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Brittany Martinez told MS NOW the president’s primary wins mask signs that his influence over Republican voters may be fading.
After two more Trump-backed candidates prevailed in Tuesday’s primaries, one Republican strategist told MS NOW’s “The Weeknight” that while the president’s endorsement record may appear strong on the surface, his list of victories does not tell the full story. Even though Donald Trump has long been seen as his party’s kingmaker, Brittany Martinez, a former staffer for Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, argued that this week’s results show his influence may be waning.
In South Carolina, Sen. Darline Graham — who received Trump’s endorsement after the sudden death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham — narrowly defeated Rep. Ralph Norman in the state’s Republican primary runoff by about 5 percentage points. And in Oklahoma’s Republican gubernatorial primary, former state Sen. Mike Mazzei won by less than 1 percentage point.
Beyond those narrow margins, Martinez said there was further evidence that a growing number of voters were shrugging off the president’s advice. “We have to think of the broader picture: 10 Trump-endorsed Republican candidates have lost their primaries. When you add that up, that is the same as 2018, 2020 and 2024 combined,” she noted.
The Republican strategist said it was clear that voters across the country were “frustrated” with the president’s policies, pointing to his sinking poll numbers. According to a new Reuters/Ipsos survey, Trump’s approval rating stands at just 33%, a record low.
With numbers like those, Martinez said Republicans must distance themselves from the president if they want to maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
“If I’m a Republican candidate, I’m trying to stay away — as far away as I can, if possible,” she said.
You can watch Martinez’s full analysis in the clip at the top of the page.
Allison Detzel
Allison Detzel is an editor/producer for MS NOW. She was previously a segment producer for “AYMAN” and “The Mehdi Hasan Show.”
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