Alex Isenstadt, - AxiosStephan: Trump, the MAGAT state-level Republicans, and the billionaire oligarchs are doing everything they can to rig the 2026 elections in November and keep the MAGATs in power. It is yet another example of how democracy is being dismantled in the United States.
House Speaker Mike Johnson and President Trump. Photo illustration: Aïda Amer / Axios. Photos: Kevin Dietsch and Al Drago / Bloomberg / Getty
President Trump is flexing his dominance over the Republican Party to stamp out primaries that would bleed party coffers and fracture the GOP ahead of a treacherous midterm election.
Why it matters: If the party defies expectations and keeps control of Congress this fall, Trump’s ruthless maneuvers to sideline some candidates while forcefully backing others will be a big reason.
By the numbers: Trump has picked favorites in more primaries than any other president in history.
He endorsed 95% of the 217-member House GOP Conference, including 43 candidates running in the Cook Political Report’s 60 most competitive House races.
He endorsed Republican candidates in nearly two-thirds of Senate races.
While Democrats are still favored to pick up seats, they’re dealing with a string of divisive and costly primaries that could leave candidates weakened heading into the general election.
Behind the scenes: Trump’s hardball tactics were on display last week, when the president asked Kentucky [...]Read the Full Article »
