Trump's backing of MAGA candidates may hurt GOP prospects in midterms

During a recent episode of the Inside Trump’s Head podcast, Michael Wolff warned that Donald Trump's endorsement of MAGA-aligned candidates could backfire in the midterm cycle because his supporters are less energized when he is not on the ticket. He highlighted the candidacies of Ken Paxton in Texas and Mike Collins in Georgia, labeling them as particularly blemished by scandals and predicting a likely defeat for the GOP.

Wolff noted a pattern of voters who claim they do not support Trump yet still cast ballots for him, a dynamic he believes will affect the midterms. Co-host Joanna Coles added that many Americans may secretly back Trump while denying it in conversation and polls. Trump responded by urging his followers to vote as if his name were on the ballot and mentioned Darline Graham, a recent appointee in South Carolina, as a candidate to support. Wolff concluded that the mere presence of Trump's name on the ballot, even indirectly, could be a negative factor for the party this year.