When Trump backs someone in a primary, people notice. It’s not just a social media post or a quote anymore. It’s changing how these state races are playing out, especially in Republican primaries. This year, his support is already making waves in New Jersey, Arizona, and probably more states soon.
In New Jersey, Trump Helped Ciattarelli Win Big
Okay, so Jack Ciattarelli had run before, back in 2021. But this time around? It felt different. He had Trump’s support, and honestly, that changed everything. Jack ended up winning the GOP primary with something like 67% of the vote. That’s not just winning—that’s dominating.
Trump going all in for him seemed to really energize the base. Even folks who weren’t fully sold on Jack before were suddenly showing up for him. And that tells you something: if you’re a Republican running in 2025 and you don’t have Trump behind you, you might be in trouble. Voters are watching who’s with Trump and who’s not—and they’re voting that way, too.
Arizona’s Double Endorsement Was... a Bit Messy
Here’s where it gets a little weird. In Arizona, Trump didn’t just endorse one candidate—he backed two. Karrin Taylor Robson and Andy Biggs both got a thumbs-up from him in the GOP governor primary. That’s not something he usually does, and yeah, it confused a lot of people.
Normally, Trump’s support kind of locks things down. But when he backs two candidates in the same race? Now people don’t know which one to pick. And honestly, some of his supporters didn’t love that. It created a bit of a split, even among people who usually follow his lead. So instead of uniting the vote, it kind of scattered it this time.
Jack Ciattarelli, Mikie Sherrill Win New Jersey Primaries Election
This Is Bigger Than Just Two States
What’s going on in New Jersey and Arizona is just part of the bigger picture. Trump’s influence isn’t fading—it’s growing in these state races. Whether people like it or not, his voice is louder than ever in GOP primaries.
We’ve seen this before, like back in 2016 in Michigan. His picks don’t always win, but they often do. And when they win, it’s usually by a lot. Candidates backed by Trump are jumping ahead of more traditional Republicans, even ones with money or name recognition. His endorsement is kind of becoming a requirement for winning the base.
Some Republicans are feeling the pressure. They’re having to choose: either back Trump or risk getting pushed out. It’s creating tension in the party, for sure. Especially between the more MAGA-aligned folks and the more moderate conservatives who don’t always agree with Trump’s approach.
So What Does This All Mean Going Forward?
If Trump’s picks keep winning like this, we’re gonna see a few big things happen:
-
Primaries could turn into MAGA loyalty tests. Candidates may spend more time trying to prove they’re “Trump enough” instead of talking about local issues.
-
Trump-backed candidates might be stronger in November. Whether people agree with them or not, they tend to have more buzz and a more fired-up base.
-
Republicans could get more divided. You’ll have the Trump crowd on one side and the more traditional GOP folks on the other, and they’re not always getting along.
-
Democrats will use this in their messaging. A lot of races might turn into “Are you with Trump or against him?”—even when Trump isn’t actually on the ballot.
And weirdly enough, when Trump doesn’t endorse anyone, that gets attention too. His silence can be just as powerful, because it leaves a vacuum—and everyone starts guessing what it means.
