It was largely a good night for Trump-backed Republicans, who earned a few victories in their primaries.
John James won Michigan’s Republican nomination for governor despite being heavily outspent by his wealthy opponent. Trump not only endorsed James but appeared on stage with him last week.
In Kansas, Republicans opted for the Trump favourite for governor amidst a crowded field. And in the Washington state race to replace outgoing Republican Congressman Dan Newhouse, Amanda McKinney, the president’s pick, also finished first.
The 71-year-old Newhouse, who is retiring, was notable for being one of the last two remaining House Republican to have voted to impeach Trump after the 6 January, 2021 attack on the US Capitol.
Given that this is a reliably conservative district, McKinney is a favourite to defeat her Democratic opponent in November, which would likely move House Republicans further to the right. It’s the latest bit of evidence that old-line establishment Republicans like Newhouse are a vanishing breed.
But Trump didn’t get it all his own way.
In Michigan, Thomas Smith defeated Trump-endorsed Amir Hassan, a former law-enforcement officer who also appeared on stage with the president, despite Smith having dropped out of the race last month while remaining on the ballot.