The White House tried to pressure an Indiana Republican candidate to drop out of a state Senate primary in February, using phone calls, text messages and voicemails to entice her to leave the race and warn her of personal attacks she could face. The move was part of an effort to pave the way for President Donald Trump's preferred candidate, who is seeking to unseat seven lawmakers in the May 5 primaries who voted against a redistricting plan. The White House insists that the pressure was not from malice but from a desire to ensure the best outcome in elections. The effort shows how deeply senior White House staff members have been involved in trying to oust the Indiana Republican state senators who previously voted against Trump's wishes.