LOSING GRIP: Trump’s touch may not be so Midas after all as his endorsed candidates fail bigly
Republican voters overwhelmingly give Trump-backed candidates the middle finger yesterday in the GOP primaries that took place in several key battleground states. The results of Tuesday’s primaries are a positive sign that the former insurrectionist-in-chief may be losing his death grip on the GOP with Ultra MAGA candidates failing miserably in several key races.
The trend was most notable in Georgia where Trump-endorsed David Perdue crashed and burned in his bid to be Georgia’s next governor, losing by over 50 points to incumbent Brian Kemp who was endorsed by former Vice President Mike Pence. In a departure from the Trump status quo, Pence went against his former boss, instead backing the governor who refused to go along with Trump’s seditious conspiracy to attempt a coup.
CNN analyst @ScottJenningsKY says that Mike Pence is supporting Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp against Trump-endorsed David Perdue because the Kemp campaign may be the blueprint to successfully win elections without the support of Donald Trump. Watch here: https://t.co/JyMw4Vh6pH
— CNN (@CNN) May 24, 2022
Stumping for Kemp at a rally the evening before the primary, Pence referred to Kemp as “one of the most successful conservative governors in America.” He went on to further say:
“Brian Kemp is my friend, a man dedicated to faith, family and the people of Georgia. I am proud to offer my full support for four more years of Brian Kemp as governor of the great state of Georgia.”
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger fell on the wrong side of the Great MAGA King when Raffensperger refused to “find” over 11,000 votes to help Trump overturn Georgia’s election results in favor of Biden.
Raffensperger ‘s refusal sent the tantrum-throwing twice-impeached former guy into full vengeance mode.
Trump announced at a Georgia rally only two days before the Jan. 6th Capitol insurrection, “I’ll be here in a year in a half campaigning against your governor and your crazy secretary of state.”
Two months later, Trump endorsed Congressman Jody Hice (R-GA) to replace Raffensperger.
Hice, vocal in perpetuating “The Big Lie” despite lack of proof or evidence, went on to say:
“Every Georgian, in fact every American, has the right to be outraged by the actions and, simultaneously, the inaction of our Secretary of State.”
Hice campaigned heavily on false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen – and Georgians apparently were already over it.
Trump played a back and forth game with former ally, Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL), withdrawing his support of the Jan. 6th insurrectionist in his run for a U.S. Senate seat in Alabama. Trump was upset that Brooks suggested the GOP look past Trump’s obsession with the already decided 2020 presidential election. After losing Trump’s endorsement Brooks’ Senate bid was seen as dead in the water, but surprisingly Brooks rallied and forced a runoff with his rival Katie Britt — proving that, even with Trump’s very public rescinding of his endorsement, Brooks’ political death was not imminent.
From disgraced freshman Congressman, Madison Cawthorn (R-NC), to Nebraska’s embarrassing gubernatorial hopeful, Charles W. Herbster, Trump’s endorsement is not the golden ticket it was once thought to be. While his endorsement has seen some wins – many amongst candidates running unopposed – other candidates, like Dr. Mehmet Oz, have barely received more than a third of the vote in their contests.
Whatever the case, it’s still good news to those looking for a semblance of light at the end of the Trumpian tunnel, providing hope that we just may get through this with democracy intact – however tattered it may be.
Follow Ty Ross on Twitter @cooltxchick
