May 18, 2022, 9:44 a.m. ETMay 18, 2022, 9:44 a.m. ET
Azi Paybarah
Representative Madison Cawthorn was ousted in his North Carolina primary, a stinging rejection of a Trump-endorsed candidate.
Most of the candidates former President Donald J. Trump endorsed in contested Republican primaries have won in this early phase of the 2022 midterms. Many of those he backed were running unopposed or faced little-known, poorly funded opponents.
There have been some noteworthy losses, however.
Here is a look at Mr. Trump’s endorsement record in some of the most closely watched races.
ImageDoug Mastriano, who was endorsed by Mr. Trump just a few days ahead of the May 17 primary, won the Republican nomination for Pennsylvania governor.Credit…Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
A victory in Pennsylvania, and one key race was too close to call
Doug Mastriano, a state senator and retired Army colonel who has propagated myriad false claims about the 2020 election and attended the protest leading up to the Capitol riot, won the Republican nomination for Pennsylvania governor. Mr. Trump endorsed him just a few days ahead of the May 17 primary.
In the state’s critical Republican Senate primary, it is not yet known how Mr. Trump’s endorsement of Dr. Mehmet Oz will play out. The race between Dr. Oz and Dave McCormick was extremely tight and an official recount is likely. Kathy Barnette, who had a late surge in the race, was in a strong third place.
ImageRepresentative Ted Budd won the Republican nomination for Senate in North Carolina.Credit…Allison Lee Isley/The Winston-Salem Journal, via Associated Press
Two wins and a loss in North Carolina
Representative Ted Budd, who was endorsed by Mr. Trump and the influential anti-tax group Club for Growth, won the Republican nomination for Senate, and Bo Hines, a 26-year-old political novice who enthralled Mr. Trump, was catapulted to victory in his Republican primary for a House seat outside Raleigh.
But Representative Madison Cawthorn crumbled under the weight of repeated scandals and blunders. He was ousted in his May 17 primary, a stinging rejection of a Trump-endorsed candidate. Voters chose Chuck Edwards, a state senator, in the crowded primary.
ImageJ.D. Vance won his competitive Republican primary for an Ohio Senate seat with the help of Mr. Trump’s endorsement.Credit…Maddie McGarvey for The New York Times
Victories in Ohio
The Senate candidate J.D. Vance won his hard-fought primary over a field of well-funded candidates, nearly all of whom pitched themselves as Trump-like Republicans. Mr. Vance, an author and venture capitalist, had transformed himself from a self-described “never Trump guy” in 2016 to an “America First” candidate in 2022. His long-shot campaign financially benefited from heavy spending by his former boss Peter Thiel, a billionaire founder of PayPal.
Max Miller, a former Trump aide who denied assault allegations from an ex-girlfriend and was later endorsed by Mr. Trump, won his House primary after two other Republican incumbents there opted not to run. Representative Anthony Gonzalez, who had voted to impeach Mr. Trump, retired after just two terms. Representative Bob Gibbs, a Trump supporter, dropped out after his district was redrawn late in the campaign, pitting him against Mr. Miller.
Mr. Trump also endorsed Madison Gesiotto Gilbert, a lawyer and former beauty queen who had been a surrogate for his presidential campaign. She won a seven-way primary for an open congressional seat being vacated by Representative Tim Ryan, a Democrat running for Senate.
ImageRepresentative Alex Mooney of West Virginia, right, with Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the House minority leader. Mr. Mooney prevailed in his primary over Representative David McKinley.Credit…Stefani Reynolds for The New York Times
A win in West Virginia
In an incumbent-on-incumbent House primary, Representative Alex Mooney prevailed over Representative David McKinley in a newly drawn congressional district that largely overlaps with the one Mr. McKinley represented for more than a decade.
Understand the 2022 Midterm Elections
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Why are these midterms so important? This year’s races could tip the balance of power in Congress to Republicans, hobbling President Biden’s agenda for the second half of his term. They will also test former President Donald J. Trump’s role as a G.O.P. kingmaker. Here’s what to know:
What are the midterm elections? Midterms take place two years after a presidential election, at the midpoint of a presidential term — hence the name. This year, a lot of seats are up for grabs, including all 435 House seats, 35 of the 100 Senate seats and 36 of 50 governorships.
What do the midterms mean for Biden? With slim majorities in Congress, Democrats have struggled to pass Mr. Biden’s agenda. Republican control of the House or Senate would make the president’s legislative goals a near-impossibility.
What are the races to watch? Only a handful of seats will determine if Democrats maintain control of the House over Republicans, and a single state could shift power in the 50-50 Senate. Here are 10 races to watch in the House and Senate, as well as several key governor’s contests.
When are the key races taking place? The primary gauntlet is already underway. Closely watched races in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia will be held in May, with more taking place through the summer. Primaries run until September before the general election on Nov. 8.
Go deeper. What is redistricting and how does it affect the midterm elections? How does polling work? How do you register to vote? We’ve got more answers to your pressing midterm questions here.
Mr. Trump’s endorsement was seen as the decisive factor in the race, in which Mr. Mooney attacked Mr. McKinley for supporting President Biden’s infrastructure spending agenda, and for voting to create the committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by supporters of Mr. Trump.
ImageCharles W. Herbster, a longtime financial supporter of Mr. Trump, lost his Republican primary for governor in Nebraska despite Mr. Trump’s endorsement.Credit…Walker Pickering for The New York Times
A loss in Nebraska
Charles W. Herbster, a wealthy agribusiness executive, lost his three-way primary to Jim Pillen, a University of Nebraska regent who was supported by Gov. Pete Ricketts, who had long clashed with Trump and is term-limited.
Mr. Herbster had yoked his identity to Mr. Trump’s, styling himself as a brash political outsider taking on the “swamp” of Lincoln, the state’s capital. Mr. Trump endorsed Mr. Herbster, a longtime financial supporter, last year. Late in the campaign, Mr. Herbster was accused of groping several women. Mr. Herbster denied the accusations, saying they were orchestrated by his political rivals. Mr. Trump then held a rally for him.
ImageLt. Gov. Janice McGeachin of Idaho lost her primary challenge to Gov. Brad Little.Credit…Grant Hindsley for The New York Times
And another loss in Idaho
Gov. Brad Little of Idaho overcame Mr. Trump’s endorsement of the state’s lieutenant governor, Janice McGeachin, who was challenging him in the Republican primary.
Ms. McGeachin, who made headlines for defying Mr. Little’s pandemic orders, had sought to win over ultraconservatives in the deep-red state that Mr. Trump overwhelmingly carried in 2016 and 2020. But she appeared to muster less than 30 percent of the vote in Idaho, which holds separate primaries for governor and lieutenant governor — the genesis of the strained pairing.
Source: nytimes.com
