Trump-backed congressional candidates suffered rare losses in Tuesday's primary elections
Former President Donald Trump. Scott Olson/Getty Images
- Trump-backed candidates lost primary races in Utah, South Carolina, and Colorado.
- These defeats mark a rare trend of Trump endorsements failing in the 2024 election cycle.
- Results suggest some Republican voters are shifting away from Trump's influence in primaries.
An endorsement from Donald Trump usually spells success for congressional candidates. But in this week's primary elections, some Trump picks experienced rare losses.
In Utah, Republican Rep. John Curtis — who has been critical of Trump — beat out Trump's chosen candidate Trent Staggs to take over Mitt Romney's open Senate seat. Staggs lost to Curtis by 20 points, according to projected race calls from the Associated Press, compiled by The New York Times.
In South Carolina, a similar situation occurred: ultra-conservative pastor Mark Burns, who Trump endorsed on Truth Social in April, lost his House runoff race to Republican Sherri Biggs.
And in Colorado, House hopeful and state GOP Chair Dave Williams, who the former president endorsed on Truth Social in March, got smoked by his rival, conservative commentator Jeff Crank — losing by 30 points, according to the Times.
The three losses are just the second, third, and fourth time that a Trump favorite has lost their race for a federal position this election cycle, Politico reported. The first instance happened earlier in June when Trump-endorsed New Jersey Senate candidate Christine Serrano Glassner lost by 7 points to real estate developer Curtis Bashaw, according to the Times.
There's two othr candidates who might get added to Trump's list of failures.
The race for Utah's second congressional district is still too close to call, with Trump-backed incumbent Rep. Celeste Maloy leading by just 3 points. And Virginia's Republican primary is also still too close to call, with Trump pick John McGuire less than one point ahead of his challenger. That race may result in a recount, MSNBC reported.
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