Trump’s Winning Streak Continues with Texas Primary Victory

In the 2026 primary season, former President Donald Trump demonstrated considerable influence, as all candidates he endorsed emerged victorious. Reports indicate Ken Paxton’s win in the Texas Senate primary runoff, among other down-ballot successes, showcasing Trump’s considerable clout within the Republican Party. This pattern suggests that he remains a formidable force in GOP politics.

Interestingly, in a twist, Florida media executive Jim Schwartzel secured the Republican nomination to replace U.S. Rep. Byron Donald, despite Trump endorsing his opponent, Katarina Rauch, just days before the polls opened in Florida’s 19th Congressional District. This outcome somewhat disrupted the trend of victorious candidates backed by Trump.

By mid-July, an impressive 97% of candidates supported by Trump had won their primaries, and his approval ratings have been notably high, hovering above 93% since 2018, as noted by election tracker Ballotpedia.

While Trump backed Darling Graham, prominent Senate Republicans are not backing down.

Schwartzel, during his campaign, made a point of criticizing Rauch, who previously attempted to run for Congress in Illinois before relocating to Florida. He claimed that his ties to the state were far deeper than hers. Rauch countered this by identifying herself as a “blue state refugee,” asserting her right to choose Florida as her home.

She remarked during a debate in July, “I came here. I didn’t have the choice to be born and raised in Illinois, but I do have the choice to live here.”

The contest for Florida’s 19th Congressional District attracted some unusual candidates, including former Congressman Madison Cawthorn, who faced challenges, and Chris Collins, a former congressman convicted of insider trading. The unusual roster drew both ridicule and intrigue from national media, with Axios labeling it a “Republican carpetbagger primary,” asserting that whoever survives this chaotic primary would likely have a clear path to Washington.

Adding another layer to the political landscape, there are allegations that Tlaib is trying to unseat two Democratic representatives in Florida, stirring more tension within the party.

In response to Schwartzel’s attacks, Rauch claimed he was behind the dismissal of a beloved local meteorologist, to which Schwartzel countered, clarifying that while he owns several media stations, he was not responsible for that decision. He expressed his commitment to Trump and remarked that anger directed at the endorsement should not be aimed at the former president, but rather at the outside influences that have shaped the race.