Justin Amash Survives Primary Challenge

Rep. Justin Amash's (R-Mich.) primary opponent Brian Ellis conceded defeat to the congressman Tuesday evening as results showed the incumbent gaining on the investment adviser.

Amash, who was first elected during the 2010 tea party wave, faced a strong challenge from Ellis, who was backed by the likes of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other stalwarts of the GOP establishment. Meanwhile, libertarian-leaning Amash picked up support from groups like the Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity and Club for Growth.

Amash is one of the Republican Party's most outspoken critics of the National Security Agency, and supports closing Guantanamo Bay. Ellis attempted to use that against him, airing an attack ad that described Amash as "al Qaeda's best friend in Congress."

The Huffington Post's Samantha Lachman reported on the race earlier this week:

Groups like the U.S., Michigan and Grand Rapids chambers of commerce hoped to knock off one of the Republican establishment's biggest irritants by backing Ellis, while Amash's dependable conservative vote garnered him strong backing from the Club for Growth and Americans for Prosperity. Amash's leadership in attempting to end the National Security Agency's bulk collection of phone records also won him fans across the aisle. Ellis didn't hesitate to turn the primary nasty, running ads calling Amash "Al Qaeda's best friend" and someone who “voted to allow gender-selection abortions." Recent polling shows Amash ahead by a wide margin, so the Chamber of Commerce seems destined to be stymied in this race.

Amash will face Democrat Bob Goodrich in the general election.

Read more on this week's must-watch primary contests here.