It is no secret that President Donald Trump is popular among Republican voters, and with the primaries over we can see just how far his popularity goes.
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Trump endorsed 315 candidates in the 2026 primary elections, according to Ballotpedia, and 96% of those candidates were successful.
These endorsements come at a time when Trump’s approval rating hovers around 40% as of Sept. 18, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average.
Although his endorsement success rate sits much higher than his approval ratings, his backing was not enough to secure the nomination for several key candidates.
“Trump’s ability to rally his base is most effective in primary elections when the electorate is the active wing of the party – his voters,” Todd Belt, a professor at the Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University, said in an email. “It remains to be seen if this will transfer to the general election, as sometimes he chooses candidates who are not electable in the general election.”
Belt said Trump particularly struggled with gubernatorial endorsements due to choosing candidates who he said were out of touch with local issues.
“Trump cannot just foist anyone on an electorate who is out of touch with local concerns… governors have to address local issues, as opposed to national issues in the House and Senate,” Belt said. “Therefore, a Trump endorsement doesn’t always go that far towards those concerns.”
Here are the 14 candidates that were endorsed by Trump but lost their election – losses occurred in gubernatorial, U.S. House and state legislative primaries.
U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra of Iowa
(Scott Olson|Getty Images
U.S. Rep Randy Feenstra speaks to guests during a campaign event in Iowa on May 30
Feenstra lost the Republican gubernatorial primary on June 2 to Zach Lahn by 1,644 votes. Feenstra has represented Iowa’s 4th Congressional District since 2021. Experts say Feenstra was seen as the establishment option, and Lahn was an alternative for frustrated voters. “As your next Governor, Randy will fight tirelessly to Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Champion our Amazing Farmers and Ranchers, Empower Ethanol, Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Ensure LAW AND ORDER, Strengthen our incredible Military, Veterans, and Law Enforcement, Advance Election Integrity, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment.” Trump wrote on Truth Social in May.
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones of Georgia
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Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones speaks at a campaign rally in Georgia on October 15.
Jones, who has served as Georgia’s lieutenant governor since 2023, was bested by Rick Jackson by 37,532 votes in the state’s gubernatorial primary runoff. When Trump endorsed Jones in August 2025, he praised his loyalty and his athletic accomplishments as a former co-captain of the University of Georgia football team. But Jackson, who spent more than $100 million of his own money, was victorious against the Trump-backed candidate.
State Superintendent Megan Degenfelder
Degenfelder, the superintendent of public instruction in Wyoming, lost to state Sen. Eric Barlow by 20,081 votes in the gubernatorial primary on Aug. 18. When Trump endorsed her in January, he said many of his strongest supporters in Wyoming have told him how great “MAGA Megan” is, adding that “she has dedicated her life to serving her community.”
Businessman Mike Lindell
Lindell, the founder of MyPillow, lost to Lisa Demuth by roughly 45,000 votes in Minnesota’s gubernatorial primary election. Voters chose Demuth over Lindell who had promoted Trump’s false claims about fraud in the 2020 election. Trump endorsed Lindell in July, calling him the “Pillow Man” and “one of America’s greatest and most hard working Patriots.” Lindell refused to concede and called for a recount. Minnesota’s highest court later rejected his petition.
Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette of South Carolina
(Sean Rayford|Getty Images
Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette speaks to a crowd during an election night watch party on June 9 in Greenville, South Carolina.
Evette, who has served as lieutenant governor of South Carolina since 2019, lost to Alan Wilson in the state’s Republican gubernatorial primary runoff on June 23. Trump endorsed her in May and called her an “America First Patriot” who had been with him from the very beginning. “She never wavered, never let me down,” he wrote on social media. However, the night before the election Trump posted on social media that voters “can’t go wrong” with either Wilson or Evette. Wilson, the state’s attorney general, won the nomination with a margin of more than 118,000-votes.
Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller
Jason Fochtman|Houston Chronicle via Getty Images
Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller speaks on the impact of data center construction in Texas on June 11.
Miller, a three-term incumbent, lost to businessman Nate Sheets by 105,841 votes in the Republican primary for Texas agriculture commissioner. First elected in 2014, Miller faced multiple ethics and personnel controversies during his three terms. Sheets’ campaign was boosted by Gov. Greg Abbott, who called Miller an “utter failure.” Trump noted Miller’s dedication to border security, veterans and the Second Amendment when he endorsed his candidacy.
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U.S. Rep. Cory Mills of Florida
MANDEL NGAN|AFP, Getty Images
Rep. Cory Mills speaks during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference meeting in Maryland on February 23.
Mills – another Trump-endorsed incumbent – lost Florida District 7 House primary by roughly 13 percentage points to his competitor, Ryan Elijah, a former local television news reporter. Mills entered the primary facing several allegations and an ongoing House Ethics Committee investigation. When Trump gave Mills his endorsement, he said Mills is a “great fighter for our Country, and he is a decorated U.S. Army combat Veteran who has fought bravely all over the World.” However, Mills was not included on a list of recent endorsements in Florida that Trump posted on social media. Trump later claimed he told Mills to drop out of the race before the primary.
U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee
(Chip Somodevilla|Getty Images
Rep. Andy Ogles talks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center in Washington, D.C. on March 5.
Ogles lost the Tennessee District 5 Republican primary to Charlie Hatcher, the former state agricultural commissioner, by 4,450 votes. The district changed drastically after a redistricting effort in May and Hatcher quickly became a strong local challenger. Trump endorsed Ogles early last fall and reiterated his support on Election Day, calling him “a Conservative Warrior” as he ran for his third term. Though Trump backed Ogles, other prominent Republicans including Gov. Bill Lee and former Gov. Bill Haslam supported Hatcher and voters sided with them.
Navy Veteran Amir Hassan
Hassan lost the Aug. 4 primary for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District to Tom Smith, who previously suspended his campaign. Though Smith had dropped out of the race in mid-July, he still won the primary over Hassan and another candidate. Smith said he will return to face the Democrat in the general election. When Trump endorsed Hassan he said “Amir has served our Nation with distinction, and will bring that same Fighting Spirit to the U.S. Congress.” Hassan, a navy veteran and former law enforcement officer from Flint, lost by more than 10,000 votes and became the first congressional candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump to lose at the ballot box in the 2026 primary cycle.
Former Trump Appointee Catalina Lauf
(David J. Griffin|Icon Sportswire
Catalina Lauf speaks to the crowd during the SAVE AMERICA TOUR in Georgia on January 3.
Lauf ran in a crowded Republican primary for Florida’s 19th Congressional District and was bested by Jim Schwartzel, a conservative media executive. Although close in the polls heading into the election, Lauf lost by 6,431 votes to Schwartzel who was endorsed by House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Rep. Jim Jordan. Rep. Byron Donalds, who currently holds the seat, is running for governor. Trump endorsed Lauf late in the campaign praising her previous work in the Commerce Department. He wrote, “she has the Courage and Wisdom to deliver strong results for the incredible people of her State and Nation – She has truly been with us from the beginning!”
State Sen. Phil Berger
Berger was bested by Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page in a close race for the Republican nomination for the North Carolina Senate on March 3. Berger – one of the state’s most influential Republican lawmakers for more than a decade – fell short by just 23 votes. When Trump endorsed Berger in December, he said Berger, a member of the North Carolina Senate, helped Republicans “deliver massive and historic Victories across the State, including my six BIG WINS and Primaries in 2016, 2020, and 2024!” However, analysts said anger toward incumbents and his backing of legalizing gambling may have turned away voters.
Vigo City Council Member Brenda Wilson
Wilson ran in the primary for Indiana Senate District 38 and fell to state Sen. Greg Goode by more than 2,000 votes. Voters chose Goode, who drew anger from the president when he refused to back his congressional redistricting push in the state. Trump endorsed Wilson in January and called her a “Successful Family Farmer, and Highly Respected.”
Fountain County Republican Party Chair Paula Copenhaver
Copenhaver lost by three votes to incumbent Sen. Spencer Deery in the Republican primary for the Indiana state Senate District 23 on May 5, 2026. Voters chose the incumbent over Copenhaver, a lifelong Hoosier and Fountain County GOP chair. Indiana’s Supreme Court ruled on Sept. 10 after a monthslong recount that ended with Deery at 6,335 votes to Copenhaver’s 6,332. Trump endorsed Copenhaver in January calling her a “MAGA Warrior” and “A WINNER WHO WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
State Rep. Bruce Borders
Borders lost his re-election bid to Kellie Streeter in the Republican primary for Indiana House District 45 on May 5. Borders had held the seat in the state House since 2014, although Streeter nearly unseated Borders two years ago in a primary contest. This year, Borders lost by 589 votes to Streeter, who has served as Knox County commissioner for 10 years. Trump endorsed Borders along with several other Indiana Republicans who had supported a Trump-backed redistricting plan.
Despite the losses, most Trump-endorsed candidates won their primaries. Trump endorsed 315 candidates and 301 of those candidates won, according to Ballotpedia.
“Trump has an impressive record in GOP primaries. Since his approval level among Republicans is sky-high, that isn’t surprising. But general elections are a different kettle of fish,” Larry Sabato, the founder and director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, said in an email.
While Trump’s backing proved significant in primary contests, local issues appeared to outweigh the president’s endorsement in some gubernatorial races. Experts say the general election will continue to test the limits of Trump’s endorsement power and the hold he has on the Republican Party.
“Trump’s deep and intense unpopularity in the whole population will make his endorsement costly for his candidates running in blue or purple states and districts,” Sabato said. “Trump is the epicenter of the 2026 midterms – and his win-loss record in November is guaranteed to be less impressive than in his party’s primary.”
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