Trump's Endorsed Candidates Lose in Red States, Sparking Conservative Blame

Conservative commentators are blaming President Donald Trump for Republican midterm losses after several of his endorsed candidates, including Senate nominees in Texas and South Carolina, lost in reliably red states. Trump's general election endorsement success rate fell to 67% this year, down from 89% in 2024. Trump backed candidates like Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who lost by 12 points despite Trump winning the state by a similar margin in 2024, and Ohio's Vivek Ramaswamy, who lost by 8 points. Political analysts say Trump's focus on loyalty over candidate quality hurt Republicans in winnable races, though the broader political environment also contributed to losses. Some MAGA figures are questioning continued faith in Trump, and the president replaced chief of staff Susie Wiles with Stephen Miller on Nov. 6. Republican strategists suggest the losses may allow conservatives to distance themselves from Trump and chart independent courses ahead of the 2028 presidential election.