With nearly all of the results from Tuesday’s key primary elections almost in, former President Donald Trump is already baselessly suggesting there was a fraud because some of his picks have lost, or may soon lose.
On his very own Truth Social, Trump has, without evidence, suggested there were mail-in ballots that were fraudulent in Pennsylvania, where his chosen Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz is still locked in a tight battle with his opponent, former hedge fund executive David McCormick.
Only a small portion of the vote remains to be counted. The two Republican candidates are neck and neck, with a tiny number of votes apart. This puts them within the 0.5-point-margin that will trigger an automatic recount. And it raises the possibility that mail-in votes could put McCormick ahead of Oz.
Even before all of the votes have been counted, Trump is trying his hardest to taint the Pennsylvania election.
Trump has urged Oz to simply declare he won the too-close-to-call race, as Pennsylvania was a key state for Trump’s desperate bid to steal the 2020 election, which he in reality lost.
The new election with the same lies carries echoes of 2020, and omens of what is ahead for 2024.
It was a mixed primary for Trump and his chosen candidates. There were some strong performances by some of his picks, indicating Trump is still carrying at least some clout within his own party.
But the scorecard was not perfect. Young congressman Madison Cawthorn, who Trump supported in his election and reelection, was thrown out by North Carolina Republicans for another Republican candidate.
Experts say that while Trump’s endorsement may help, these primaries show it is not a guarantee. Some point to the Pennsylvania race, in particular, to show that the fact that the ex-president’s backing failed to slingshot him into the winner’s seat shows a Trump endorsement does not override reservations that conservatives have about a candidate.
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