Trump Endorsement Record: 97% Win Rate, Iowa's Feenstra Among Rare Losses
President Donald Trump is touting a 97 percent success rate for his endorsements in Republican primaries, but Iowa's own Randy Feenstra landed on the short list of candidates who came up short despite the president's backing.
In a Sunday post on Truth Social, Trump defended his endorsement record while acknowledging that a few of his picks lost their races. He said those losses came from loyalty to candidates he believed in, even when victory was a long shot.
“The few that lost were done out of loyalty,” Trump wrote. “It was almost impossible for them to win but, I felt obligated to go with them because they were, in my opinion, good people!”
What the Numbers Show
Graphics shared by Trump claim his endorsed candidates won 760 of 783 Republican primaries for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and governor races across the 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024, and 2026 election cycles.
For 2026 alone, the graphics show 254 wins out of 262 endorsements, a 97 percent success rate. That breaks down to 23 of 23 Senate wins, 215 of 219 House wins, and 16 of 20 gubernatorial wins.
By office, Trump's Senate picks have won 99 percent of their primaries, House candidates 98 percent, and gubernatorial candidates 86 percent.
Where Feenstra Fits In
Ballotpedia's independent tracker, which includes more races than Trump's graphics, confirms the president's overall strength while also listing the Iowa congressman among the notable losses.
Feenstra, who represents Iowa's 4th Congressional District, lost his primary despite Trump's endorsement. Ballotpedia also lists gubernatorial losses for Burt Jones in Georgia, Mike Lindell in Minnesota, Pamela Evette in South Carolina, and Megan Degenfelder in Wyoming.
Ballotpedia's tracker counts 313 primary endorsements in 2026 and calculates a 96 percent success rate. The difference in totals comes from Ballotpedia including state legislative and other statewide races that Trump's graphics do not cover.
Trump's Winning Picks
Among Trump's successful federal endorsements this cycle are Barry Moore for Alabama's open Senate seat, Mike Collins for Senate in Georgia, and Andy Barr for Senate in Kentucky. His winning gubernatorial picks include Tommy Tuberville in Alabama, Byron Donalds in Florida, and Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio.
The graphics do not identify a source, and they appear to exclude endorsements for positions like lieutenant governor, attorney general, and state legislature seats.
What the Losses Mean for November
With the midterms approaching, Trump's record shows both his continued dominance in Republican politics and the occasional limits of his influence.
Some of the losses could have consequences beyond the primary. Florida's redrawn 7th District, where Trump-endorsed incumbent Cory Mills was defeated, remains a competitive general-election target for Democrats. By contrast, Tennessee's 5th District, where incumbent Andy Ogles lost, is rated Solid Republican by Inside Elections, meaning the seat itself is unlikely to flip.
Ballotpedia also records losses in categories not covered by Trump's graphics, including state legislative candidates Brenda Wilson, Phil Berger, and Bruce Borders, plus Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller.
For Iowa voters, the Feenstra loss serves as a reminder that even the president's endorsement does not guarantee victory in every race. Still, with a 96 to 97 percent success rate depending on the tracker, Trump's backing remains the most powerful force in Republican primaries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Trump endorse Randy Feenstra in Iowa?
Yes, President Trump endorsed Randy Feenstra in Iowa's 4th Congressional District primary, but Feenstra lost his race despite that endorsement.
How many Trump-endorsed candidates won in 2026?
Trump's graphics claim 254 of 262 endorsed candidates won their Republican primaries in 2026, a 97 percent success rate. Ballotpedia's independent tracker counts 313 endorsements with a 96 percent success rate.
What is Trump's overall endorsement record?
According to Trump's graphics, his endorsed candidates have won 760 of 783 Republican primaries across five election cycles from 2018 through 2026.