Trump’s Kingmaker Status Under Threat in Governor Races
Two upcoming gubernatorial primaries in Florida and Wyoming may prove the limits of Trump's kingmaker power—or confirm its might.
President Donald Trump's influence as a "kingmaker" in Republican politics was challenged on Tuesday as only one of his endorsed candidates in the Republican primaries for governor in Florida and Wyoming won their races. This setback indicates that Trump's power to sway the party's choices in gubernatorial contests has its limits.
Trump's endorsement carries significant weight within the GOP, having backed 312 candidates across various races in the 2026 election cycle, with a 97% success rate among those already holding primaries. However, Trump's primary success rate has dropped recently, with a few gubernatorial endorsements going to candidates who ultimately lost their races.
Gubernatorial positions are seen differently by voters than other elected officials, as they are more responsible for local issues and less viewed as partisan foot soldiers. The upcoming races in Florida and Wyoming will reveal if Trump's influence is diminishing in these local elections. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is term-limited, faces a competitive race against U.S. Representative Byron Donalds, who is leading in polls, as well as other candidates.
In Wyoming, the race is between State Senator Eric Barlow, who has raised the most money, and Republican Party-endorsed Lieutenant Governor Brent Bien, with current poll numbers showing Barlow in the lead.
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