How Trump's Endorsements Fared in Tuesday's Primaries

Tuesday was 2022 primary day in several states, bringing some new insight into what to expect going into the 2022 midterm elections in November. Former President Donald Trump saw his endorsements put to the test with mixed results.

In South Carolina, Trump-backed state Rep. Russell Fry beat Rep. Tom Rice; Rice was one of 10 Republicans who voted to impeach Trump in January 2021. This was the first defeat this election cycle for a pro-impeachment Republican, and many left-rated outlets described Tom Rice's loss as Trump's "impeachment revenge." It was a different story in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District, where Trump-backed former state Rep. Katie Arrington lost the primary to Rep. Nancy Mace.

In Texas, Democrats were put on alert with Republican Mayra Flores's win in the special election for the 34th Congressional District, a long-time Democratic stronghold. Flores will serve for six months before the November general election.

News sources across the spectrum focused on the performance of Trump's endorsements. Many, especially on the right but also the left and center, framed Flores's win as a bad sign for Democrats in their efforts to maintain control of Congress. The contests played out days after the January 6 committee held public hearings blaming Trump for the Capitol riot and laying out how some in Trump's inner circle advised him to wait to call the 2020 race.