Overview
- Several high-profile Trump-backed candidates lost on Tuesday, August 18, including Florida congressional picks Cory Mills and Catalina Lauf and Wyoming governor pick Megan Degenfelder.
- Media tallies differ on the scope of the backlash, with some outlets counting about 10 recent endorsement losses this cycle and others reporting more than a dozen, reflecting different rules for what counts as a loss.
- Incumbent Rep. Cory Mills, who lost to political newcomer Ryan Elijah, faces a Department of Justice inquiry and a House Ethics review over alleged sexual misconduct, campaign finance and disclosure issues.
- Other August setbacks for Trump-backed Republicans include failed bids and primary defeats by candidates such as Amir Hassan, Andy Ogles and Mike Lindell, driven in many races by local organization and candidate weaknesses.
- The string of losses and a reported 33 percent presidential approval rating raise questions about how much the president's endorsements will shape GOP primaries and could alter 2026 resource and strategy choices in battleground states.