22-0: Trump Solidifies Kingmaker Status

Say what you want about Donald Trump, his priorities, or his effectiveness as a leader — that’s all incredibly subjective.

One inarguable fact, however, is his ability to endorse Republican candidates who go on to win their elections. It’s simple: Trump is a kingmaker in the new America First conservative party.

On Tuesday, Trump-backed candidates were undefeated in their primary elections in both Ohio and Indiana. The Former President added to his record of perfection by choosing 22 victorious candidates and ZERO losers.

That’s right — he went 22-0 on Tuesday alone.

Most notably, J.D. Vance of Ohio squeaked out a victory in Ohio’s contentious Senate primary race after receiving glowing praise from Donald Trump.

The Ohio Senate primary, and J.D. Vance in particular, was seen as a litmus test for Trump-backed candidates and, as we all predicted, Vance came out on top.

Trump celebrated the Republican victories on his social media platform, Truth Social.

President Trump took to Truth Social to react to his endorsed candidates’ sweeping victories across Indiana and Ohio! pic.twitter.com/JdwLt6YApt

— RSBN 🇺🇸 (@RSBNetwork) May 4, 2022

Holding the Ohio Senate seat soon to be vacated by the retiring Sen. Rob Portman is crucial to Republicans’ efforts to win a Senate majority and, while it was unlikely to go to Democrats, it remained up in the air whether Vance – the Trump candidate – would pull through.

In remarks to supporters at his election night party, Vance called his victory a referendum on both what the country and the Republican Party should be. Vance said the party should be unified to take on Democrats in the fall and offered praise to each of his rivals at the conclusion of a brutal primary.

The Ohio candidate field also included former state Treasurer Josh Mandel, businessman Mike Gibbons, state Sen. Matt Dolan, and Jane Timken, a former state party chairwoman.

Mandel and his allies were also desperate for Trump’s endorsement and immediately turned bitter when they didn’t get it, arguing that Vance spoke critically of the Former President and his supporters back in 2016. But that criticism did not ultimately deter Trump, who argued that Vance was best situated to win November’s election.

Vance will go on to face Rep. Tim Ryan in November, who won the Democratic nomination for Senate.

The 13 other Trump-endorsed candidates who brought home primary victories in Ohio on Tuesday night include:

Secretary of State Frank Larose – Republican nominee for Secretary of State
Attorney General David Yost – Republican nominee for Attorney General
Treasurer Robert Sprague – Republican nominee for Treasurer
Auditor Keith Faber – Republican nominee for Auditor
Rep. Steve Chabot – Republican nominee for the 1st Congressional District
Rep. Ben Wesntrup – Republican nominee for the 2nd Congressional District
Rep. Jim Jordan – Republican nominee for the 4th Congressional District
Rep. Bob Latta – Republican nominee for the 5th Congressional District
Rep. Bill Johnson – Republican nominee for the 6th Congressional District
Rep. Warren Davidson – Republican nominee for the 8th Congressional District
Rep. Mike Turner – Republican nominee for the 10th Congressional District
Rep. Troy Balderson – Republican nominee for the 12th Congressional District
Rep. Mike Carey – Republican Nominee for the 15th Congressional District

All Donald Trump-endorsed candidates swept in Indiana as well, securing nominations in six districts. The candidates, Reps. Jackie Walorski, Jim Banks, Jim Baird, Victoria Spartz, Greg Pence, and Larry Bucshon, are all incumbents currently serving in the United States House of Representatives.