Why Trump's 2022 endorsements are 'earlier, bolder, and more dangerous' than before
Many things have changed since former President Donald Trump left office, and his strategy for endorsing political candidates is no exception; in fact, the ex-commander in chief's 2022 endorsements are "earlier, bolder, and more dangerous than when he was president," argues FiveThirtyEight.
As for the first point, Trump has, as of Dec. 7, endorsed 31 candidates in Republican primaries for roles in the Senate, House, and state governorships; that is "more than double the number of candidates Trump had endorsed by the end of December 2019," writes FiveThirtyEight. And such premature recommendations potentially dissuade other Republican challengers from entering a race while also helping Trump "solidify his influence" in the GOP.
The ex-president has also been taking more risks with the candidates he backs, in that almost half of his endorsements have gone toward non-incumbents in contested Republican primaries, reports FiveThirtyEight. He's even gotten comfortable attempting to unseat incumbent members of his own party — take his crusade against Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), for example. These observations suggest Trump is "is actively putting his clout on the line more often in hopes of installing more of his loyalists in Congress and governor's offices — and purging the GOP of his critics."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
And finally, Trump has begun making "unusually niche" endorsements for secretary of state, specifically in Arizona, Georgia, and Michigan — all three states in which the current secretaries of state refused to overturn the results of the 2020 election. And the ex-president's preferred picks for those positions are all supporters of his election fraud "Big Lie," writes FiveThirtyEight.
Such observations taken together paint a picture of a former president, "eager to maintain his influence within his party" and perhaps continue his own political career.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
Political cartoons for October 25Cartoons Saturday’s political cartoons include hospital bill trauma, Independence Day, and more
-
Roasted squash and apple soup recipeThe Week Recommends Autumnal soup is full of warming and hearty flavours
-
Ukraine: Donald Trump pivots againIn the Spotlight US president apparently warned Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept Vladimir Putin’s terms or face destruction during fractious face-to-face
-
‘Congratulations on your house, but maybe try a greyhound instead’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Trump wants to exert control over federal architectureThe Explainer Beyond his ballroom, Trump has several other architectural plans in mind
-
NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges
-
Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction
-
Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters
-
Whistles emerge as Chicago’s tool to fight ICEIN THE SPOTLIGHT As federal agents continue raiding the city, communities have turned to noisemakers to create a warning system
-
Will California’s Proposition 50 kill gerrymandering reform?Talking Points Or is opposing Trump the greater priority for voters?
-
‘The trickle of shutdowns could soon become a flood’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
