Last week, Speaker Mike Johnson and his top lieutenants embarked on a mission to secure a Donald Trump endorsement for an incumbent House Republican against a MAGA-aligned primary rival, boosted by Rep. Matt Gaetz. The objective was to maintain the status quo in the face of internal GOP primary battles that threaten to reshape the makeup of Congress.
Johnson, along with other Republican representatives including Hudson and Miller, made a trip to Mar-a-Lago to persuade Trump to back Republican Rep. Mike Bost against his primary foe, Darren Bailey, in the southern Illinois district. The former president’s endorsement of Bost, who is a loyal Trump supporter, committee chairman, and five-term incumbent, was viewed as an attempt to keep the House GOP from being shaped in Gaetz’s mold.
The pitch to Trump emphasized Bost’s support for the party agenda, his position as a leadership ally, and his unwavering loyalty to the former president. Following their meeting with Trump, Bost received the endorsement just one day later.
The effort to protect Bost was not driven by concerns over losing the ruby-red seat, but rather the fact that he is seen as a valuable ally who tends to support the party’s agenda. Since taking the speaker’s gavel in October, Johnson has traveled extensively, visiting nearly two dozen states to help other GOP incumbents and grow the majority this November.
However, there was also a personal vendetta behind Gaetz’s targeting of Bost. During the battle for the speakership last fall, Gaetz had shouted at McCarthy from the middle of the room, and a physical altercation between the two had occurred. Bost was present during the incident, which Gaetz described as an attempt to change the direction of Congress and bring in better options for Republican primaries.
Republicans, including Johnson, Hudson, and Miller, hope that Trump’s endorsement of Bost would serve as a clear message to Gaetz that the House GOP is not going to be remade in his image. Despite this, Gaetz has continued to campaign against Bost and stump for Bailey, citing his desire to change Congress and bring in new, better options.
Loyalty to Trump remains a dominant issue in House and Senate primaries across the country, as candidates seek to appeal to conservative voters despite his political vulnerabilities with many general election voters and his criminal charges. The battle for Trump’s endorsement has played a significant role in several primary races, including the one to represent Ohio’s 9th Congressional District.
In this race, after the Republican leadership’s preferred candidate, Craig Riedel, was caught on tape criticizing Trump, many Republicans withdrew their endorsements. The GOP then settled on Derek Merrin as the new candidate, who is seen as both pro-Trump and a viable general election candidate.
While Trump has not endorsed in the Ohio primary race, some of his allies have, including Gaetz, Donalds, and Vance. These endorsements may influence the outcome of the primary, which could have implications for the GOP’s so-called governing wing.
The maneuvering to win Trump’s support underscores the reality that no one can sway congressional primaries like the former president, as he still holds significant influence over the House GOP and its base.
