Trump Flexes Endorsement Power Before Key Primary Races
President Trump claimed a 97% success rate for his 2026 endorsements ahead of Tuesday's Republican primary runoffs in Oklahoma and South Carolina that will test his continued influence over the party.
In an analysis of Trump’s endorsement record, Emily Hallas writing in Washington Examiner reports the president highlighted his near-perfect win rate ahead of Tuesday’s closely watched Republican primary runoffs in Oklahoma and South Carolina, contests that will further test his influence over the party’s direction.
Trump’s self-reported 97% figure aligns closely with Ballotpedia’s independently tracked 96% rating for his 2026 cycle endorsements, underscoring the continued gravitational pull the former and current president maintains over GOP primary voters.
My Endorsements are stronger than ever, Trump declared on Truth Social, emphasizing that his backing has created opportunities for candidates who otherwise might never have been competitive. He called the responsibility an honor he takes seriously.
South Carolina and Oklahoma Races in Focus
The statement arrives as Republican voters in South Carolina prepare to decide a U.S. Senate runoff Tuesday between Sen. Darline Graham Nordone, whom Trump has endorsed, and Rep. Ralph Norman. Graham Nordone, seeking to permanently fill the seat left vacant by her late brother, led the August 11 primary by 8 percentage points but faces what observers expect to be a narrower margin in the runoff.
Trump’s political action committee has invested $828,000 in South Carolina to boost Graham Nordone’s campaign, signaling the high stakes the president places on securing victory for his chosen candidate.
In Oklahoma’s gubernatorial runoff, Trump has thrown his weight behind former state Senator Mike Mazzei, who trailed state Attorney General Gentner Drummond by less than 1 percentage point in June’s Republican primary. Trump has repeatedly attacked Drummond as a “fake Republican,” accusing him of opposing a major aluminum plant development in Oklahoma and of suing to block a religious charter school supported by the Trump administration.
Losses Dismissed as Loyalty Endorsements
Despite the impressive win rate, approximately 12 Trump-endorsed candidates have lost races this cycle, including several prominent congressional and gubernatorial contenders. Among the defeats were Reps. Cory Mills of Florida and Andy Ogles of Tennessee in their reelection bids, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones of Georgia in the governor’s race, and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette of South Carolina in her gubernatorial campaign.
Trump this week sought to minimize those losses, characterizing them as loyalty endorsements for candidates facing long odds from the outset. He maintained that he felt obligated to support them because they were good people, even when victory appeared nearly impossible.
The president’s endorsement strategy continues to dominate Republican primary politics, with Tuesday’s results set to provide fresh evidence of whether his backing remains the decisive factor in competitive GOP contests.
With information from Washington Examiner
