The once-influential Donald Trump endorsement may be losing its pull as three of the former president's chosen candidates lost their GOP primary races.
Trump, who has long cited the power of his political endorsements, suffered a rough night on Tuesday when his endorsed picks in three high-profile races fell short.
In Utah, Trump-endorsed Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs handily lost the Republican primary to Representative John Curtis for the Senate seat being vacated by Trump critic Mitt Romney.
In Colorado's 5th Congressional District, Trump-backed state GOP Chairman Dave Williams lost the primary to consultant and radio host Jeff Crank by 31 points (65 percent to 34 percent).
Trump's pick in the GOP primary for South Carolina's 3rd Congressional District, pastor Mark Burns, lost to nurse practitioner Sheri Biggs by two points.
Despite not getting the endorsement from the former president, Biggs still praised Trump in her victory statement.
"I stand here ready to not only win this seat in November but also to help President Trump win back the White House," she said.
Trump still saw a number of his endorsement candidates win, which he promoted on social media, including Gabe Evans, who easily defeating Janak Joshi to secure the GOP's nomination in Colorado's 8th Congressional District.
However, David Weigel, a political reporter for Semafor, suggested that Tuesday may be the "worst primary night" for Trump-endorsed GOP candidates all year.
David B. Cohen, a professor of political science at the University of Akron in Ohio, told Newsweek Tuesday's results show that Trump is "not an omnipotent force in the GOP" that his hush money felony convicted could mean "some shine may have faded from the apple."
"Though he clearly still has great influence within the party, the results demonstrate that a Trump endorsement is not always a game-ender," Cohen added.
The results were mocked by Rick Wilson, co-founder of the anti-Trump PAC The Lincoln Project.
"If you're a Trump-endorsed primary loser tonight, may I introduce you to a universal political rule? #ETTD [Everything Trump Touches Dies]," Wilson posted on X, formerly Twitter.
"Learn its ways, and sin no more."
Newsweek contacted Trump's office for comment via email.
Tuesday's results follow recent examples of Trump-backed candidates losing their election.
On May 28, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan narrowly defeated David Covey, his Trump-endorsed challenger, in the primary runoff for the state's 21st District. On June 4, Mendham Borough Mayor Christine Serrano Glassner, a New Jersey Senate hopeful endorsed by Trump, lost heavily to Curtis Bashaw, a real estate developer.
Elsewhere, state Senator John McGuire is marginally ahead of Representative Bob Good (50.3 percent to 49.7 percent) in the still-undecided GOP primary for Virginia's 5th Congressional District, despite McGuire getting the sought-after Trump endorsement.
Trump has often cited his record of endorsing candidates who go on to win their races as a sign of his influence and power over the GOP. However, a majority of the endorsements across all levels of government are for incumbents, who are normally favored to win their primary races.
Trump was also widely blamed, including by some in the GOP, for the Republican Party severely underperforming in the 2022 midterms.
After several of Trump's endorsed MAGA candidates lost their general elections, the GOP failed to retake control of Senate from the Democrats. The GOP also managed only a small majority in the House rather than the predicted "red wave" of victories.
Correction 6/26/24, 2:12 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with a correction to the spelling of Semafor.
Update 06/27/24, 2:10 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from David B. Cohen.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Ewan Palmer is a Newsweek News Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on US politics, domestic policy ... Read more
