Trump Wasn’t on the Primary Ballot in Georgia. He Still Won.
On Tuesday, six states held primary elections to select which Republican and Democratic candidates will advance to the general election in November. The primaries were seen not only as contests within the states, but also as potential referendums on President Donald Trump’s staying power within the Republican party. By Wednesday morning, it was clear that Trump’s influence is as strong as ever.
In Kentucky, for example, a Trump-endorsed Republican challenger toppled incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie, a thorn in the president’s side who clashed with Trump over deficit spending and the administration’s handling of the Epstein files.
But the MAGA mandate was arguably even clearer in Georgia, in which a number of contests culminated in rebukes of Trump foes and support for his friends.
In the GOP primary for governor, the Trump-endorsed current lieutenant governor, Burt Jones, received roughly 40 percent of the votes—more than any of the other seven candidates. Because of Georgia’s unique primary rules, in which a candidate has to........
