Why Trump's 2022 endorsements are 'earlier, bolder, and more dangerous' than before

Donald Trump.
(Image credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

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.

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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.

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Brigid Kennedy

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.