(Image source from: slate.com)

Corey Stewart became the Republican nominee for Senate in Virginia, on Tuesday, after leading polls for months, winning with 45 percent of the vote in a three-way contest against Delegate Nick Freitas and firebrand preacher E.W. Jackson.

United States President Donald Trump praised his win on Twitter, referring to his November opponent, Tim Kaine.

Stewart's political campaign was a recap of one he ran against Ed Gillespie for the gubernatorial in 2017, characterized by revanchist rage against an ever-changing Virginia, whose rising diversity has made it more favorable to Democrats.

Stewart will have an abrupt climb against Kaine, who get into the general election with aggregate assets, from incumbency and unified party support to Democratic enthusiasm and a strong wind against Republicans in the state.

Republicans straight away after his win expressed concern regarding the damage Stewart's candidacy could do to the party and its other candidates.

"I am extremely disappointed that a candidate like Corey Stewart could win the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate," former Virginia Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling tweeted. "This is clearly not the Republican Party I once knew, loved and proudly served. Every time I think things can't get worse they do, and there is no end in sight."

Brian J. Walsh, a Republican strategist who has worked on Senate campaigns, tweeted, "Can we just skip past the part where the media focuses on all the idiotic, racist & embarrassing things Corey Stewart will say & do the next five months and just acknowledge Tim Kaine won his re-election tonight. And he has Stewart voters to thank for it."

Kaine's campaign blasted Stewart in a statement minutes after news organizations announced Stewart the winner. "A cruder imitation of Donald Trump who stokes white supremacy and brags about being 'ruthless and vicious,' Corey Stewart would be an embarrassment for Virginia in the US Senate," said Kaine communications director Ian Sams.

Stewart spent several months as the Virginia chairman of Donald Trump's campaign in 2016, consequently, campaign dismissed him ahead of the election for involved in a protest outside the Republican National Committee.

By Sowmya Sangam