Trump notched several important primary wins in Tuesday’s elections, but one of the night’s most closely watched races underscored that his endorsement remains influential, not invincible.
In Georgia, billionaire businessman Rick Jackson defeated Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the Republican gubernatorial runoff, delivering a rare setback to Trump’s preferred candidate despite Trump’s repeated endorsements and campaign support.
Jackson’s victory came after spending more than $100 million of his own fortune on the race, saturating Georgia’s airwaves with advertising and positioning himself as a business-minded outsider. He will now face Democratic nominee and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in November in one of the nation’s most closely watched governor’s races.
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While Trump fell short in Georgia’s governor contest, he fared much better elsewhere.
Trump’s Endorsement Delivers in Senate Contests
In Alabama, Republican Rep. Barry Moore won the GOP Senate runoff, defeating former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson in the race to replace retiring Sen. Tommy Tuberville. Moore campaigned heavily on his support for Trump and his commitment to advancing Trump’s “America First” agenda.
The victory reinforced Trump’s continued dominance among Republican primary voters in deep-red states, where his endorsement remains one of the most valuable assets in a candidate’s arsenal.
In Georgia’s Senate runoff, Trump also scored a win as Rep. Mike Collins secured the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in November.
Collins received Trump’s endorsement just days before the runoff and will now enter what is expected to be one of the most expensive and competitive Senate races in the country. Ossoff remains a top Republican target as Democrats defend one of their most vulnerable Senate seats.
Oklahoma Race Heads to Runoff
Trump’s influence will face another test in Oklahoma.
Former state Sen. Mike Mazzei, whom Trump endorsed earlier this month, advanced to an Aug. 25 Republican runoff in the race to replace term-limited Gov. Kevin Stitt.
Mazzei finished near Attorney General Gentner Drummond in a crowded field, setting up a high-profile showdown later this summer.
Democratic Divisions Surface in Washington
While Republicans focused on Trump’s influence, Democrats faced internal ideological battles in Washington, D.C.
The city’s mayoral primary highlighted tensions between the party’s progressive wing and establishment leaders. One of the leading contenders, City Councilmember Janeese Lewis George, has embraced democratic socialist policies, drawing comparisons to New York City’s recent shift toward progressive leadership.
Because Washington uses ranked-choice voting, final results could take days to determine if no candidate wins an outright majority.
California Special Election Advances
In California’s special election to fill the remainder of former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s term, Democratic state Sen. Aisha Wahab advanced to the Aug. 18 special general election.
The contest will determine who serves the remaining months of Swalwell’s congressional term before voters choose a full-term representative in November.
Key Takeaways
Tuesday’s results demonstrated that Trump remains the dominant force in Republican primary politics, particularly in Senate races and conservative strongholds. However, Georgia’s governor runoff showed that even Trump-backed candidates can be defeated when opponents have significant financial resources and broad support among voters looking for alternatives.
The outcomes also set the stage for several marquee general election battles that could help determine control of governorships, congressional seats and potentially the balance of power in Washington after the 2026 elections.
