McMahon wins GOP Senate primary in Connecticut

HARTFORD -- Wealthy former wrestling executive Linda McMahon has won a chance to become the first GOP U.S. senator to represent Connecticut in three decades. She defeated former Rep. Christopher Shays in yesterday's GOP primary.

McMahon will face Rep. Chris Murphy (D-Waterbury) for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent.

Murphy, a three-term congressman and former state legislator, beat back a challenge from former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz in Tuesday's primary. Murphy said he has the political and financial support to battle McMahon in the November election.

It's the second time state Republicans have chosen McMahon over a veteran politician as the standard-bearer in the general election for an open Senate seat. McMahon lost in 2010 to then-state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, after spending about $50 million of her own money. She has loaned or given about $15.7 million to this campaign so far.

Shays, a moderate Republican who represented the state's 4th Congressional District from 1987 until he lost in 2008, had touted his Washington experience during the campaign. -- AP