Republicans Love Trump: His Primary Picks Keep Winning
“President Trump’s endorsement is as good as gold in Republican primaries.”
CNN data analyst Harry Enten said President Donald Trump has a touch of gold when it comes to his endorsement record in congressional and gubernatorial primaries. Marveling over Trump’s hit rate, the very fired up Enten declared, “He is a GOAT when it comes to Republican primaries. He’s a Tom Brady. He is a Babe Ruth.”
Trump’s endorsement success rate was 98% in 2020, 95% in 2022, and 96% in 2024.
Enten noted that Trump often endorses incumbents, “but even when he endorses challengers against incumbents, the challengers win a majority of the time.”
“President Trump’s endorsement is as good as gold in Republican primaries,” according to the data guru.
His considerably less enthusiastic colleague, anchor John Berman, mentioned that even Tom Brady has lost a few super bowls. But, he said, “Donald Trump almost never loses when he endorses in a primary because — why?
The exuberant Enten replied, “Why! Because Republicans love Donald Trump more than any president’s own party’s supporters loved them at this particular point.” He then pointed to a data board showing “own-party” approval ratings for former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, along with Trump. At roughly the same stage in their second terms, approval was 77% for Bush and Obama, compared with 86% for Trump.
“Look at this, 86% of Republicans approve of the job that Donald Trump is doing at this point! That is higher than either Obama or Bush had within their own party.
“Trump’s magic touch has not seemed to [have] worn off yet when it comes to the Republican base.”
He then noted that 53% — a majority — “strongly approved” of Trump’s performance, compared with 48% of Obama’s base and 47% of Bush’s.
CNN: "Republicans love Donald Trump more than any president's own party's supporters loved them at this particular point." pic.twitter.com/QYTlmQifEl
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 5, 2026
Trump declined to make an endorsement ahead of Tuesday’s Texas Republican Senate primary. The candidates included incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Rep. Wesley Hunt. After a bitter, bruising campaign, Cornyn finished with 41.9% of the vote, followed closely by Paxton with 40.7%, while Hunt received 13.5%.
Because no candidate cleared the 50% threshold required under Texas law, Cornyn and Paxton are headed to a primary runoff scheduled for May 26.
Both candidates remain dug in. Hoping to avoid another three months of intraparty mudslinging, Trump has said he will soon endorse one of them and urge the other to withdraw from the race.
Earlier Thursday, the speculation had been that Trump would endorse Cornyn and offer former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s position to Paxton, but alas, he just chose Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) for the spot.
Who will Trump choose?
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Comments
Better not be that RINO Cornyn.
I agree, but given his response to Paxton, you’re likely to be disappointed.
Didn’t Paxton say he would drop out if Thune would get the SAVE Act passed? Brillant!!
The real test is at the November ballot box where independents determine the election.
Not in GoP + 5 States and CD. The basic flaw in the GoP is the tendency of rinos to get elected on big promises but ‘evolve’ in DC then use the power of incumbency and structural support of PACs to fend off primary challenges. For a blue or purple State/CD where the politician gotta veer in the direction of the electorate it might be acceptable. It is unacceptable in red State/CD for a Rep or Senator to vote less ‘conservative’ than their electorate.
You mean like Herschel Walker, the Honorable Senator from Georgia?
50% of a loaf is better that 100% of nothing.
maga
He picks a lot based on who is going to win anyways.
I’d like to see numbers on when he picks unexpected victories not just challengers to incumbents.
I’d have more confidence in his endorsements if I didn’t see him with his finger planted firmly in the wind. Not to mention his apparent emphasis on long legs in short skirts.
Wouldn’t the same apply to other presidents who endorse yet his numbers are high?
Hmmmm, Mitch McConnell got his endorsement… who is now head of the Senate Rules Cmte…. How has that worked out? He endorsed Brian Kemp of Georgia after the Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle imploded, because he was recorded as being “for” school choice because a pac was going to give millions of dollars to another candidate that supported it. Cagle was recorded as saying he thought the school choice was a bad idea, but to get the money to flow to his campaign instead, he was supporting it. So Trump wasn’t a factor. The audio recording was.
Hasn’t Trump also endorsed Lindsey Graham? Who in his right mind would EVER support Lindsey, that anti-American piece of deluded homosexual garbage?
So to put it another way, Trump’s endorsements are poisoned water in terms of ACTIONS of elected officials he has endorsed. Wish he would stay out of it, and let voters sort out the bad apples.
RINOpocalypse now, please.
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