Of the roughly 200 candidates backed by former President Donald J. Trump in the 2022 midterm elections, many run unopposed or face little-known, poorly funded adversaries. But in contentious races, those endorsed by Mr Trump have won more times than they have lost.
Mr. Trump’s endorsement has helped propel some candidates to victory, such as JD Vance in Ohio and Bo Hines in North Carolina. His picks also won critical Pennsylvania and West Virginia primaries. But in Georgia, some of his candidates were defeated with great dismay, and he had mixed success in states such as South Carolina and North Carolina.
Here’s a look at his endorsement record in some of the most closely monitored primaries.
In Georgia, several losses and one win
Gov. Brian Kemp easily defeated the former Senator David PerdueTrump’s handpicked candidate in the Republican primary for governor. Mr. Kemp was a target of Trump after he refused to undo the president’s re-election loss in 2020. He will face Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams, whom he narrowly defeated four years ago.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who declined Mr Trump’s demand to “find” additional votes after his 2020 loss, defeated a Trump-backed challenger, Representative Jody Hicein the Republican primary.
Attorney General Chris Carr defeated John Gordona Trump-backed opponent, with more than 73 percent of the vote.
In the Republican primary for an open seat in Georgia’s Sixth Congressional District, the Trump-backed candidate, Jake Evansqualified for the June 21 runoff, though he was a distant second to top vote-catcher Rich McCormick.
The former professional football player Herschel Walker, which was backed by Mr. Trump, dominated the Republican Senate primaries. He will face Senator Raphael Warnock, a Democrat and prolific fundraiser, in the general election.
Doug Mastiano, a state senator and retired army colonel who has promoted numerous false claims about the 2020 election and attended the protest that led to the Capitol riots, won the Republican nomination for governor. Mr Trump backed him just days before the May 17 primaries.
Two wins and a loss in North Carolina
Representative Ted Buddwhich was supported by Mr. Trump, won the Republican nomination for the Senate, and Bo Hinesa 26-year-old political novice who captivated Mr. Trump was catapulted to victory in his Republican primaries for a House seat outside of Raleigh.
But Representative Madison Cawthorn succumbed to the weight of repeated scandals and blunders. He was impeached in his May 17 primary, a caustic rejection of a Trump-approved candidate. Voters chose Chuck Edwards, a state senator.
A split in South Carolina House racing
Representative Tom Riceone of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack, was ousted by his Trump-backed challenger, State Representative Russell Fry, in the Republican primaries in the seventh congressional district.
But Representative Nancy Mace defeated her Trump-backed challenger, former state legislator Katie Arrington, in the First Congressional District primaries. Ms Mace had said Mr Trump was responsible for the January 6 attack, but she did not vote to impeach him. She received support from Nikki Haley and Mick Mulvaney, who both held positions in the state before serving in the Trump administration.
Election deniers win in Nevada
In the June 7 Republican Senate primaries, Adam Laxalt won the nomination and will face incumbent Senator Catherine Cortez Mastro, who is seen as one of the most vulnerable Democrats this fall. Mr. Laxalt, a former attorney general, was supported by Mr. Trump and had aided in his efforts to reverse the results of the 2020 Nevada presidential election.
Jim Marchant did not receive formal endorsement, but his victory in the primary for the Secretary of State could very well be considered a victory for Mr. Trump: Mr. Marchant is a Trump loyalist who helped organize a series of “America First” candidates for election who question the legitimacy of the 2020 election. He will take on Cisco Aguilar, a Democratic lawyer.
Understand the 2022 midterm elections
Why are these intermediate races so important? This year’s races could tip the balance of power in Congress to Republicans, shattering President Biden’s agenda for the second half of his term. They will also test former President Donald J. Trump’s role as GOP kingmaker. Here’s what you need to know:
Ohio wins
The Senate Candidate JD Vance defeated a field of well-funded candidates, nearly all of whom set themselves up as Trump-esque Republicans. Mr. Vance, an author and venture capitalist, had transformed himself in 2016 from a self-described “never Trump man” to an “America First” candidate in 2022.
Max Millera former Trump aide who denied charges of assaulting an ex-girlfriend and later supported by Mr. Trump won his House primary after two other Republican incumbent officials chose not to run.
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-time primary to an open congressional seat vacated by Representative Tim Ryan, a Democrat running for the Senate.
A win in West Virginia
Representative Alex Mooney triumphed over Representative David McKinley in a newly-drawn congressional district. Mr Trump’s approval was seen as the deciding factor in the race.
A win in California
Kevin KileyTrump, a Republican state legislator endorsed, advanced to the November general election after finishing second in an open primary for an open seat in California’s Third Congressional District. He will be up against Kermit Jones, a Democrat who is a physician and Navy veteran who was the top vote catcher.
A narrow win in Montana
Ryan Zinke had been Montana’s at-large congressman before serving in the Trump administration. Now Mr. Zinke wants to return to Congress. Mr. Trump supported him, but he narrowly won his Republican primary for the seat.
A loss in Nebraska
Charles W. Herbster, a wealthy agribusiness executive, lost his triple primary to Jim Pillen, a University of Nebraska regent backed by Governor Pete Ricketts, who has long clashed with Mr Trump and whose term is limited. Late in the campaign, Mr. Herbster accused of groping several women. He denied the allegations.
And another loss in Idaho
Idaho Governor Brad Little overcame Mr. Trump’s approval of the state’s lieutenant governor, Janice McGeachinwho challenged him in the Republican primaries.
Alyce McFadden research contributed.
