Donald Trump smashes another round of endorsements on Tuesday going 24-2, only losing 2 races. He has only lost 3 candidates so far this primary season.
It was an extremely busy night for the primaries Tuesday night with a lot of attention on Pennslyvania. Most of the races ended quickly with their respective candidates sweeping the state, but a few came down to the wire including the Pennsylvania Senate which has now gone into overtime. Dr. Mehmet Oz and Dave McCormick are literally neck in neck in the closest race of the night and will most likely go into an automatic recount due to PA State laws.
But how did President Donald Trump do on his endorsements? It’s the question on everyone’s mind this morning as Trump’s endorsement record continues to remain at the forefront of the political conversation.
Doug Mastriano – PA Gubernatorial Race, WIN
The former president endorsed state Sen. Doug Mastriano for governor in the final week before the Republican primary, despite the efforts of state Republicans to convince him otherwise. Mastriano was a natural for Trump to choose, and he easily won the Republican nomination.
Mastriano, a state senator who was endorsed by Trump, is now set to face Democratic state Attorney General Josh Shapiro. They are vying to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.
Ted Budd – NC Senate Race – WIN
In North Carolina, where Trump’s backing of Rep. Ted Budd for Senate seemingly came out of nowhere, Budd pulled away from the field in the final weeks of the campaign to capture the GOP nomination.
Madison Cawthorn – NC House, 11th District – LOSS
Madison Cawthorn was defeated in his bid for a second term, despite Trump’s last-minute plea to primary voters to give him a second chance.
Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin – ID Gubernatorial – LOSS
In Idaho, Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin’s loss to Gov. Brad Little was an even more humbling defeat for the former president. Despite Trump’s endorsement. McGeachin lost the primary by a wide margin, marking the second consecutive week that a Trump-backed candidate for governor fell short. In Nebraska’s May 10 primary, Trump ally Charles Herbster finished second despite a Trump rally for him in the run-up to the election.
Here is a look at the Trump-endorsed candidates who won Tuesday.
Idaho Wins
Sen. Mike Crapo – Senate – Won with 69 percent of the vote.
Several weeks after Crapo voted to acquit in Trump’s second impeachment trial, Trump released a statement endorsing the Idaho senator in his 2022 reelection.
Rep. Russ Fulcher – Unopposed – Voted To Challenge 2020 Electoral Votes
Kentucky Wins
Sen. Rand Paul – Won with 86 percent of the vote.
Paul secured the former president’s backing in April 2021. Trump said he was endorsing the senator for fighting “against the swamp in Washington, the radical left liberals, and especially the destructive RINOS, of which there are far too many, in Congress.”
Rep. James Comer – KY01 – Unopposed
Rep. Brett Guthrie – KY02 – Won with 78 Percent of the vote
Rep. Thomas Massie – KY02 – Won with 75 percent of the vote.
According to the endorsement, Trump issued last week, Massie is a “first-rate defender of the Constitution.”
Rep. Harold Rogers – KY05 – Won with 83 percent of the vote.
Rogers voted to challenge the 2020 electoral votes.
Rep. Andy Barr – KY06 – Won with 88 percent of the vote.
North Carolina Wins
Rep. Tedd Budd – Senate – Won with 59 percent of the vote.
Before Trump unexpectedly announced his support, Budd had been lagging in polls against former Gov. Pat McCrory. But Trump’s endorsement and a wave of outside spending powered Budd to a lead he never lost in the crowded Republican Senate field. Budd also voted to challenge the 2020 electoral votes.
Rep. Gregory Murphy – NC03 – Won with 76 percent of the vote.
He voted to challenge the 2020 electoral votes.
Rep. Virginia Foxx – NC05 – Won with 77 percent of the vote.
Foxx voted to challenge the 2020 electoral votes.
Rep. David Rouzer – NC07 – Won with 79 percent of the vote.
He voted to challenge the 2020 electoral votes.
Rep. Dan Bishop – NC08 – Unopposed.
He voted to challenge the 2020 electoral votes.
Rep. Richard Hudson – NC09 – Won with 79 percent of the vote
He voted to challenge the 2020 electoral votes.
Rep. Patrick McHenry – NC10 – Won with 68 percent of the vote.
Bo Hines – NC13 – Won with 32 percent of the vote
The former president also held a rally with Hines, Budd and Cawthorn in April, where he reaffirmed his support for the candidates.
Pennsylvania Wins
Doug Mastriano – Governor – Won with 45 percent of the vote.
“There is no one in Pennsylvania who has done more, or fought harder, for Election Integrity than State Senator Doug Mastriano,” Trump said last week.
Mehmet Oz – Senate – OUTCOME STILL TO BE DECIDED
Initially, Trump backed Sean Parnell in the Senate primary, but Parnell dropped out of the race two months later. Trump then delivered his endorsement to Oz in April, citing his celebrity as a television show host: “He has lived with us through the screen and has always been popular, respected, and smart.”
Jim Bognet – PA08 – Won with 69 percent of the vote
Bognet was a Trump administration appointee in the Export-Import Bank. In his endorsement statement, Trump commended him in bringing “manufacturing jobs back to Northeast Pennsylvania.” Bognet will challenge Democratic incumbent Matt Cartwright in November.
Rep. Scott Perry – PA10 – Unopposed
Perry, chairman of the hardline House Freedom Caucus, served as a behind-the-scenes facilitator who connected Department of Justice lawyer Jeffrey Clark with Trump as part of an effort to overturn the 2020 election results. In his endorsement of the congressman, Trump said Perry is an “America First warrior” and “a tremendous advocate for our MAGA agenda.”
Perry voted to challenge the 2020 electoral votes.
Rep. Lloyd Smucker – PA11 – Unopposed.
He voted to challenge the 2020 electoral votes.
Rep. John Joyce – PA13 – Unopposed
He voted to challenge the 2020 electoral votes.
Rep. Guy Reschenthaler – PA14 – Unopposed
He voted to challenge the 2020 electoral votes.
Rep. Mike Kelly – PA16 – Unopposed.
He voted to challenge the 2020 electoral votes.
