{"id":1123,"date":"2026-06-12T21:39:31","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T21:39:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trustedmovinggroups.com\/?p=1123"},"modified":"2026-06-12T21:39:31","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T21:39:31","slug":"runoffs-provide-trumps-next-big-gop-tests-from-the-politics-desk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trustedmovinggroups.com\/?p=1123","title":{"rendered":"Runoffs provide Trump\u2019s next big GOP tests: From the Politics Desk"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Welcome to <\/em>From the Politics Desk<\/em>, a daily newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team\u2019s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.<\/em><\/p>\n

Read more DNA technology solves 25-year-old mystery of human remains found in Olympic National Park<\/a><\/p>\n

In today\u2019s edition, we look ahead to what\u2019s at stake for President Donald Trump in a handful of upcoming primary runoffs. Plus, Kristen Welker has the latest on Trump\u2019s quest for a deal with Iran to end the war. <\/em><\/p>\n

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Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2014 Adam Wollner<\/em><\/p>\n

Runoffs provide Trump\u2019s next big GOP tests<\/h2>\n

By Adam Wollner<\/h3>\n

The second half of June will bring a trio of unique tests for President Donald Trump<\/strong> as he seeks to keep his near-sterling record of endorsements in Republican primaries this year intact.<\/p>\n

Over the next two Tuesdays, Alabama<\/strong>, Georgia<\/strong> and South Carolina<\/strong> will hold runoffs for primary contests where no candidate received 50% of the initial vote necessary to win outright. In Alabama\u2019s Senate race and Georgia\u2019s and South Carolina\u2019s gubernatorial races, Trump-backed candidates finished in first place in crowded preliminary primaries. <\/p>\n

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But that doesn\u2019t mean they enter the runoffs as shoo-ins. They all took less than 40% in the first go-round and are facing opponents who are also running as staunch Trump supporters. <\/p>\n

Alabama Senate (June 16): <\/strong>Rep. Barry Moore<\/strong> is facing off against former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson<\/strong>, whom Moore ran more than 13 points ahead of in the May 19 primary, for the GOP nomination in the race to succeed outgoing Sen. Tommy Tuberville<\/strong>. While Moore has Trump\u2019s endorsement \u2014 the two participated in a tele-rally together last night \u2014 Hudson has cast himself as a \u201cwarrior for President Trump\u2019s America First Agenda.\u201d<\/p>\n

Georgia governor (June 16): <\/strong>Trump also held a tele-rally last night with Lt. Gov. Burt Jones<\/strong> ahead of his Tuesday runoff against billionaire healthcare executive Rick Jackson<\/strong>. Last month, Jones finished 6 points ahead of Jackson, a first-time candidate who has shaken up the race by spending more than $90 million of his own money and comparing himself to Trump. Unlike in Alabama and South Carolina, the winner of this primary will face a highly competitive general election in battleground Georgia. <\/p>\n

South Carolina governor (June 23): <\/strong>Of all the Trump-supported candidates on this list, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette<\/strong> posted the weakest showing in the initial primary, taking 29% and finishing 3 points ahead of Attorney General Alan Wilson<\/strong>. Evette received Trump\u2019s endorsement less than two weeks out from the June 9 vote, and Wilson has highlighted his efforts to defend the president\u2019s agenda in the courts. <\/p>\n

So far, only one Trump-endorsed candidate has lost a Republican primary for Senate, House or governor this election cycle. That came in Iowa<\/strong>, when Rep. Randy Feenstra<\/strong> \u2014 who won Trump\u2019s endorsement just days before the June 2 primary \u2014 was narrowly defeated in the GOP gubernatorial primary by Zach Lahn<\/strong>, a businessman who aligned himself with the \u201cMake America Healthy Again\u201d movement. <\/p>\n

Asked about that result by a reporter yesterday, Trump suggested he wasn\u2019t given the \u201cproper information,\u201d saying that \u201cthe other person was much more Trump\u201d than Feenstra.<\/p>\n

For subscribers: SpaceX\u2019s PAC doubles down on Republicans<\/h2>\n

By David Ingram and Ben Kamisar<\/h3>\n

Ahead of Space X\u2019s initial public offering today, the company\u2019s political action committee has funneled contributions heavily toward Republicans, an NBC News review of Federal Election Commission records has found, breaking from its more bipartisan past.<\/p>\n

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Keep reading \u2192<\/strong><\/p>\n

The big question entering the weekend: Can Trump strike a deal with Iran?<\/h2>\n

Analysis by Kristen Welker<\/h3>\n

President Donald Trump<\/strong> is talking up a potential agreement with Iran to end the war, but major questions still remain over what will be included and when it will be signed. <\/p>\n

Trump said yesterday that the United States \u201cmade a great settlement of the war with Iran,\u201d adding that it \u201cshould get done over the next few days.\u201d <\/p>\n

Read more Hunter Biden says his father \u2018chose me over his legacy\u2019 with controversial pardon<\/a><\/p>\n

My NBC News colleagues have reported some of the components of this memorandum of understanding, which still remains unsigned by Iran\u2019s new supreme leader: the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the end of the U.S. blockade, a ceasefire extension, and steps to address Iran\u2019s nuclear agreement immediately, as other discussions continue as part of a larger deal. <\/p>\n

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi <\/strong>posted on X this morning that a deal \u201chas never been closer,\u201d though he warned against speculation over its content, saying that \u201call details will be shared with the public in due course.\u201d<\/p>\n

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And while Trump called off planned strikes on Iran yesterday, tensions remain high, with a U.S. official telling NBC News two Iranian drones were shot down overnight. <\/p>\n

There may be a sense of cautious optimism about an agreement between the U.S. and Iran, but there\u2019s no indication that tensions are easing between Israel and its adversaries. Israel\u2019s defense minister took to social media today to warn \u2014 notably, in English \u2014 that the country \u201cwill not withdraw\u201d from areas in Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, adding that Israel must retain the \u201cability to act independently to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.\u201d<\/p>\n

As we wait to see whether negotiators are able to get a deal across the finish line, it\u2019s worth remembering what the president told me during our exclusive interview last week. <\/p>\n

Trump reiterated that he wouldn\u2019t lift any sanctions, or unfreeze any Iranian assets up front, saying that \u201ccomes after.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cIf they behave, if they do a good job, we start talking,\u201d Trump said. <\/p>\n

And he repeatedly argued that the deal they ultimately strike will be \u201cmuch better\u201d than anything the two sides could have agreed upon when he withdrew from the Iran deal the Obama<\/strong> administration had negotiated. <\/p>\n

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We\u2019ll discuss the latest on Iran and more on this Sunday\u2019s \u201cMeet the Press,\u201d where I\u2019ll speak with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries<\/strong>, D-N.Y.; Sen. James Lankford<\/strong>, R-Okla.; and Sen. Raphael Warnock<\/strong>, D-Ga. Steve Kornacki<\/strong> will also join me to break down our latest NBC News poll. <\/p>\n

Follow live updates \u2192<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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\ud83d\uddde\ufe0f Today’s other top stories<\/h2>\n