Texas state Rep. Jake Ellzey’s victory over Trump-endorsed Susan Wright may have been a blow to the former president. But it was not by any means a defeat for “Trumpism.”
Some may call Ellzey’s triumph a blow to Donald Trump. Although the former president has previously touted the weight of his endorsement, Trump’s influence within the Republican Party has been tested post-presidency. Mark McKinnon, a former adviser to the late-Sen. John McCain, said on MSNBC that Trump “bled tonight in Texas.”
But even though Ellzey triumphed over the Trump-endorsed candidate, he had run on a platform just as Trumpist. For example, he promised to finish the border wall, support law enforcement, and uphold Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the official capital of Israel.
Ellzey also echoed growing calls within the Republican Party for election integrity. He vowed to “stand against voter fraud and efforts to subvert the sanctity of our electoral process.” And while some in the party have actively tried to distance themselves from Trump, Ellzey did not do so.
As critics of “Trumpism” should remember, the defeat of a Trump-backed candidate does not guarantee that some Never Trumper will prevail. In last year’s congressional primaries, both Lauren Boebert and Madison Cawthorn defeated Trump-backed candidates. Both have since emerged as staunch allies of the former president.
So if last night’s election was not a defeat for “Trumpism,” what was it? It was a well-earned victory for a more effective candidate.
Ellzey overcame Trump’s endorsement by securing other endorsements. He gained the support of several prominent Texas Republicans, including former Energy Secretary Rick Perry and the popular eye patch-wearing combat veteran Rep. Dan Crenshaw.
Additionally, he was an effective fundraiser. The Club for Growth, an anti-tax group that endorsed Wright, poured $1.2 million into the runoff. But Ellzey outraised Wright, bringing in $1.7 million, compared to his opponent’s $740,000.
And while he came under fire from conservatives and the Club for Growth, Ellzey was reportedly able to benefit from the lack of a Trump endorsement. The Washington Post’s Dave Weigel reported that someone was sending texts to Democrats labeling Wright as “Endorsed by Donald Trump,” while calling Ellzey “Pro-Public Education.” In a district trending blue, a low-turnout runoff election between two Republicans can allow a small number of Democrats to shape the results.
Simply put, last night’s special election was not a defeat of Trump’s brand of Republican populism. Rather, it was a story of the better candidate overcoming the odds.
