Three more Trump-endorsed candidates lose their primaries

PUBLISHED Aug 19, 2026, 4:40 PM ET

President Donald Trump's endorsement record took a significant hit Tuesday night as three of his endorsed candidates lost their Republican primary elections . In Florida, scandal-plagued Rep. Cory Mills lost to Ryan Elijah in the 7th District, while Catalina Lauf fell to Jim Schwartzel in the 19th District . In Wyoming, Trump-backed Megan Degenfelder lost the gubernatorial primary to state Sen. Eric Barlow . The losses bring this cycle's total to 10 defeated Trump-endorsed candidates, matching the combined total from the 2018, 2020, and 2024 cycles . Trump responded by distancing himself from Mills, claiming he had urged the congressman "to get out of the Race" . Despite the setbacks, Trump-endorsed Byron Donalds won Florida's gubernatorial primary, demonstrating the president's support remains valuable though not universally decisive .

By Emily Rhodes | JQJO News

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 20
Right Leaning:: 0
Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 20

Explain Framing

Left: Highlights Trump's weakening influence and candidate scandals damaging his record. Center: Reports endorsement losses with balanced context of overall record and victories. Right: Emphasizes Trump's strong overall record while downplaying significance of defeats.