Showing that a Donald Trump is NOT a way to a sure win everyplace with Republican primary voters…
It didn’t happen in Nebraska….
Where Trump was told to NOT get involved….
Trumpworld was bracing to take some hits this month. But they weren’t planning on it coming so soon — or looking this ugly.
Charles Herbster, Trump’s endorsed candidate for Nebraska governor, was running for an open seat, not challenging an entrenched incumbent, as is the case for some of Trump’s favored candidates competing in primaries later this month. Candidates don’t get any more MAGA than Herbster, a Trump megadonor who all but stapled himself to the former president during the primary.
Trump repaid the favor by traveling to Nebraska last week to campaign for his longtime ally, even after eight women accused Herbster of sexual assault.
It was a risk that looks foolish now.
Herbster lost to Jim Pillen, a more establishment-oriented Republican, in the primary.
…
Trump-endorsed candidates went 22-0 in Ohio and Indiana last week and, predictably, he’s has been crowing about it, telling Fox News, “I won every race.”
He won’t be able to say that now. But, come on. Trump is padding the stat sheet. Sure, his endorsement put Vance over the top in Ohio, and Herbster was no shoo-in. He had skin in the game in those contests.
But the majority of candidates Trump’s endorsing are incumbents up against meager opposition — or none at all. He’s been far more hesitant to touch races where a Republican he dislikes is likely to win.
Nowhere was that more apparent than in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District on Tuesday night, where Bacon coasted in his primary.
Trump detests Bacon. After Bacon voted for President Joe Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure bill, Trump included him on a list of Republicans he wanted run out of Congress, then issued a statement in January asking, “Anyone want to run for Congress against Don Bacon in Nebraska?”
No serious contender did. But by last week, when Trump appeared at a rally in Nebraska, he was aware of one challenger to Bacon, longshot Republican Steve Kuehl. Trump called Bacon “bad news,” and he had kind things to say about Kuehl. But he didn’t endorse him, because even Trump could see that to endorse the candidate he preferred in that race would have added a loss to his tally.
Recognizing Kuehl in the crowd, Trump said, “Good luck, Steve, whoever the hell you are.”….
Despite Trump’s loss in the Nebraska governor’s race, his influence proved decisive in West Virginia, which also held primary elections Tuesday. In a race pitting two Republican incumbents against each other, Trump’s candidate, Rep. Alex Mooney, defeated Rep. David McKinley, who had angered Trump by voting for President Joe Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure package and the creation of the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol…
A list of the May 10, 2022 Primary results from RRH.…
In the WV-2 incumbent vs. incumbent GOP primary, Rep. Alex Mooney (R) clobbered Rep. David McKinley (R) 54%-36%.
In NE-Gov, University Board of Regents member and hog farmer Jim Pillen (R) received a late-night checkmark with a narrow lead over Trump-endorsed businessman Charles Herbster (R) and state Sen. Brett Lindstrom 33%-30%-26%, respectively, with about 99% of the vote in.
In NE-SoS, incumbent Secretary of State Bob Evnen (R) had a lackluster showing in the GOP primary, besting his opponents firefighters Robert Borer (R) and Rex Schroder (R) by a 44%-32%-24% margin, respectively (with a little less than 85% of the vote reporting).
In NE-Treas, incumbent State Treasurer John Murante (R) also had a lackluster night taking just 57% of the GOP primary vote against perennial candidate Paul Anderson (R).
In NE-AG, Nebraska Unicameral Speaker Mike Hilgers (R) cruised to victory in the GOP primary over conspiracy theorist Jenifer Hicks (R) by a 68%-32% margin.
In Newark, NJ Mayor, Mayor Ras Baraka (D) easily won re-election to a third term by a 83-17% margin. Now on to today’s roundup…
His endorsement might not be “ gold” but most Republicans seem to want it and his candidates seem to be doing pretty good overall.
Despite your almost daily efforts to the contrary.?
Trump remains the numero uno force in the Republican Party as even his opponents within the party concede.
Yes….
But I stand by my view that around the edges?
Things ARE slowly morphing AWAY from him…..
There is NO LOVE fro him ….
Just fear from the lawmakers….