California can be better than ever before.
In the final hours before Tuesday's primaries, Donald Trump cast his political influence across six states, endorsing Republican candidates from gubernatorial races to congressional seats. The former president's sweeping intervention — spanning California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota — reflects a long-held belief in American politics that the power to shape a party's future lies not in governing, but in choosing who gets to govern. Each endorsement carried the familiar architecture of Trump's political identity: economy, borders, energy, and order — a creed offered as both compass and credential to candidates seeking his blessing.
- With Tuesday's primaries hours away, Trump unleashed a late-night endorsement blitz across six states, signaling that his grip on Republican primary politics remains as deliberate and far-reaching as ever.
- California — a Democratic stronghold with an unusual top-two primary system — became both a target and a test, with Trump backing Steve Hilton for governor while lambasting Newsom's record on crime and taxes.
- The sheer breadth of the endorsements, from Iowa's gubernatorial race to New Mexico's congressional contest, created a kind of parallel campaign infrastructure built entirely on Trump's personal brand.
- Candidates receiving his backing inherited not just a name but a platform — economy, border security, energy dominance, and law and order — leaving little ambiguity about what a Trump endorsement demands in return.
- Having already claimed credit for primary victories in May, Trump is doubling down on a strategy to determine which Republicans carry his banner into November's general elections.
In the hours before Tuesday's primaries, Donald Trump issued a sweeping wave of endorsements across six states, backing Republicans in races ranging from governor's mansions to congressional seats. His late-night push on Truth Social touched California and Iowa most prominently, while also reaching into Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota.
In Iowa, Trump endorsed U.S. Representative Randy Feenstra for governor, framing the backing around a familiar checklist: economic growth, tax cuts, deregulation, energy independence, border security, and gun rights. The statement read less like a personal recommendation than a policy platform — a signal of what Feenstra would be expected to champion.
California offered a different kind of opportunity. Exploiting the state's top-two primary system, Trump endorsed Steve Hilton for governor while attacking incumbent Gavin Newsom, declaring the state had "gone to Hell" under Democratic leadership and citing crime and what he called the world's highest tax burden. He also scattered endorsements across California's congressional field, backing Assemblyman James Gallagher, San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond, and sitting Representatives Tom McClintock, Jay Obernolte, and Vince Fong, along with former Stockton mayor Kevin Lincoln.
The reach extended further still — Tom Kean Jr., Jeff Van Drew, and Chris Smith in New Jersey; Troy Downing and Aaron Flint in Montana; Ashley Hinson's Senate bid in Iowa; Attorney General Marty Jackley in South Dakota; Greg Cunningham in New Mexico; and Florida's Brian Mast.
The timing and scale of the endorsements reflected Trump's sustained effort to shape the Republican Party from the outside in. Having already claimed credit for earlier primary victories, he appeared to be doubling down — using his platform to determine not just who wins primaries, but which ideas define the party heading into November.
In the hours before Tuesday's primary elections, Donald Trump issued a cascade of endorsements across six states, backing Republicans in races from the governor's mansion down to congressional seats. The former president's late-night push on Truth Social targeted California and Iowa's gubernatorial contests, but his reach extended far beyond—into Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota, where he weighed in on Senate, House, and state office races.
In Iowa, Trump endorsed U.S. Representative Randy Feenstra for governor, framing the endorsement around a familiar set of priorities: economic growth, tax cuts, deregulation, domestic manufacturing, energy independence, agricultural support for farmers and ranchers, border security, and gun rights. The endorsement statement read like a platform unto itself, a checklist of Trump-aligned policies that Feenstra would supposedly champion if elected.
California presented a different challenge and opportunity. The state has been a reliable Democratic stronghold, yet Republicans have long sought to exploit its unique top-two primary system, where all candidates—regardless of party—compete on a single ballot and the two highest vote-getters advance to the general election. Trump endorsed Steve Hilton in the gubernatorial race, using the occasion to attack incumbent Governor Gavin Newsom. Trump characterized the state as having "gone to Hell" under Democratic leadership, citing rising crime and what he called the nation's highest—or possibly the world's highest—tax burden. He promised that as president, he would work alongside a Republican governor to restore California to former glory.
Beyond the governor's race, Trump scattered endorsements across California's congressional field. He backed GOP Assemblyman James Gallagher and San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond, both seeking House seats. He also endorsed sitting Representatives Tom McClintock, Jay Obernolte, and Vince Fong, along with Kevin Lincoln, a former Stockton mayor running in the newly redrawn 13th Congressional District.
The endorsement blitz extended across the other four states with surgical precision. In New Jersey, Trump backed Representatives Tom Kean Jr., Jeff Van Drew, and Chris Smith. Montana received support for Representative Troy Downing and Aaron Flint, a candidate for the state legislature. In Iowa, he endorsed Representative Ashley Hinson's U.S. Senate bid. South Dakota saw Trump back Attorney General Marty Jackley, building on a previous endorsement of Senator Mike Rounds. New Mexico received an endorsement for Greg Cunningham, a former police officer seeking office. Florida's Representative Brian Mast also made the list.
The timing and breadth of these endorsements reflected Trump's continued effort to shape Republican primary outcomes. In May, he had already claimed credit for victories by candidates he had backed in earlier primaries and runoff elections. These new endorsements suggested he was doubling down on that strategy, using his platform and political capital to influence which Republicans would represent the party in November's general elections. For candidates seeking his backing, the endorsement came with a clear message about which issues would define their campaigns: the economy, border security, energy, and law and order—the pillars of Trump's political brand.
Notable Quotes
Crime is increasing, and Taxes are the highest of any State in the Country, maybe the World.— Trump, on California under Democratic leadership
With our Administration, working alongside a Great Governor like Steve Hilton, California can be better than ever before.— Trump, endorsing Steve Hilton for California governor
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does Trump's endorsement timing matter? Why announce these all at once, late at night?
It creates momentum. A single endorsement might get buried. A cascade across six states signals that this is a coordinated push, that Trump is actively shaping the primary landscape right before voters go to the polls. It's a show of force.
California seems like an odd target for Republicans. Why spend political capital there?
Because the top-two primary system changes the math. In a normal primary, a Republican might get 30 percent and lose. But if the two highest vote-getters both advance regardless of party, a well-funded Republican could theoretically make the general election runoff. Trump sees an opening.
What's the actual leverage here? Does a Trump endorsement change how people vote?
In Republican primaries, it often does. His base is energized by his endorsements. But it's also a signal to donors and party infrastructure about who he considers acceptable. It shapes the entire ecosystem around a candidate.
He attacks Newsom pretty harshly. Is that aimed at California voters or his own base?
Both. He's reminding his supporters why they should care about California, and he's giving his endorsed candidates talking points. But he's also speaking to Republicans nationally—saying, look, Democrats have failed, we can win this.
What happens if most of these candidates lose?
It damages his credibility as a kingmaker. But if they win, it reinforces the idea that his endorsement is currency, that he controls the Republican Party's direction. That's what this is really about.