President Donald Trump reasserted his dominance over the Republican Party on Tuesday night, adding to his string of recent primary victories across the country.But Republican lawmakers, including some who have been felled by Trump-endorsed primary challengers, are growing restless months before the midterm elections that will decide the fate of their congressional majorities.Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) was defeated by Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein, losing by a nearly 10-point margin. Trump’s pick to replace retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), trounced former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron by just under 30 points.
Both Kentuckians are heavy favorites to win the general election in November.
This comes on the heels of Trump-endorsed Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA) finishing first in a Louisiana Senate primary that is now headed to a runoff. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), who voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial, finished third and was eliminated from the race.
Indiana state GOP lawmakers who defied Trump on mid-decade congressional redistricting fared similarly poorly against their primary challengers earlier this month.
Trump made the defeat of Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) in next week’s primary runoff more likely by endorsing his opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Trump did, however, let Cornyn down more gently than Massie or Cassidy.
