The latest voting results will determine key Senate races and highlight President Trump’s continued influence over the Republican Party.
Published May 6, 2026
The Indiana and Ohio primaries highlighted President Trump’s continued influence over Republican voters while drawing the latest battle lines ahead of the US midterm elections in November.
In Ohio, voters Tuesday chose candidates to face off in the consequential election, with Democrats selecting former Sen. Sherrod Brown to face Republican Jon Husted. Mr. Husted replaced Vice President J.D. Vance when he left his Senate seat for the White House.
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The race is considered one of the most important as Democrats face an uphill battle to regain control of the Senate, where Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority. Mr. Brown has long described himself as an economic populist capable of working across party lines, but Republican groups have pledged huge spending to protect Mr. Husted.
In the Buckeye State, Trump ally Vivek Ramaswamy won the Republican nomination for governor. Ramaswamy, who had a short tenure as co-chair of the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) committee, will face Democrat Amy Acton, who led the state Department of Health during the coronavirus pandemic.
Meanwhile, in Indiana, Trump’s continued influence over the Republican Party was clear, even as polls have shown his overall approval rating soaring in recent weeks due to economic uncertainty and the impact of the U.S.-Israel war on Iran.
The U.S. president had vowed to target Republicans who pushed back on his demands for Indiana’s congressional redistricting ahead of the midterm elections. Indiana was one of the few Republican-led state legislatures to reject the president’s pressure amid widespread redistricting.
Five of the state-level candidates targeted by President Trump subsequently lost in Tuesday’s primaries. One candidate won and one race remained too close to decide.
State Sen. Linda Rogers, one of the ousted Republicans, said Trump’s successful attempt at racial reduction sent a clear message to others in the party considering opposition to the president.
“If someone is asking you to vote tough, it might be time to reconsider your conscience and what’s best for your community and what’s best for you and your career,” she says.
The primary election comes just before Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, both Republicans, face tough primary challenges. Trump opposes both incumbents.
Massey has been one of the administration’s most outspoken critics, particularly over the U.S.-Israel war in Iran and the handling of Justice Department documents related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Cassidy voted to impeach Trump in 2021 for his role in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot and remained a critic of Trump throughout his 2024 re-election campaign.
Trump’s influence remained strong in the Indiana primary, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Republican success in the general election.
Recent polls show support for Trump is declining among independents. Independents are not affiliated with either party and are often a key deciding factor in close races.
For example, a recent NPR/PBS News/Marist poll found that 63% of U.S. residents believe President Trump is “very or very responsible” for rising gas prices. The percentage was the same among independents, at 63%.
