{"id":2605175,"date":"2026-05-20T16:29:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T20:29:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/its-trumps-republican-party\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T16:31:06","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T20:31:06","slug":"its-trumps-republican-party","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/its-trumps-republican-party\/","title":{"rendered":"It&#8217;s Trump&#8217;s Republican Party"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">8<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fits-trumps-republican-party%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2605175&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Donald Trump continues to cement control of the republican party by racking up dominant primary wins, but the backlash from lawmakers who lose to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trumps-revenge-tour-continues-with-meijers-defeat-in-michigan\/\" title=\"......s Revenge Tour Continues With Meijer...s Defeat in Michigan\">trump-backed challengers<\/a> is starting to show. In Kentucky, Trump-endorsed candidates defeated Rep. Thomas Massie and crushed Rep. Andy Barr\u2019s challenger as well, reinforcing Trump\u2019s influence over the party\u2019s congressional pipeline. Similar dynamics played out in Louisiana, where a Trump-backed contender led and former Sen. Bill Cassidy was eliminated after voting to convict Trump in an impeachment trial.<\/p>\n<p>On Capitol Hill, however, some Republicans fear Trump\u2019s endorsement strategy-such as backing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn in an upcoming runoff-could weaken their chances of holding the line in the midterms and force expensive national spending.<\/p>\n<p>Even so, Trump remains broadly popular with the GOP base, and many rank-and-file Republicans still feel leaders like Cornyn and Massie should be more aligned with Trump or more aggressively supportive of his agenda. At the same time, concerns about Trump\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republican-flips-iowa-state-house-seat-held-by-democrats-for-decades\/\" title=\"Republican Flips Iowa State House Seat Held By Democrats For Decades\">low approval ratings<\/a>, inflation pressures, and polling shifts toward Democrats threaten Republican prospects. The article concludes that while Republicans might potentially be looking beyond a constitutionally limited Trump if the midterms go badly, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ignoring-primaries-gives-the-gop-establishment-permission-to-be-awful\/\" title=\"By Disregarding Primaries, ... Allows for Establishment Misconduct\">recent primary results<\/a> suggest he remains a powerful force in the party for now.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> reasserted his dominance over the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican-party\/\">Republican Party<\/a> on Tuesday night, adding to his string of recent primary victories across the country.<\/p>\n<p>But Republican lawmakers, including some who have been felled by Trump-endorsed primary challengers, are growing restless months before the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-election\/\">midterm elections<\/a> that will decide the fate of their congressional majorities.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4575567\/alabama-senate-primary-results-barry-moore-runoff\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump-backed Barry Moore to compete in runoff for Tuberville Senate seat<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4576661\/trump-james-talarico-cant-win-texas-senate-election-vegan\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump says Talarico can\u2019t be elected because \u2018he\u2019s a vegan\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4576360\/speaker-mike-johnson-celebrates-thomas-massie-loss\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Mike Johnson celebrates Thomas Massie\u2019s primary loss<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/thomas-massie\/\">Thomas Massie <\/a>(R-KY) was <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4575268\/kentucky-4th-congressional-district-primary-thomas-massie-ed-gallrein\/\">defeated<\/a> by Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein, losing by a nearly 10-point margin. Trump\u2019s pick to replace retiring Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mitch-mcconnell\/\">Mitch McConnell<\/a> (R-KY), Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), trounced former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron by just under 30 points.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Both Kentuckians are heavy favorites to win the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/impossible-gop-picked-up-seats-in-house-picked-up-state-legislatures-picked-up-governorship-held-the-senate-but-sniffy-joe-won-not-a-chance\/\" title=\"IMPOSSIBLE: ... Picked Up Seats in House, Picked Up State Legislatures, Picked Up Governorship, Held the ...ate -- But Sniffy Joe Won?... NOT A CHANCE\">general election<\/a> in November.<\/p>\n<p>This comes on the heels of Trump-endorsed Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA) finishing first in a Louisiana Senate primary that is now headed to a runoff. Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bill-cassidy\/\">Bill Cassidy <\/a>(R-LA), who voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial, finished third and was eliminated from the race.<\/p>\n<p>Indiana state GOP lawmakers who defied Trump on <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >mid-decade congressional redistricting fared similarly poorly<\/a> against their primary challengers earlier this month. <\/p>\n<p>Trump made the defeat of Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-cornyn\/\/\">John Cornyn<\/a> (R-TX) in next week\u2019s primary runoff more likely by endorsing his opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Trump did, however, let Cornyn down more gently than Massie or Cassidy.<\/p>\n<p>Emboldened by his run of primary success, on Wednesday Trump needled Fox News reporter Jacqui Heinrich about the voting record of her fiance, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe likes voting against Trump,\u201d the president said of Fitzpatrick. \u201cYou know what happens with that? It doesn\u2019t work out well.\u201d Fitzpatrick will <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4573062\/pennsylvania-1st-district-democratic-primary-results\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4573062\/pennsylvania-1st-district-democratic-primary-results\/\">face Democratic candidate Bob Harvie<\/a> in November in Pennsylvania\u2019s 1st District, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cookpolitical.com\/ratings\/house-race-ratings\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.cookpolitical.com\/ratings\/house-race-ratings\">rated likely Republican<\/a> by the Cook Political Report.<\/p>\n<p>But it isn\u2019t clear Republicans on Capitol Hill will get the message, especially now that some sitting members of Congress no longer have anything to fear from Trump precisely because they have lost their primaries and won\u2019t be on the ballot in November.<\/p>\n<p>The Senate <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4575535\/senate-iran-trump-war-powers-cassidy\/\">voted to advance<\/a> an Iran war powers resolution on Tuesday after the vanquished Cassidy flipped to support it.<\/p>\n<p>Senators groused after Trump endorsed Paxton over Cornyn, fearing this decision puts the chamber at risk of Democratic control. At a minimum, national Republicans believe they will have to spend millions of dollars that could be invested in races like North Carolina, Georgia, and New Hampshire to keep a Texas Senate seat in the GOP column.<\/p>\n<p>Massie responded to his primary loss by <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4575742\/massie-trump-ballroom-concession-speech\/\">mocking Trump <\/a>and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4575766\/thomas-massie-hints-2028-run-kentucky\/\">musing about 2028<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Trump is still highly popular with the Republican base, even as independents turn against him and Democrats remain almost unanimously opposed. While Trump\u2019s detractors say he is turning the party into a cult of personality, many rank-and-file Republicans do not think the GOP-controlled Congress fights hard enough or <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4490626\/republican-congress-not-doing-enough-midterm-elections\/\">does enough to advance<\/a> the president\u2019s agenda.<\/p>\n<p>These grassroots complaints have haunted Cornyn throughout his reelection campaign, leading him to back off his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4497003\/senate-filibuster-and-its-discontents\/\">past support of the filibuster<\/a>. Discontent with congressional inaction also became an issue in Massie\u2019s primary, as what was long celebrated as independence and principle was instead framed as disloyalty, grandstanding, and mindless obstructionism. <\/p>\n<p>But Republicans worry Trump\u2019s low job approval ratings \u2014\u00a0he dipped below 40% for the first time this term in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolling.com\/polls\/approval\/donald-trump\/approval-rating\"><em>RealClearPolitics <\/em>polling average<\/a> \u2014 and a spike in inflation since the beginning of the Iran war will cost them congressional seats this year.<\/p>\n<p>The latest <em>New York Times<\/em>-Siena College <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/05\/18\/us\/politics\/poll-trump-republicans-midterms-iran.html\">poll<\/a> found Democrats opening up an 11-point lead in the generic congressional ballot.<\/p>\n<p>If the midterm elections go against Republicans, the party could begin to look beyond the term-limited Trump, who is constitutionally ineligible to run again in 2028.<\/p>\n<p>There is no guarantee, however. There is little sign of Trump becoming a lame duck yet, as evidenced by recent primary results. Trump survived the 2018 midterm elections, when Democrats won 41 House seats, two impeachments, the 2020 election, Jan. 6, multiple indictments, and a New York conviction. <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4460164\/trump-endorsement-tracker-gop-2026-election-primaries\/\"><strong>TRUMP ENDORSEMENT TRACKER: HERE\u2019S WHO THE PRESIDENT HAS PICKED IN GOP MIDTERM ELECTION PRIMARIES<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Trump has now been the titular head of the Republican Party for a decade, having won its presidential nomination in three straight elections. <\/p>\n<p>For now, Trump looks stronger inside the GOP than ever. He will test how long it can last. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump strengthened his hold on the GOP, but lawmakers may be uneasy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2659,"featured_media":2605176,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26139541060179.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[21130,6571,32085,3634,32515],"class_list":["post-2605175","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-conservatism","tag-elections","tag-republican-party","tag-trump","tag-us-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26139541060179.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2605175","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2659"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2605175"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2605175\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2605179,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2605175\/revisions\/2605179"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2605176"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2605175"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2605175"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2605175"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}