Trump on 'rocky footing' as his power as 'kingmaker' faces crucial test

This Tuesday, May 5, President Donald Trump is traveling to Indiana in the hope of ousting eight GOP state lawmakers who opposed his redistricting push in that red state. And after that, he is venturing to other red states in support of GOP primary challengers to Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana).

Politico reporters Liz Crampton, Lisa Kashinsky and Alec Hernandez, in an article published on May 5, describe this trip as a "revenge tour" and emphasize that it will put to the test the power of an endorsement from Trump in Republican primaries.

"President Donald Trump's power as the GOP's kingmaker faces a major test with this month's primaries," the Politico journalists explain. "So far, he's on rocky footing…. Trump has also selected his favorite candidates in the crowded GOP primaries for Alabama Senate and Georgia governor. But his picks have struggled to dominate their fields, with most holding only narrow leads in polling and some failing to pull far ahead in fundraising. In Indiana, even a few allies of the president are tempering expectations of a full eight-lawmaker sweep."

Crampton, Kashinsky and Hernandez continue, "The results will reveal how effective the president's political operation is at turning out Republicans when Trump is not on the ballot, and how motivated MAGA is to go along with his ongoing retribution campaign. It's also a potent expression of his power ahead of the likely lame-duck phase of his presidency. Some Republicans — even those involved in the races — say the shaky standing of Trump's preferred candidates suggests that his ability to move his base en masse is beginning to slip."

One of the Republicans who is questioning Trump's powers as "kingmaker" is former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Illinois), a longtime foe who served on the January 6 Select Committee and supported Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

Crampton, Kashinsky and Hernandez note that Trump has a "very mixed record" when it comes to trying to oust incumbents via GOP primaries. On one hand, Trump's push to oust former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyoming) — another conservative who served on the January 6 Select Committee — was successful. But his efforts to oust Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp were not.

Kinzinger told Politico, "He's hit his max power, and now, you're seeing the backside of that power curve. This will be his last competitive election cycle that will have any impact on him. And I think the base is starting to think into the future."

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