if you say so

Nevada Senate candidate drops out of race after Trump tweets that he should

March 16, 2018

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David Becker/Getty Images

Republican Danny Tarkanian is dropping his bid for a highly-coveted U.S. Senate seat in Nevada, switching to a congressional run at the behest of President Trump, The Nevada Independent reported Friday.

Tarkanian, who was poised to enter a fiery primary against incumbent Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.), heard from the president's office earlier this week that Trump would prefer him to run for the House rather than the Senate, reports the Independent. Trump made that preference loud and clear Friday, when he tweeted how "great" it would be if Tarkanian would step aside for Heller.

It would be great for the Republican Party of Nevada, and it’s unity if good guy Danny Tarkanian would run for Congress and Dean Heller, who is doing a really good job, could run for Senate unopposed!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 16, 2018

When Tarkanian first heard from Trump's team, he was steadfast in his commitment to the Senate, telling the Independent on Tuesday that there was "zero chance" he'd flip to the congressional race. He conceded, however, that he would switch races if Trump asked him publicly, which the president did in his Friday tweet. Tarkanian, whose staff advised him not to fight the president, said that he plans to file for the congressional race at noon.