Trump's Grip on GOP Slips Again With Tennessee Loss - New York Magazine
nymag.com
A Tennessee Republican primary loss raises the question of whether Trump's endorsement still guarantees GOP loyalty — or whether his grip is quietly loosening.
Political Capital TheoryPrincipal-Agent ProblemParty Realignment Theory
Theory Briefing
- A Tennessee race went against Trump's preferred candidate, adding to a pattern of primary endorsements failing to deliver.
- The 2026 midterm cycle is shaping up as an early test of whether Trump's political capital inside the GOP has peaked.
- Intra-party challengers willing to defy a Trump endorsement signals that the cost of crossing him may be falling.