, which is regarded as the "barometer" of the 2022 midterm elections in the United States, was held on Tuesday (17th) local time. In the Pennsylvania Senator Republican primary election, former U.S. President Trump TV celebrity and health show host Mehmet Oz won the same votes as former hedge fund CEO Dave Mccormick. After 12 hours, the winner was still not sure about this election.
Touchstone of influence within the Republican Party
According to the election rules of Pennsylvania , if the vote count difference between the two people's votes is less than 0.5 percentage points after the vote count is completed, automatic vote counting will be initiated. However, Trump urged Oz on Wednesday to declare himself the winner, so that the Democrats can’t cheat on votes.
Some political analysts said that the Senate primary in Pennsylvania is seen as an election battle that Trump must win, because in the previous two elections, the candidates Trump supported failed to win.
In the vote on Tuesday, Trump-backed North Carolina Rep. Madison Cawthorn lost in the Republican primary; Janice McGeachin, the deputy governor of Idaho, lost to current Governor Brad Little in the Republican primary.
One of the most popular primary elections on Tuesday was the Representatives seat in North Carolina's 11th District.
The youngest member of the U.S. Congress, the 26-year-old Rep. Kothorn, a 11-district member in North Carolina, is considered a "rise" of the Republican Party, but has experienced many controversies such as nude videos and two attempts to bring a gun onto the plane. Although Trump still stood up for Kothorn at the last minute and called for "give Kothorn another chance", the latter still lost to the 61-year-old Edwards, a local businessman supported by the Republican establishment.
In addition, in the previous gubernatorial campaign for Nebraska , Trump-backed Charles Herbster lost to current Governor Pete Ricketts-backed university president Jim Pillen.
When asked by the media many times "whether to run for election in 2024", Trump's answer was "It will be decided after the midterm election." Therefore, the primary election of the midterm elections is also seen as a touchstone for Trump's influence within the Republican Party, and Trump has endorsed more than 150 candidates.
Is Trump's platform effective?
Trump's last-minute stand failed to get some candidates to win, but it caused a discussion within the Republican Party to "whether Trump can really screen out the winners within the party."
"This (Trump endorsement) is a good card, but not a gold medal." Republican strategist Doug Heye said, "Just like a candidate who had previously received support from President Obama or Bush Jr. . Regardless of whether Trump appears or not, the Republican Party is becoming increasingly 'Trumping' in general."
Since the midterm primary, every campaign Trump publicly expressed support has been closely watched. In the Republican primary in Ohio, , the originally less well-known candidate J.D Vance quickly gained fame after gaining Trump's support and eventually won a nomination for the Republican primary. Last week, Trump-backed Rep. Alex Mooney, a Republican in West Virginia, beat another Republican candidate in the second district primary.
In primary elections in multiple states, almost all Republican candidates have included Trump's photos and video footage in campaign websites and advertisements, and emphasized Trump's previous program, including what he said was fraud in the 2020 election.
However, some Republican strategists have also said that Trump's endorsement cannot be used as a basis for whether a candidate can win the November election.
"I'm dissatisfied with him (Trump) participating in local politics and campaigns." Pennsylvania Former Republican chairman Rob Gleason said, "He (Trump) does not live in Pennsylvania, and his name is not on the ballot. He may be slowly exhausting his local favorable feelings for him."
