Donald End’s Texas Endorsement Failure Is Bad Omen for Virginia GOP’s Glenn Youngkin

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Susan Wright’s defeat in Texas speaks to the power of Donald Trump’s support-a bad sign for others that she backed endorsements after the presidency.

Wright, the widow of the late Rep. Ron Wright, was defeated by GOP rival Jake Ellzey in a special runoff in the congressional election – despite Trump’s early support for Wright and recording a robocall in a bid to bolster him near election day.

The early failure of a Trump -backed candidate sounds like a sad note for others he endorsed in the upcoming race. And next among the electors is Glenn Youngkin, the GOP gubernatorial candidate in Virginia.

Youngkin is running against Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe-who previously served as governor from 2014 to 2018 and was endorsed by President Joe Biden-along with incumbent Gov. Ralph Northam, also a Democrat, who did not run due to term limitations.

Polling puts McAuliffe early in the race, but by a narrow margin of single digit percentage points.

While Trump remains a dominant political voice and maintains a seat in the Republican Party, he also continues to be a divisive figure inside and outside the GOP.

The so -called GOP civil war is emerging, though it is a battle that has been sidelined in Trump’s favor. More broadly, Trump’s opponents continue to vigorously campaign against the former president and those still loyal to him.

Virginia gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) speaks at a campaign event on July 14, 2021 in McLean, Virginia. Win McNamee / Getty Images

Trump’s endorsement may help Youngkin win a mass of Republican voters, but it also has the clear ability to isolate others, including anti-Trump conservatives and critically independent voters who tend to be more moderate.

“Trump is deeply unpopular where Youngkin needs votes,” Chris Saxman, a former Republican state senator who blogs about politics in Virginia, told CNN in July following praise for Youngkin from Trump.

Saxman added: “The base loves it and Glenn needs to get them fired, because it’s a base election, but the bad thing for him is that it might help McAuliffe more at his base.”

Trump’s potential poisoning appears not to be lost on McAuliffe, who told CNN that he accepted the former president’s involvement.

“I’m going to pay for the fuel to get Donald Trump here,” he said, on winning the Democratic primary in June. “Really, I’ll get on the plane.”

Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe (D-VA) came to give statements at a campaign event at the Lubber Run Community Center on July 22, 2021 in Arlington, VA. Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images

Trump first detailed his endorsement for Youngkin in May: “Glenn is pro-business, pro-second Amendment, pro-veterans, pro-America, he knows how to make Virginia’s economy horny, and has he is my complete and total endorsement. “

He reiterated this in a statement in July: “Wow, the numbers are really good for Glenn Youngkin in his career against Terry McAuliffe for Governor of Virginia. Glenn has been an incredible success and truly Will. the Great Virginia. “

The last part of the message ties in Youngkin’s campaign with Trump, with respect to the former president’s own slogan “Make America Great Again” slogan.

A Trafalgar Group poll conducted July 8 to 10 placed McAuliffe ahead of Youngkin, with 46.8 percent of respondents saying they would support him more than 45 percent for the Republican. The poll was conducted on 1,104 respondents and had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.87 percentage points.

A Principles of America (APP) / SPRY strategy poll conducted July 6 to 9 also placed the Democratic candidate, with a 5 percentage point lead of 46 percent to 41 percent. The question was placed on a random sample of 600 likely voters and the results had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Wright’s defeat – in an election campaign and facing another Republican candidate – came in a unique set of circumstances.

But his loss makes it clear that Trump’s support does not guarantee victory even against other Republicans – adding further intrigue to the potential in -party battles that will go into the 2022 primaries.

Trump has supported 25 political candidates since leaving the White House, according to Ballotpedia counts.

Newsweek contacted the former president’s office, Youngkin’s campaign, and McAuliffe’s campaign for comment.

Former US President Donald Trump speaks during the Rally To Protect Our Elections conference on July 24, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. He has endorsed a number of candidates since leaving the White House. Brandon Bell / Getty Images

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