President Donald Trump’s iron grip over the Republican Party has been on display throughout the primary season, with candidates who have secured his endorsement routinely besting their rivals and even well-established incumbents who have drawn Trump’s ire.
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But it’s not absolute.
Four states and the District of Columbia voted in key primary and runoff elections on Tuesday. And while three more Republican candidates backed by Trump secured spots on the general election ballots, one high-profile candidate riding the president’s endorsement in a key GOP matchup fell short against a billionaire in Georgia.
Here’s a recap of Tuesday’s biggest election results.
Alabama Senate Runoff
Trump-endorsed Republican Rep. Barry Moore won his party’s nomination over former Navy SEAL and weapons training company owner Jared Hudson in the GOP runoff election to replace Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who is running for governor.
On the Democratic side, Municipal Court Judge Everett Wess defeated former corporate executive Dakarai Larriett. But in a state that hasn’t elected a Democratic senator since the 1970s, Wess’ chances in the general election appear to be slim.
California Special House Election
Democratic state Sen. Aisha Wahab advanced in the 14th District special primary election to replace Rep. Eric Swalwell, who resigned from Congress following sexual assault allegations. In California’s jungle primary system, the two candidates with the most votes advance regardless of party. Wahab’s opponent in the Aug. 18 runoff election has not yet been determined as votes are still being counted, according to The Associated Press.
Democrat Melissa Hernandez, Bay Area Rapid Transit director and former Dublin mayor, was in second place.
Georgia Senate and Governor Runoffs
Trump’s endorsement was not enough for Lt. Gov. Burt Jones to win Georgia’s gubernatorial runoff election for the Republican nomination. In a blow to the president, healthcare businessman Rick Jackson emerged victorious in the contentious race to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, and some credit his record-breaking $100 million campaign spending.
Jackson will face former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democrat, in November.
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Trump’s pick in the Senate runoff, Rep. Mike Collins, had more success. Collins defeated former college football coach Derek Dooley and will face Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in what is expected to be an intense general election.
Oklahoma Senate and Governor Primaries
The Republican primary to replace term-limited Gov. Kevin Stitt will advance to a runoff between Attorney General Gentner Drummond and state Sen. Mike Mazzei – endorsed by Trump – as neither won a majority of votes.
Trump-endorsed Rep. Kevin Hern swept the Republican primary for Markwayne Mullin’s former Senate seat, since he is now secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
The majority of Oklahoma voters did not support a ballot measure that would have raised the state’s minimum wage to $15 by 2029, keeping the minimum wage at the federal rate of $7.25.
Washington, D.C., House and Mayor Primaries
Washington experienced its first election since 1990 in which the positions of mayor and D.C. delegate seats are both vacant.
A winner has not yet been determined in a race that will give the District its first new mayor in more than 10 years, since Mayor Muriel Bowser is not seeking a fourth term. Because the District is using ranked choice voting for the first time, counting votes can take longer. Council member Janeese Lewis George, a democratic socialist, was significantly ahead. Trump threatened to “take back Washington” and “run it on the federal basis” if Lewis George wins.
Council member Robert White succeeded in the election to replace retiring Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, Washington’s nonvoting representative in Congress. White is expected to win the seat in one of the country’s bluest cities.
