Midterm primaries in several states feature Trump endorsements

by · UPI

May 19 (UPI) -- Candidates endorsed by President Donald Trump are vying for seats in several states on Tuesday in midterm primary elections.

The president has endorsed three dozen candidates in Tuesday's primary elections, including governors and members of Congress.

Among the races Trump has spoken at most length about is the Republican primary in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District. Rep. Thomas Massie is being challenged by Trump-endorsed candidate, Ed Gallrein.

Trump backed Gallrein after Massie challenged the Trump administration on the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. He is among several Republicans who have drawn criticism from Trump over the Epstein files.

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Massie also voted against Trump's budget reconciliation bill, the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," last year.

Massie is seeking his eighth term in Congress.

"He knows I'm tough to beat," Massie said in a CBS News interview.

Rep. Barry Moore has Trump's endorsement in the race to succeed Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., as Tuberville seeks the state's governorship.

Trump has also endorsed all the Republican incumbents in the House who have races on Tuesday, aside from Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa. Fitzpatrick is running unopposed in Pennsylvania District 1

Pennsylvania's elections will also feature competitive races for Democrats. In District 7, Bob Brooks, the head of a firefighters union, has been endorsed by Gov. Josh Shapiro and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. He is facing former federal prosecutor Ryan Crosswell.

Shapiro is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination for governor. State Treasurer Stacy Garrity is running unopposed on the Republican side to challenge Shapiro in November.

Trump has endorsed candidates who have already won primaries during this primary cycle. On Saturday, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., lost his primary election after placing third behind Rep. Julia Letlow, a Trump-endorsed candidate, and Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming.

A runoff election between Letlow and Fleming will be held on June 27.

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Vice President JD Vance speaks during a news conference on anti-fraud initiatives in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House on Wednesday. Photo by Daniel Heuer/UPI | License Photo