Aug. 2, 2022, 4:06 p.m. ETAug. 2, 2022, 4:06 p.m. ET
Azi Paybarah
John Gibbs, left, a Republican congressional candidate in Michigan, with former President Donald J. Trump at a Save America rally in Washington, Mich., in April.
Tuesday’s primaries in Arizona, Michigan and a handful of other states will be the latest test of former President Donald J. Trump’s long list of endorsements in competitive races.
Mr. Trump has endorsed more than 200 candidates across the United States, many of whom ran unopposed or faced little-known, poorly-funded opponents. Some, however, have faced well-funded rivals with powerful allies.
More than 30 states have already hosted nominating contests and Mr. Trump has scored more wins than losses. He got early victories with J.D. Vance in Ohio and Dr. Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania, but also lost key races in Georgia and suffered other notable defeats.
Here are some of candidates he endorsed in Tuesday’s primaries:
Arizona
In the Republican primary for governor, Kari Lake, a former local television news star, emerged as the early front-runner, but polls show she hasn’t expanded her base. More traditional Republicans, including the term-limited Gov. Doug Ducey, have rallied around Karrin Taylor Robson.
ImageKari Lake, a Republican candidate for governor in Arizona, at a Save America rally hosted by former President Donald J. Trump in Prescott, Ariz., in July.Credit…Adriana Zehbrauskas for The New York Times
Blake Masters, whose Senate bid is also backed by the tech mogul Peter Thiel, has continued to lead the G.O.P. pack in public polling. But Mr. Masters has faced sustained competition from two other candidates: Mark Brnovich, the attorney general, who has come under fire for not buying into Mr. Trump’s election conspiracies, and Jim Lamon, an Army veteran and former solar energy business owner.
In the secretary of state race, Mark Finchem, one of the most vocal supporters of the 2020 election conspiracy theories and a state representative, is widely expected to win the G.O.P. nomination.
Representative David Schweikert is generally considered safe in his House primary against Elijah Norton, who has attacked Mr. Schweikert for past ethics and campaign finance violations, and Josh Barnett, who has been a vocal Trump supporter.
Representative Paul Gosar is also widely viewed as safe against Adam Morgan, a telegenic and relatively moderate political rookie who is challenging Mr. Gosar in his House primary. The race will test whether that kind of moderation has any traction in the party.
Wendy Rogers and Kelly Townsend, both state senators and far-right conspiracy theorists, will square off after redistricting put them in the same district. Mr. Trump has endorsed Ms. Rogers.
State House Speaker Rusty Bowers, who rose to national fame for pushing back against Mr. Trump, is facing a tough election for a state Senate seat that he decided to run for explicitly to show he wouldn’t back down in the face of attacks. Mr. Trump has, predictably, endorsed Mr. Bowers’ opponent, David Farnsworth.
Michigan
Representative Peter Meijer, one of 10 Republicans who voted to impeach Mr. Trump, is facing a Trump-backed challenger, John Gibbs, in the Republican primary. The winner will face Hillary Scholten, who is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. The general election race is considered a tossup.
ImageMichigan Republican Attorney General candidate Matthew DePerno during a MAGA rally at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, in 2022.Credit…Nic Antaya for The New York Times
Mr. Trump endorsed Tudor Dixon, a former media personality, in Michigan’s chaotic Republican primary for governor just days ahead of the primary.
Two other Republicans in key statewide races are not chosen by a primary vote. Matthew DePerno, who is running for attorney general, and Kristina Karamo, who is running for secretary of state, won the endorsement of the Michigan Republican Party at a convention in April and are expected to formally receive the party’s nomination at another convention later in August.
Kansas
In the governor’s race, Derek Schmidt, the state’s attorney general, is favored to win the Republican nomination thanks in part to the endorsement he received from Mr. Trump. In the general election, Mr. Schmidt is expected to face Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat who has nominal opposition in her party’s primary.
Washington
Two House members who voted to impeach Mr. Trump are now facing Trump-backed challengers: Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler is up against the Trump-endorsed Joe Kent and five others in this district in the state’s southwest corner. And Mr. Trump gave his support to Loren Culp’s primary challenge of Representative Dan Newhouse in a central Washington district, where six other Republicans are also on the ballot.
Jennifer Medina, Jazmine Ulloa, Katie Glueck and Reid J. Epstein contributed reporting.
Source: nytimes.com
