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.
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?
Elizabeth writes commentary for Legal Insurrection and The Washington Examiner. She is an academy fellow at The Heritage Foundation. Please follow Elizabeth on X or LinkedIn.
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