Five months ago, was stinging from one of the first political defeats of his second term as Republican state senators in Indiana. Now he has proved he can still punish wayward party members after he endorsed a slate of challengers who he wanted to dislodge.
The heading into upcoming Republican primaries where he wants to help oust more incumbents, including U.S Sen. of Louisiana and U.S. Rep. of Kentucky.
Indiana’s primary also ratchets up the pressure on Republican lawmakers in other states to before the November elections. have already begun special sessions that could limit Black voters鈥� strength in Democratic-leaning districts, and some of Trump鈥檚 allies in South Carolina want to follow suit.
State Sen. Linda Rogers, one of the Indiana lawmakers who voted against redistricting and lost her seat Tuesday, said the outcome 鈥渨ill probably discourage others in other states.”
鈥淚f someone is going to ask you to take a tough vote, you may think twice about your conscience and what鈥檚 best for your community and instead what鈥檚 best for you and your career,” she said.
Redistricting efforts began last year, when Trump saw an opportunity to give Republicans an additional edge, but when the U.S. Supreme Court gutted a provision of the Voting Rights Act that influenced how political lines are drawn.
Trump’s success in Indiana, aided by more than $8.3 million in campaign cash in races that usually see very little spending, reaffirmed the president’s continued strength within a Republican Party that he has dominated for a decade, despite his inevitable slide toward lame-duck status and his sagging poll numbers.
鈥淗istoric night for Indiana as Republicans stood with me and President Trump to nominate some great America First conservatives,鈥� Gov. Mike Braun, R-Ind., posted on social media. 鈥淚 look forward to winning big in November and serving Hoosiers with this team in the statehouse!鈥�
Trump backed primary challenges against seven Republican state senators who rejected his redistricting plan in December. Five of the president鈥檚 candidates won, and another race remained too close to call.
Trump was relatively restrained on social media about the voting. He shared a series of photos celebrating the victories of candidates he endorsed in Indiana and Ohio, which also held primaries Tuesday. But he otherwise passed on boasting or renewing his attacks on Massie or Cassidy.
Massie has been among the members of Congress who frustrated the president by pressing for release of the Jeffrey Epstein case files. Cassidy was among the Republican senators who voted to convict Trump on 2021 impeachment charges after the Jan. 6 riot.
James Blair, one of Trump’s top political advisers, was more direct, posting an image from the movie 鈥淕ladiator鈥� depicting Russell Crowe鈥檚 ancient Roman character Maximus exulting after a combat victory.
Rogers, the Indiana state senator, faced almost $670,000 in television advertising against her, funded by political action committees associated with Braun and U.S. Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind.
She said she did not regret her vote against redistricting.
“It would have been easy for me to hit that 鈥榶es鈥� button,鈥� she said. 鈥淭o hear the number of people who asked me not to, then the number of people who thanked me, would mean I wasn鈥檛 representing them.鈥�
Louisiana鈥檚 primary, in which Trump has endorsed U.S. Rep. Julie Letlow over Cassidy, is set for May 16. Kentucky, where Trump has endorsed Massie鈥檚 challenger, retired Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein, will hold its primary May 19.
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