Remember me
President Donald Trump’s political influence in Republican primaries remains formidable in 2026, with early results showing an overwhelming number of his endorsed candidates securing victories across key races.
The president has issued more than 300 endorsements this cycle, the vast majority in primary contests. Of those, Trump-backed candidates have won roughly 98 percent of their primaries so far, according to Ballotpedia.
This highlights his continued dominance within the GOP and his ability to shape the party’s candidate slate heading into November, as primary results provide one of the clearest early indicators of Trump’s continued influence over GOP voters.
Read More on Politics
Newsweek has contacted the White House outside of regular working hours via email for comment.
Trump-Endorsed Candidates Who Have WonTrump's success has been notable so far, and the list continues to grow as more primaries take place, according to Ballotpedia data.
The outcome of GOP state Senate primaries in Indiana was particularly significant for the president, as Trump-backed challengers won at least five of the seven Indiana Republican state Senate primaries.
This came after Indiana’s Republican-led Senate decisively rejected a redrawn congressional map that would have favored their party, defying months of pressure from Trump, which prompted the president to begin his revenge campaign.
Below, Newsweek has drawn up a list, using Ballotpedia data, of Trump-backed candidates' victories so far.
U.S. Senate PrimariesJulia Letlow - Louisiana (Challenger)Ken Paxton - Texas (Challenger)Mike Collins - Georgia (Challenger)Ashley Hinson - Iowa (Open seat)Kevin Hern - Oklahoma (Open seat)Barry Moore - Alabama (Open seat)Ander Barr - Kentucky (Open seat)Kurt Alme - Montana (Open seat)Michael Whatley - North Carolina (Open seat)Lindsey Graham - South Carolina (Incumbent)Jon Husted - Ohio (Incumbent)Tom Cotton - Arkansas (Incumbent)Jim Risch - Idaho (Incumbent)Cindy Hyde-Smith - Mississippi (Incumbent)Pete Ricketts - Nebraska (Incumbent)Mike Rounds - South Dakota (Incumbent)Shelley Moore Capito - West Virginia (Incumbent)State Executive Primaries Tommy Tuberville - AlabamaSarah Huckabee Sanders - ArkansasSteve Hilton - CaliforniaBrad Little - IdahoJim Pillen - NebraskaJoe Lombardo - NevadaBruce Blakeman - New YorkVivek Ramaswamy - OhioMike Mazzei - OklahomaStacy Garrity - PennsylvaniaGreg Abbott - TexasJohn Wahl - Lieutenant Governor of Alabama Scott Bedke - Lieutenant Governor of IdahoStavros Anthony - Lieutenant Governor of NevadaT. W. Shannon - Lieutenant Governor of OklahomaDan Patrick - Lieutenant Governor of TexasKey Trump-Endorsed Candidates Who Have Been DefeatedWhile Trump has had notable success in the 2026 primaries so far, he has also had some major losses. For example, Georgia Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, one of Trump's highest-profile gubernatorial picks this cycle, fell short in his runoff against businessman Rick Jackson.
Meanwhile, Representative Randy Feenstra lost the GOP primary for Iowa governor, despite a last minute endorsement from Trump.
In the GOP gubernatorial primary runoff in South Carolina, Attorney General Alan Wilson beat Trump-backed Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette.
In the GOP primaries for North Carolina state Senate District 26, Senate leader Phil Berger lost the race to Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page.
Comments (0)