The power of former president Donald Trump’s endorsement is being put to the test — again. So far, this exercise has returned mixed results. Last week, South Carolina’s primary saw the Trump-endorsed Russell Fry defeat incumbent Tom Rice, while Katie Arrington, another Trump endorsee, lost to incumbent Nancy Mace. In Ohio, the former president’s endorsement may have won the Senate primary race for J. D. Vance, but it had little effect in Georgia.
In Michigan’s third congressional district, voters will once again decide if Trump’s endorsement will influence Republican politics. The state’s primary on August 2 will determine if Representative Peter Meijer goes on to face Hillary Scholten, who is running unopposed in the Democratic primary, in the fall. The freshman congressman’s challenger, John Gibbs, has received considerable support from Trump, including a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago. The mixed results of the Trump-involved races to date leave unclear what the magic sauce is for overcoming his influence. Meijer claimed in an interview with National Review, however, that the key to beating Gibbs will simply be to run on policy.
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