Tuesday primaries test Trump’s power over Republican dissenters

WASHINGTON (TNND) — Republican primaries unfolding Tuesday across Kentucky, Georgia and Alabama are shaping up as another test of President Donald Trump’s grip on the GOP, particularly for Republicans who have challenged him.

In Kentucky, Rep. Thomas Massie faces a Trump-backed primary challenger after repeatedly breaking with the president on high-profile issues, including the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related files, U.S. involvement with Iran and Trump’s signature tax legislation. Trump has endorsed political newcomer Ed Gallrein in an effort to unseat Massie, who has represented Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District since 2012.

The race is the latest example of Trump using his political influence to target Republicans who oppose him. In recent years, GOP voters have often followed Trump’s lead in primaries, even as his standing with the broader electorate has fluctuated.

The dynamic played out again this month in Indiana, where several Republicans who opposed Trump-backed redistricting efforts lost their primaries. Over the weekend, Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy also failed to advance to a runoff after years of tension with Trump following Cassidy’s vote to convict him during his second impeachment trial.

Trump’s influence will also be tested in Georgia’s Republican gubernatorial primary, where he has endorsed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones. Jones, backed by family wealth and Trump’s support, faces billionaire health care executive Rick Jackson, who has spent heavily on the race. The contest has become one of the most expensive and closely watched Republican primaries of the year.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s Senate race remains crowded after Trump declined to endorse a candidate to challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, who is unopposed in the Democratic primary.

In Alabama, Trump endorsed Rep. Barry Moore in the Republican Senate primary to replace Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who is running for governor.

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Pennsylvania Democrats are also watching Tuesday’s results closely as Gov. Josh Shapiro works to shape his party’s congressional slate ahead of the fall elections. Shapiro, viewed as a potential 2028 presidential contender, has endorsed several House candidates he believes can help Democrats flip Republican-held seats.

Among them are Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti, firefighters union leader Bob Brooks and former television anchor Janelle Stelson, who narrowly lost a congressional race in 2024. Still, Shapiro-backed candidates face competitive primaries from Democrats seeking to challenge the governor’s influence within the party.

Georgia voters will also weigh the political futures of two Republicans who broke publicly with Trump after the 2020 election: Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan.

Raffensperger, who resisted Trump’s efforts to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results, is running for governor as a Republican and spending heavily to rebuild support among conservative voters. Duncan, meanwhile, is seeking the governorship as a Democrat after distancing himself from previous Republican positions on issues including abortion rights and Medicaid expansion.

Both races could head to June 16 runoffs if no candidate secures a majority Tuesday.

Alabama voters may encounter confusion after Republican Gov. Kay Ivey postponed congressional primaries in four districts until Aug. 11 following renewed legal and political battles over congressional maps.

The move came after a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision weakened parts of the Voting Rights Act, prompting Republican-led efforts in several Southern states to redraw district boundaries. Alabama officials say ballots cast Tuesday in the state’s 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th congressional district primaries will not count while new maps are implemented.

Primaries for Alabama’s remaining congressional districts, along with Senate, state and local races, will proceed as scheduled Tuesday.

Tuesday’s elections also arrive amid renewed debate over aging Democratic leadership following the death of longtime Georgia Democratic Rep. David Scott at age 80. Scott, who was seeking a 13th term, was the fourth House Democrat to die in office this term.

Scott’s name will still appear on Tuesday’s ballot, though votes cast for him will not count. The heavily Democratic district is expected to remain in Democratic hands regardless of the primary outcome. A special election to fill the remainder of Scott’s term is scheduled for July 28, with a runoff planned Aug. 25 if necessary.

Editor’s Note: The Associated Press contributed to the information used within this article.