In recent primary elections, Trump-endorsed candidates experienced rare losses in Utah, South Carolina, and Colorado. These defeats suggest a shift in some Republican voters away from Trump’s influence in primaries. Typically, an endorsement from Trump leads to success for congressional candidates, but this trend did not hold true in the 2024 election cycle.
In Utah, Rep. John Curtis emerged victorious over Trump’s chosen candidate Trent Staggs in the race for Mitt Romney’s open Senate seat. Similarly, in South Carolina, pastor Mark Burns lost the House runoff race to Republican Sherri Biggs despite being endorsed by Trump on Truth Social. In Colorado, state GOP Chair Dave Williams lost to conservative commentator Jeff Crank in the House race despite being endorsed by Trump in March.
These three losses mark only the second, third, and fourth instances of a Trump-endorsed candidate losing in the 2024 election cycle. The first loss occurred in June when New Jersey Senate candidate Christine Serrano Glassner lost to Curtis Bashaw despite being endorsed by Trump. Additionally, races in Utah’s second congressional district and Virginia’s Republican primary are still too close to call with Trump-backed candidates leading by slim margins.
Overall, these losses suggest that Trump’s endorsements may not hold as much sway as they once did in Republican primaries. The outcomes of these races indicate a potential shift in the dynamics of the party and the influence of certain endorsements.
