Trump Loyalty Test Already Escalating GOP Senate Primaries

Across the Senate map, unwavering allegiance to Donald Trump is continuing to define and escalate Republicans’ primary battles — setting the stage for a “combative primary season” and leaving their eventual nominees more focused on loyalty to a disgraced former president than the issues that matter to voters in their states. 

See the latest developments for yourself: 

• In Pennsylvania: Failed politician Jeff Bartos has repeatedly promoted his support for Trump, saying “he voted twice for Trump” and “supports what he accomplished in office” as he “invoked Trump as a fighter for the forgotten.” Meanwhile, failed congressional candidate and “Trump favorite” Sean Parnell is reportedly “99% sure” he’s running for Senate just months after being deeply involved in “an effort to throw out more than 2.5 million lawful mail votes and overturn the result of Pennsylvania’s presidential election.”

• In North Carolina: Former Congressman Mark Walker has bragged that “Trump backed his bid” for this Senate race back in 2019 and said recently he would “see no reason why that’s dissipated.” Looming over the GOP field, however, is the prospect that a member of the Trump family (who actually lives in New York) could run for this open seat.

• In Ohio: A recent closed-door meeting between Trump and four of the Ohio Senate candidates devolved into a “Hunger Games” audition for his endorsement. Former Treasurer Josh Mandel claims to be “Trump’s No. 1 ally in the state,” former state GOP Chair Jane Timken has pledged to “advance the Trump agenda without fear or hesitation,” and corporate executive Bernie Moreno immediately “cast himself as an outsider in the mold of former President Trump” when he entered the primary this week.

• In Alabama: Congressman Mo Brooks is a “major headache” for Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and was just endorsed by Trump, but his self-funding primary rival Lynda Blanchard insists that she has “no plans to drop out of the race.”

• In Missouri: Scandal-plagued former governor Eric Greitens, Attorney General Eric Schmitt, and potentially half a dozen other candidates are already “elbowing” each other for Trump’s endorsement and support.

See also:

• CNN: Analysis: Senate Republicans already have a Donald Trump problem
• Washington Post: Trump inspired Republican Senate candidates create early tensions over direction of the party
• New York Times: Republicans Fear Flawed Candidates Could Imperil Key Senate Seats
• The Hill: Trump allies line up ahead of potentially bruising primaries

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