Trump’s 2026 Endorsements Post Near-Perfect Win Record
WASHINGTON — With the 2026 midterms just days away, election trackers say President Donald Trump has cemented his status as the Republican Party’s most powerful kingmaker. Fresh analyses of his endorsement record show that 96 percent of the candidates he backed in GOP primaries this cycle won or advanced — and Trump himself took to Truth Social this week to tout a “perfect endorsement record.”
The numbers span hundreds of races across the country, from House and Senate contests to gubernatorial primaries, and they reinforce what party leaders have said openly for months: a Trump endorsement is now the single most valuable asset in Republican politics.
96% Win Rate Across 267 Races
According to a new analysis by the elections-data outlet 50+1, Trump made 267 endorsements in 2026 congressional and gubernatorial primaries — more than in any previous cycle — and 96 percent of those endorsees won their races. Just 11 of his picks lost.
USA Today framed the record as “near perfect,” while Trump’s own graphics, shared with his Truth Social post, put the tally at 254 wins from 262 endorsements — a 97 percent success rate. The president has been endorsed in more races each cycle since 2018, and his win rate has climbed along with it: Ballotpedia data shows Trump-backed candidates won 93 percent of primaries in 2022 and 96 percent in 2024.
From NFL Kicker to Primary Winner
The cycle’s most colorful example may be former NFL kicker Jay Feely. Front Office Sports reports that Feely won his Arizona GOP primary by 14 points with help from Trump’s endorsement — and that Trump personally convinced him to run in the competitive 1st District instead of a safer seat. NFL owners and coaches have since poured donations into the race, making it one of the most-watched House battles of the cycle.
In Kentucky, Trump-backed Ed Gallrein defeated incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie after Trump campaigned for him in person at the October 17 Highland Heights rally — another scalp on the president’s primary scoreboard.
“The Most Powerful in the History of Politics”
House Speaker Mike Johnson recently called Trump’s endorsement “the most powerful in the history of politics,” saying it has become nearly impossible for a rival to win once Trump backs their opponent. The 50+1 analysis found that candidates actively courted the endorsement this cycle, and party leaders looked to Trump to help clear crowded fields — a sign his political capital has only grown since his return to the White House.
Even longtime Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf acknowledged Trump’s grip on the GOP, saying “the party faithful respond to that leader, Donald Trump, and it’s his political party.”
The Test Comes in November
Primaries and general elections are different fights, and Trump’s team knows the November verdict will test whether the primary magic carries over to the general election. But heading into Election Day, the scoreboard gives Republican candidates a simple argument: the president’s backing is the clearest signal of where the party’s voters are headed.
With more endorsements still to come — including possible moves in the Georgia Senate race — the kingmaker’s influence shows no sign of slowing.
