Trump-endorsed Nebraska candidate loses primary, West Virgina candidate wins

The endorsement of former president Donald Trump appears to be delivering mixed results in primary elections around the country, with his pick for Nebraska governor, Charles Herbster, losing his race this week, but Trump-endorsed candidate for congress in West Virginia, Alex Mooney, winning his.

Herbster faced an uphill battle after being accused of sexually assaulting several women during his campaign, and ultimately lost to his opponent University of Nebraska regent Jim Pillen in the gubernatorial primary.

The embattled Herbster then filed a defamation lawsuit against some of the women who accused him, and has refused to endorse Pillen or anyone else for governor until the lawsuit is completed. He has vehemently denied all the allegations of sexual assault and claimed the accusations are a political hit job by his opponents.

In contrast, Trump-backed candidate Rep. Alex Mooney beat out his opponent in the primary race for the West Virginia congressional seat after the former president campaigned for him. Mooney beat out fellow congressman David B. McKinley, one of the few Republicans who voted in support of President Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill.

The two results were the latest in a string of tests that will determine whether the support of the former president will be a weapon in the midterm elections or prove to be a negative as Republicans seek to retake governorships, the Senate, and the House of Representatives from Democrats. 

“We’re going to make sure all our kids know the grass is greenest in Nebraska,” said Pillen in his victory speech this week. In West Virginia, Mooney attributed his win to Trump directly. “Donald Trump loves West Virginia and West Virginia loves Donald Trump,” Mooney told supporters.