Does Donald Trump’s endorsement really carry the day in local elections in the US?

Trump thought he’d use the midterm primaries to punish his enemies and tighten his grip on the party. It’s not working out quite how he’d hoped, writes Daniel Strauss in Washington

It’s clear that Trump’s endorsement does not decide the outcome of a Republican primary any more. Picture: AP 

AS THE Republican party first began to prepare for the 2022 midterm elections it seemed like Donald Trump had it all figured out.

The former US president had an axe to grind with certain Republicans who had bucked him in the past and the upcoming party primaries were a place he could assert his still powerful influence and exact revenge on his perceived foes.