperately need her in the U.S. Congress.' 

The Democratic contest got nasty.

Turner ran a commercial questions Brown's ethics and ends with the image of a jail door slamming.

She also criticized Brown for accepting a campaign contribution from New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, a close ally of Donald Trump's.  

Brown touted Turner as too much of an outsider and too critical of Biden to accomplish anything in Congress. 

Outside money played a big factor in the race. Democratic Majority for Israel, a super PAC, spent $1.2 million on ads supporting Brown and opposing Turner.

Special elections usually see small turnout compared to midterm or presidential years. A candidate's name - or the prominence of their endorsers - can be a heavy factor in determining the outcome. 

Meanwhile, a political newcomer backed by Trump won a crowded Republican primary contest in an Ohio House special election Tuesday night, showing the former president's influence on his party. 

Coal lobbyist Mike Carey, who never held political office before, beat out 11 other Republicans for the nomination in Ohio's 15th Congressional district, to replace former Rep. Steve Stivers. Many of his competitors also had the backing of big-name Republicans. 

The Associated Press called the race for Carey, who will compete against Democrat Allison Russo in the November general election. Carey is favored to win the GOP-leaning district.

'Great Republican win for Mike Carey. Big numbers! Thank you to Ohio and all of our wonderful American patriots. Congratulations to Mike and his family. He will never let you down!,' Trump said in a statement after the race was called.  

Carey was a little known contender until he earned Trump's endorsement - a sign of the former president's influence on the Republican voters who decide the party's nominee. Carey is a close friend of Corey Lewandowski, Trump's former campaign manager. 

'Tonight, Republicans across Ohio's 15th Congressional District sent a clear message to the nation that President Donald J. Trump is, without a doubt, the leader of our party,' Carey said in a statement after his victory.  

Donald Trump backed candidate, coal lobbyist Mike Carey , won Ohio's crowded Republican primary in the 15th Congressional district

Mike Carey had never held elected office and was a little known contender until Trump endorsed his campaign

The former president has touted his blessing as the political equivalent of a golden ticket. But he's struggled to redeem his record after suffering an embarrassing lose in Texas when his candidate, Susan Wright, the widow of the congressman from the Texas seat who died of COVID in February, lost to another Republican in the runoff. 

There was an assortment of other candidates running the Republican primary for the 15th district - all with their own big name backers:

A pro-Trump super PAC has put $350,000 into ads backing Carey. 

Trump joined a tele-rally for Carey on July 20 and complained that other candidates were trying to suggest they also had his endorsement.

'He's the only candidate in the race that has my complete and total endorsement,' Trump said of Carey on the call, according to Bloomberg News. 'I know Mike Carey, he's a true outsider, he's a true fighter, he's a warrior, and he's going to win.' 

Trump is planning to get involved in a series of Republican primaries headed into next year's midterm election, particularly targeting those GOP lawmakers who supported his second impeachment.