President Donald Trump‘s endorsement has become the closest thing Republicans have to a political death sentence — or a golden ticket.This cycle, Trump has ousted Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and John Cornyn (R-TX), as well as Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), after endorsing their primary challengers. So far, nearly all of the Republicans that Trump has endorsed for office have won their primaries.“After Texas, every ambitious Republican in an unendorsed race is trying to get in front of Trump,” GOP strategist Dennis Lennox told the Washington Examiner. “His endorsement has become a golden ticket in a contested nomination race.”
Here’s a list of races that could still hinge on the president’s endorsement.
South Carolina governor’s race
South Carolina has a crowded Republican primary for governor. Each of the candidates is running as a supporter of Trump, but none has garnered an endorsement.
To date, the race has been a four-way contest between Reps. Nancy Mace (R-SC) and Ralph Norman (R-SC), Attorney General Alan Wilson, and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette. Also running is businessman Rom Reddy. Polling has shown each of the top four candidates within a few points of each other, with the top spot trading on and off between Evette and Wilson depending on the survey.
