President Donald Trump continues to prove his dominance over the Republican Party, with Trump-backed candidates winning roughly 98 percent of their primaries in the 2026 cycle. According to Ballotpedia data, the president has issued more than 300 endorsements this cycle, shaping the GOP slate heading into the November elections. In Iowa, voters delivered a split verdict on the president's picks. Representative Ashley Hinson successfully secured the GOP nomination for an open U.S. Senate seat, while Representative Randy Feenstra lost his primary bid for governor despite a last-minute endorsement from Trump.
How Trump's Endorsement Shapes the 2026 GOP Primaries
The near-perfect win rate for Trump-endorsed candidates highlights his enduring influence over GOP voters. The vast majority of his endorsements this cycle have been in primary contests, allowing the president to weed out establishment Republicans and replace them with America First allies. This strategy proved highly effective in Indiana, where Trump-backed challengers won at least five of the seven Republican state Senate primaries. That victory was particularly significant because it followed Indiana's Republican-led Senate rejecting a redrawn congressional map that would have favored the party. Trump launched a revenge campaign against the dissenters, and primary voters delivered.
Iowa Results: Hinson Wins Senate Nomination, Feenstra Loses Governor Race
Iowa voters saw two high-profile Trump endorsements this cycle, yielding very different results. Ashley Hinson, running for the open U.S. Senate seat, secured her primary victory with the president's backing. Her win gives Republicans a strong, Trump-aligned candidate heading into the general election.
However, the president's endorsement did not carry the day in the Iowa governor's race. Representative Randy Feenstra lost the GOP primary for governor, even after Trump offered a last-minute endorsement. This rare defeat shows that while Trump's endorsement is a powerful asset, local grassroots momentum can still override national influence in certain races. Feenstra's loss serves as a reminder that voters ultimately decide, and a late endorsement cannot always overcome an opponent's ground game.
Full List of Trump-Endorsed Winners in 2026
Trump's success has been notable so far, and the list continues to grow as more primaries take place. Below is a list of Trump-backed candidates' victories so far, using Ballotpedia data.
U.S. Senate Primaries
- Julia Letlow, Louisiana (Challenger)
- Ken Paxton, Texas (Challenger)
- Mike Collins, Georgia (Challenger)
- Ashley Hinson, Iowa (Open seat)
- Kevin Hern, Oklahoma (Open seat)
- Barry Moore, Alabama (Open seat)
- Ander Barr, Kentucky (Open seat)
- Kurt Alme, Montana (Open seat)
- Michael Whatley, North Carolina (Open seat)
- Lindsey Graham, South Carolina (Incumbent)
- Jon Husted, Ohio (Incumbent)
- Tom Cotton, Arkansas (Incumbent)
- Jim Risch, Idaho (Incumbent)
- Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi (Incumbent)
- Pete Ricketts, Nebraska (Incumbent)
- Mike Rounds, South Dakota (Incumbent)
- Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia (Incumbent)
State Executive Primaries
- Tommy Tuberville, Alabama
- Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Arkansas
- Steve Hilton, California
- Brad Little, Idaho
- Jim Pillen, Nebraska
- Joe Lombardo, Nevada
- Bruce Blakeman, New York
- Vivek Ramaswamy, Ohio
- Mike Mazzei, Oklahoma
- Stacy Garrity, Pennsylvania
- Greg Abbott, Texas
- John Wahl, Lieutenant Governor of Alabama
- Scott Bedke, Lieutenant Governor of Idaho
- Stavros Anthony, Lieutenant Governor of Nevada
- T. W. Shannon, Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma
- Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor of Texas
What Trump-Endorsed Candidates Lost in 2026?
While Trump has had notable success in the 2026 primaries, he has also suffered some major losses. Georgia Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, one of Trump's highest-profile gubernatorial picks this cycle, fell short in his runoff against businessman Rick Jackson. In the GOP gubernatorial primary runoff in South Carolina, Attorney General Alan Wilson beat Trump-backed Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette. In the GOP primaries for North Carolina state Senate District 26, Senate leader Phil Berger lost the race to Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page. And in Iowa, Randy Feenstra lost the GOP primary for governor.
Why does Trump's endorsement matter in Republican primaries?
Trump's endorsement matters because it signals to GOP voters which candidate will advance the America First agenda. With a 98 percent win rate in 2026, the data shows that Republican primary voters heavily weigh the president's approval when casting their ballots.
Did any Trump-endorsed candidates lose in Iowa?
Yes. Representative Randy Feenstra lost the GOP primary for Iowa governor, despite receiving a last-minute endorsement from President Trump. However, Trump-backed Ashley Hinson won the GOP nomination for the open U.S. Senate seat in Iowa.