ATLANTA, GA

He may not have been on the ballot, but his influence looms large. Donald Trump’s considerable sway over the Republican Party faced a fresh challenge on Tuesday with crucial runoff elections in Georgia and Alabama.

Despite a significant presence, the results revealed some cracks. Pro-Trump candidates secured two out of three top races but fell short in one against a wealthy businessman who poured over $100 million into his campaign.

In Alabama, Rep. Barry Moore, a steadfast Trump supporter and member of the House Freedom Caucus, handily beat Jared Hudson, a former Navy SEAL sniper who had the backing of right-wing figures.

Trump’s last-minute endorsement helped MAGA supporter Rep. Mike Collins triumph over former college football coach Derek Dooley, who was favored by popular conservative Gov. Brian Kemp, in Georgia’s Senate runoff.

Collins is set to contend with Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff this fall, a pivotal contest that could influence the balance of power for Republicans in the upcoming midterms.

However, the gubernatorial runoff in Georgia saw Lieutenant Governor Bert Jones, who had Trump’s support and endorsements from Kemp, lose to outsider Rick Jackson.

Interestingly, while Jones consistently voiced his support for Trump, Jackson claimed that Trump inspired his candidacy, suggesting he wanted to bring business-like solutions to Georgia just as Trump did nationally.

“Seeing that impact and wanting to contribute, that was a driving reason for my run,” Jackson recently mentioned. He expresses a desire to emulate Trump’s approach at the state level.

But it seems Trump’s backing doesn’t guarantee success across the board.

Although Trump’s influence has been evident in recent Republican primaries, helping to eliminate incumbents in several states, there have been significant setbacks as well. Just two weeks ago, his endorsement of Iowa Rep. Randy Feenstra was not enough to secure a win in the gubernatorial race.

Feenstra lost narrowly to a candidate supported by Turning Point USA, a powerful conservative group.

Yet, Trump rebounded last week when his pick for South Carolina’s gubernatorial primary, Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evett, topped a crowded field, claiming one of the nominations.

Senator Lindsey Graham, a loyal Trump ally, also succeeded in avoiding a runoff by winning the Republican Senate primary despite facing significant challenges from multiple candidates.

Graham, who enjoyed Trump’s endorsement, dealt with competition from conservative businessman Mark Lynch, who criticized him over his support of the Iran war. Lynch had backing from figures within the MAGA community.

Jackson’s hefty campaign spending made headlines; it rivaled that of major national figures but ultimately didn’t lead to his victory. A Trump political operative pointed out that Jackson positioned himself closely alongside Trump, claiming that “Rick was a great candidate,” yet emphasizing that even Trump’s support couldn’t carry any candidate to victory alone.

Support hasn’t been one-size-fits-all. Veteran Republican strategist Matt Gorman noted that while Trump’s endorsement is valuable, it’s not a cure-all for candidacies. The focus now is on unity and preparation for the upcoming elections.

Ultimately, Jackson was able to rally late support from Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who joined him for pre-runoff events.

Cruz voiced optimism regarding Jackson’s potential in Georgia, framing it as a battleground crucial for national dynamics. When asked about his alignment with Trump during the campaign, Cruz made it clear that their broader goals generally align, though he focuses on backing the strongest conservatives capable of winning.