By Jarrett Renshaw

LANCASTER (Reuters) – Pennsylvania Republicans opted not to endorse a primary contender in one of America’s most watched Senate races. They were concerned that they might back a candidate from a crowded field, which could put them in conflict with Donald Trump.

Widely, the endorsement of the state commission is considered to be the primary prize for the primary season. It catapults its recipient to the general elections. The party comes out of its winter meeting less united than usual ahead of the wide-open primary season.

Trump has yet to say whether he’ll back the candidates currently in the race that could determine control of Congress during November’s midterm election.

Among those who are vying to succeed Senator Pat Toomey (who is retiring) are many with ties to him: Carla Sands; Mehmet O, his ex-ambassador to Denmark; Mehmet Oz’s friend and Mehmet Oz the celebrity doctor; David McCormick (NYSE;), whose wife was in the Trump government.

According to two people who were present at the closed-door meeting, the members of the state committee (which includes more than 300 officials from the states and localities) voted no candidate for the Senate race or the governor’s race. The sources claimed that it was conducted via voice vote without the need to hold a roll-call.

According to interviews with state party members from Pennsylvania and Republican Party officers in Pennsylvania, they said that it was difficult for them not to vote for one Senate candidate. The large field of hopefuls, as well as the possibility that Trump may eventually support a different candidate were two reasons they cited.

This was not surprising. “This was not surprising. Committee members wanted the candidates to stand for themselves and let voters decide,” stated a top Republican official present at the vote. Everyone will now be trying to win the Trump endorsement. The best way to do that is to prove you are able to win.

In the weeks preceding Saturday’s vote regional Republican caucuses conducted straw polls in order to gauge support. Jeff Bartos was a real estate investor who garnered the greatest party support, even though it trailed in public polls.

The results viewed on Reuters show that while the Democratic state committee couldn’t agree to endorse any candidate last month, Conor Lamb (U.S. Representative) received the majority of the votes, ahead of Democratic rivals Malcolm Kenyatta or Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman.

To win the endorsement of the state committee, candidates must receive roughly two-thirds vote support under Democratic rules. Republicans need only a simple majority.