Primary challenge launched against McConnell, Senate's top Republican

1/16

Newark, N.J., Mayor and U.S. Senate candidate Cory Booker had his Twitter dalliances with a Portland stripper exposed by Buzzfeed, with their privates tweets published for the world to see. But the “scandal” is merely titillation by association. There’s no evidence that Booker, who is single, ever tried to take their relationship beyond the tweets. And Booker’s team has taken the news in stride. “The only mildly surprising thing about this story is the news that there’s a vegan strip club in Portland,” his campaign said. (Mel Evans / Associated Press)

2/16

Former Congressman Anthony Weiner, who left office after a flurry of indiscretions on Twitter were revealed to the public, has admitted to continuing his online pursuits after his departure from Congress. Despite his admission, Weiner will remain in New York City’s ongoing mayoral race. (John Minchillo / Associated Press)

3/16

San Diego Mayor Bob Filner has been accused of numerous instances of sexual harassment, running as far back to his stint in Congress to his current office. Deemed “Filthy Filner” by employees, Filner has so far been accused of indiscretions by 13 women. A number of fellow Democrats have called for Filner’s resignation, but he has so far refused to step down. (Greg Bull / Associated Press)

4/16

Former Republican South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford revealed an extramarital affair in 2009. State lawmakers rejected impeachment, but recommended a formal rebuke related to state funds he spent for travel related to the affair. He served out the remainder of his second term, which expired in January 2011, and was largely absent from politics before mounting a successful 2013 campaign to represent South Carolina in Congress. (Rainier Ehrhardt / Associated Press)

5/16

David Petraeus submitted his resignation as director of the CIA on November 9, 2012 citing an extramarital affair. (Mark Wilson / Getty Images)

6/16

John Edwards, a Democratic former senator, vice presidential nominee and two-time presidential candidate, has been indicted on charges that he used campaign contributions to hide an extramarital affair. (Steve Exum/Getty)

7/16

Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.) resigned in 2010 after it was revealed he had an extramarital affair with a staffer. (Tom Williams/Getty)

8/16

Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) resigned in 2010 during an ethics investigation into sexual harassment charges involving a male staffer. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty)

9/16

Rep. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.) did not seek reelection in 2008 after a drunk driving conviction and revelations of an extramarital affair in which he fathered a child. (Tom Williams/Getty)

10/16

Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-Fla.) lost his reelection in 2008 after it was revealed that he had put a former mistress on his staff. Mahoney had succeeded GOP Rep. Mark Foley, who resigned two years earlier amid scandal. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

11/16

New Jersey Gov. James E. McGreevey, a Democrat, resigned in 2004 after acknowledging an extramarital affair with another man. (William Bird/Getty)

12/16

Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) was linked to an escort service scandal in 2007. He acknowledged his misbehavior and was reelected in 2010. (Bill Clark/Getty)

13/16

Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in an airport restroom and was admonished by the Senate Ethics Committee. He resisted calls to resign, but did not seek reelection in 2008. (Manuel Balce Ceneta / Associated Press)

14/16

Republican Jack Ryan abandoned his 2004 campaign for a Senate seat in Illinois after allegations in a divorce case that he had taken his wife -- actress Jeri Ryan, whom he divorced in 1999 -- to sex clubs. Barack Obama was elected to the Senate seat. (Scott Olson/Getty)

15/16

Rep. Gary Condit (D-Calif.) lost his reelection primary in 2002 after it was revealed he had an extramarital affair with intern Chandra Levy, who disappeared in 2001 and was found slain a year later. A Salvadoran immigrant was convicted of killing her. (Stephen J. Boitano / Associated Press)

16/16

Gary Hart, a former Colorado senator, lost his 1988 bid for the Democratic presidential nomination amid revelations he had had an extramarital affair. (Ed Andrieski / Associated Press)

By Michael A. Memoli

July 24, 2013 1:09 PM PT

WASHINGTON – Mitch McConnell will face a challenge from the right in his 2014 reelection bid, a development that has a major conservative group considering an endorsement of the top Senate Republican’s opponent and Democrats boasting of a possible red-state pickup.

Matt Bevin, a Louisville businessman, launched his campaign to unseat McConnell at Kentucky’s Capitol Wednesday, part of an announcement tour that will take him across the state this week. He also launched a television advertisement decrying McConnell’s record of supporting higher taxes, debt-ceiling increases and “liberal judges” during his five terms in office.

McConnell’s campaign launched a preemptive strike with a television ad calling the challenger “Bailout Bevin” for accepting state grants for Connecticut-based companies after a fire destroyed a bell factory. Bevin’s campaign said McConnell was “slinging mud to avoid discussing his own liberal voting record.”

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The success of tea party-backed candidates against both incumbent Republicans and establishment favorites in previous election cycles has prompted McConnell and others to carefully guard their right flank to ward off such challenges. Just three years ago, McConnell’s favored candidate in the race for Kentucky’s other Senate seat lost in the Republican primary to Rand Paul, now his colleague.

McConnell now has as his campaign manager Jesse Benton, who served in the same capacity for Ron Paul’s 2012 presidential campaign. Democrats say McConnell’s concern over a primary threat has led him to mount what they call unprecedented obstruction of Senate business this year.

Chris Chocola, president of the conservative Club for Growth, said in a statement Wednesday that the group met with Bevin this year and would be closely following the race to study “the differences between him and Senator McConnell on the issues.” “The Club’s PAC will watch Kentucky’s Senate race – as it would with any race – over the coming months to determine if our involvement is warranted,” Chocola said. The Republican primary is next May.

Hours earlier, the same group urged McConnell to sign on to an effort led by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) to oppose any resolution to continue funding the government this year that includes money for implementation of the president’s new healthcare law.

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Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) mocked McConnell’s predicament this week, saying at an event hosted by President Obama’s former campaign operation that he “tried to make love to the tea party and they didn’t like it.” In a memo Wednesday, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee cited polling that showed McConnell even with his likely Democratic opponent, Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, and said it was “a race that Grimes can win.”

Kentucky is one of just two states with Republican incumbents where Democrats are expected to mount serious challenges in a year when they are otherwise mostly playing defense. This week Michelle Nunn, daughter of former Democratic Sen. Sam Nunn, announced her candidacy for the Georgia seat now held by retiring Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss.

With Democrats heavily favored to win a special election in New Jersey this year, Republicans probably will need to net six seats in the 2014 elections to reclaim the majority for the first time since 2007.

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Michael.memoli@latimes.com

Twitter: @mikememoli