WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: Trump “Sabotaging” GOP Senate Primaries

A series of new reports this week highlighted how former president Donald Trump is “sabotaging” Republicans’ prospects for the 2022 midterm elections by intervening in and escalating GOP primaries across the map:

• National Journal: Trump is sabotaging the GOP’s Senate prospects. “Out of office, he’s continuing his destructive behavior, endorsing weaker candidates in contested primaries, squelching the campaigns of erstwhile allies, and elevating not-ready-for-prime-time contenders in must-win Senate contests.”

• Roll Call: Trump could shake up key Senate races with endorsements. “Former President Donald Trump’s recent endorsement in the North Carolina Senate race is the latest sign that he is looking to influence primaries in competitive states…The endorsement also came as Florida Sen. Rick Scott, chairman of Senate Republicans’ campaign arm, has encouraged Trump to hold off on endorsing candidates until after primaries are over.” 

• Axios: Pro-McConnell PAC prepared to intervene in 2022 primaries. “Trump’s weekend endorsement of Rep. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) in his state’s 2022 Senate race put the GOP establishment on notice that party leaders won’t necessarily get to handpick their preferred candidates for the crucial midterms…Trump’s Budd endorsement in North Carolina hasn’t cleared the field, and two other candidates — former Gov. Pat McCrory and former Rep. Mark Walker — show no sign of abandoning the race.”

• CNN Analysis: Mitch McConnell was asked about Trump and 2022. His answer is hilarious. “There’s a zero percent chance that Trump won’t loom over the midterms in ways that are likely to complicate McConnell’s hopes of retaking the majority next November…Trump’s presence (and meddling) could hamstring Senate Republicans.” 

The reports followed a weekend of infighting as GOP conventions in key battleground states were subsumed by messy internal battles and Trump “sow[ed] division” in critical Republican Senate primaries.

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