For years, Donald Trump has described a scenario that’s automatic: The president tells GOP primary voters who to vote for, and they obey his directions. It’s a particular point of pride for the Republican, one he emphasized during his latest radio interview on “The Scott Jennings Show.” He boasted:
I do bring a unity to the Republican Party. Do you know, almost every single person I’ve endorsed has won? I can’t think of anyone who hasn’t. If I endorse a person, they win. ... With the Republican Party, it’s like, 399-0. Think of that.
It would certainly be impressive if that were true. But it’s not even close to being true.
Trump might not be cable to “think of anyone” in GOP politics who fell short after receiving his endorsement, but as it happens, I can give him a hand.
In fact, while the president has long padded his win-loss record with support for GOP incumbents who have faced little to no opposition, creating an exaggerated picture, plenty of Trump-backed candidates have fallen short in recent years, including in the 2024 cycle.
Around this time last year, for example, he backed a candidate in the Republicans’ U.S. Senate primary in New Jersey. She lost. Soon after, despite the former president’s confidence in the potency of his support, his choice in Indiana’s lieutenant governor’s race also flopped.
Soon after, Trump-backed candidates also lost in Utah’s U.S. Senate primary, as well as GOP congressional primaries in Colorado and South Carolina.
That was just last...
A representative for Aaron Phypers has accused Denise Richards of making “false accusations” leading to his arrest and insisted he “will be acquitted”. Aaron Phypers has accused Denise Richards of ...