Tuesday marked another eventful evening, with former President Trump’s political stamp being put to the test again.
Trump’s approval suffered a heavy loss in the race for governor of Georgia with the victory of incumbent Brian Kemp (R) over former Senator David Purdue (R-Ga.). On the part of Democrats, the run-off between incumbent Henry Cuelar (D-Texas) and progressive activist Jessica Cisneros remained as a razor and left at midnight.
The competition was largely overshadowed in the media by a shooting at a primary school in Uwalde, Texas that killed at least 19 people. Candidates from both parties reacted to the news of the shooting, but primary races continued in a number of states, including Texas.
Here are five excerpts from Tuesday’s primary.
A resounding defeat for Trump in Georgia
Of all the states that have held primary elections so far this year, Georgia has dealt perhaps Trump’s biggest blow.
His preferred Republican gubernatorial candidate, Perdue, was easily sent by Gov. Brian Kemp, despite Trump’s best efforts to oust him.
Republican voters in Georgia also flatly rejected John Gordon, a Trump-approved Republican primary candidate for attorney general, renouncing incumbent President Chris Carr for a second term.
Meanwhile, in the Republican primary for Secretary of State, incumbent Brad Rafensperger defeated Trump-backed candidate Jodie Hayes (R-Ga.), A landslide victory and avoiding a potentially chaotic primary run-off in June.
And while he appears to be heading for the primary runoff in June, former Georgia spokesman Vernon Jones, whom Trump lured out of the gubernatorial race with a promise to back him for a seat in Congress, is not ready to finish first in the nomination competition. GOP in the 10th state convention district.
The series of defeats in Georgia only exacerbates Trump’s troubles in the state after his election loss to President Biden in 2020. But they are also likely to raise additional questions about his status as a Republican king and how far Republican voters are willing to go. to strengthen their control over the party and its candidates.
Voters reject supporters of Trump’s election claims
If Trump has clarified one thing since leaving Washington last year, it is that any candidate seeking his approval will also have to continue to claim that widespread voter fraud has taken away his second term in the White House.
In Georgia, however, voters were less inclined to side with Trump on the issue than he had hoped.
Republicans overwhelmingly rejected Purdue’s challenge to Kemp, despite his frequent willingness to re-emerge in the campaign and challenge the 2020 election and Trump’s baseless allegations of voter fraud.
The same was true in the GOP’s primary election as Attorney General. Carr drew Trump’s anger after the 2020 election because he refused to help him undo his loss in Georgia. However, Republican voters were not attracted to the candidate Trump approved to replace Carr.
In the same way, Rafensperger triumphed over Hitz, despite loudly criticizing Trump’s false election claims and defending his country’s behavior in the 2020 election in the face of attacks by the former president and his allies.
Although Georgia is only one state, the results show that Republican voters may not be as interested as Trump is in reviewing the outcome of the last presidential election – something the former president has focused on his political brand.
But Trump supporters still won elsewhere
While Purdue’s loss in his primary election in Georgia was Trump’s biggest loss of the evening, other candidates backed by the former president have qualified for the general election.
Republican Herschel Walker won the primary election in the Senate of Georgia, organizing a match with incumbent Democratic Senator Rafael Warnock (Ga.). Trump called on Walker’s victory party on Tuesday night to congratulate the newly elected Republican candidate in the Senate.
Former Trump White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders also won the primary election for governor of the Republican Party in Arkansas. Huckabee Sanders, the daughter of former Gov. Mike Huckabee, was backed by Trump shortly after announcing his candidacy. She faced another opponent, but was considered the favorite in the race throughout the campaign. Democrats are likely to have a hard time defeating Huckabee Sanders in the general election, given the steady inclination of the Republican Party in Arkansas. If elected, Huckabee Sanders will be the state’s first female governor.
In Texas, meanwhile, incumbent Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) won his runoff against Land Commissioner George P. Bush. Trump backed last year despite the Attorney General’s legal problems, including a state court charge of securities fraud and allegations of bribery and abuse of office.
It was a good night for the incumbents
It is rarely easy to beat a starter. But the primaries on Tuesday showed how difficult it is to remove the current incumbent.
In Georgia, Kemp easily won a re-nomination for a second term at the governor’s mansion, despite facing repeated attacks from Trump and his approved candidate, Purdue. The same was true in the GOP’s primary election as Attorney General.
At the same time, Warnock won the primary, which was contested only nominally. Stacey Abrams, who is not an incumbent governor but whose reputation and name identification rival those of an incumbent president, ran without resistance in the Democratic election for governor of Georgia.
In Texas, Paxton sent Land Commissioner George P. Bush in the first round, in which the current Attorney General won by more than 30 points.
And in Alabama, Gov. Kay Ivey won his primary election, defeating former Trump ambassador to Slovenia Linda Blanchard.
Of course, the positions held have very good results – strong political ties, donors with deep pockets, high recognition and record, among other things.
But on Tuesday night, it became clear that the job paid off, especially in the toughest competitions.
The restaurant also won
Tuesday was a good night for the non-Trump, GOP establishment wing.
The restaurant achieved its great victory in the primary election for governor of Kemp. Figures such as former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (right), Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (right) and Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts (right) campaigned for Georgia’s governor, opposing the approval of Georgia. Purdue.
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In Arkansas, meanwhile, Sen. John Buzman (R) repelled a number of right-wing contenders, including former NFL player Jake Beckett. Opponents of Buzman have beaten him for voting to confirm the results of the 2020 election and remarks that Trump bears “some responsibility” for the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. However, Buzman had the support of Trump and former Trump officials as Huckabee Sanders. The night is not bad for the democratic establishment either.
Representative Henry Cuelar (D-Texas) is backing against progressive contender Jessica Cisneros in a race that split Democrats on Capitol Hill, with Democrats largely supporting Cuelar as the party’s left flank tackles Cisneros.
Although the race remains too close to be announced, the match is a reminder of how influential the political establishment remains, even in the face of a united progressive opposition.
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