Republican Party

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In this March 11, 2014 photo GOP-backed Senate candidate Shane Osborn, left, and tea-party backed Ben Sasse, right, debate in Omaha, Neb. During the debate Osborn pledged “to support whoever wins” the four-way primary on May 13. But make no mistake, Nebraska is a new front in the bitter national struggle inside the Republican Party between established leaders determined to maintain control and right-wing insurgents trying to change the party’s direction. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

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In this March 13, 2014 photo Nebraska Senate candidate Shane Osborn, backed by the Republican Party, campaigns in in Fairbury, Neb. The heavy outside influence in Nebraska's race between Osborn and tea party-backed Ben Sasse is a change from previous elections, when party leaders largely left the choice to voters. But the ugly jousting in Congress between party powerbrokers and right-wing insurgents, and the party’s losses in 2012, ended that practice. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

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Kansas Senate Majority Leader Terry Bruce, left, a Nickerson Republican, confers with Senate President Susan Wagle, right, a Wichita Republican, in a hallway at the back of the Senate chamber during its session, Tuesday, April 1, 2014, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Senate GOP leaders are pushing a school funding plan aimed at complying with a Kansas Supreme Court mandate to boost aid to poor school districts. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

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Kansas state Sens. and Overland Park Republicans Jim Denning, left, and Greg Smith, right, follow a discussion of a new school funding plan during a meeting of GOP senators, Wednesday, March 26, 2014, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. The plan from Senate GOP leaders has provisions designed to appeal to Johnson County lawmakers like Denning and Smith. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

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Kansas House Speaker Ray Merrick, R-Stilwell, addresses the media on Friday, March 21, 2014 in Topeka, Kan. Republicans in the Kansas House unveiled a plan Thursday that would fully fund aid to the state's poor school districts but tie the money to school "choice" initiatives from GOP conservatives that previously have foundered. The plan was drafted as a 91-page bill introduced Thursday evening by the Republican-dominated House Appropriations Committee, and GOP leaders said the committee would have hearings next week. (AP Photo, Topeka Capital-Journal, Thad Allton)

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Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has kept his cards close to vest, leaving it to Republican Party insiders and political pundits to try to decipher whether he has his sights set on the White House. (Associated Press)

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Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus has received credit for making changes necessary to help the GOP win a special congressional election in Florida last week. (Associated Press)

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Republican U.S. Senate candidate Richard Cash, center, signs an agreement to support any challenger who gets into a runoff with U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham in June as he stands on the steps of the Statehouse, Thursday, March 13, 2014, in Columbia, S.C. Six GOP candidates have said they want to take on Graham as he seeks a third term. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

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Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave Feliciano speaks after signing an agreement to support any challenger who gets into a runoff with U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham in June, on the steps of the Statehouse Thursday, March 13, 2014, in Columbia, S.C. Six GOP candidates have said they want to take on Graham as he seeks a third term. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

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Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bill Connor speaks after signing an agreement to support any challenger who gets into a runoff with U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham in June, on the steps of the Statehouse, Thursday, March 13, 2014, in Columbia, S.C. Six GOP candidates have said they want to take on Graham as he seeks a third term. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

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Republican U.S. Senate candidate Richard Cash speaks after signing an agreement to support any challenger who gets into a runoff with U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham in June, on the steps of the Statehouse, Thursday, March 13, 2014, in Columbia, S.C. Six GOP candidates have said they want to take on Graham as he seeks a third term. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

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Republican U.S. Senate candidate Lee Bright speaks after signing an agreement to support any challenger who gets into a runoff with U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham in June, on the steps of the Statehouse, Thursday, March 13, 2014, in Columbia, S.C. Six GOP candidates have said they want to take on Graham as he seeks a third term. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)