American conservative political activist and media personality Charlie Kirk stated earlier this week on his show, Real America’s Voice, “We don’t get a mandate like this from the American people just to have it forwarded by a bunch of dorks that we’ve never heard of from the US Senate.”
“Why is it that Republican senators are so excited and move fast to give Joe Biden his nominees, but Republican senators don’t wanna give Donald Trump his nominees? What is going on here? Well, we’re gonna keep on naming the names and tell you more about the folklore of Joni Ernst and Roger Wicker and Deb Fischer.”
…. “This is not this is not a joke, everybody. The funding is already being put together. Donors are calling like crazy. Primaries are going to be launched. The old RNC, the old way of doing things is dead. OK? You think that we at Turning Point Action, Turning Point PAC are just gonna kinda rest on our laurels? No. No. No. No.”
Seriously, Charlie?
Kirk argues that the MAGA movement is strategically planning to upend GOP U.S. Senators like Joni Ernst by manufacturing well-funded, hardline Republican candidates to run against them in party primaries.
Why?
Members such as Ernst have voiced understandable hesitancy in offering unconditional support for all of President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees, particularly Pete Hegseth, who is a notably contentious choice for leading the Department of Defense. But, SOME Republican senators understand that it’s crucial to carefully consider the implications and qualifications of each nominee to ensure they align with our nation’s values and security needs.
While there’s some possibility GOP incumbents could lose to a manufactured, well-funded MAGA candidate in the primaries, there’s a much stronger likelihood those manufactured extremists would lose to a middle-of-the-road Democrat in the general election. And while right-wing districts provide some support, they alone cannot fully secure victories for MAGA candidates in most statewide races.
Imagine the excitement among Democrat leaders upon learning that MAGA is challenging incumbent GOP senators in their primaries. This scenario would present a golden opportunity for them, as it would strengthen the position of Democrat candidates.
If MAGA manages to successfully primary Republican senators in Alaska, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Kansas, Texas, and North Carolina, it stands to reason that Democrats could realistically flip at least three of those seats in the 2026 Elections. This potential shift is grounded in the changing political dynamics and voter sentiments that such primaries could catalyze.
FACT: In the 2024 Elections, Democrat senatorial candidates achieved victories over their Republican opponents in four of the seven states previously won by Donald Trump, specifically Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada, and Arizona. It’s important to recognize that the Republicans were able to secure Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate seat largely because they ran a moderate in David McCormick. A true MAGA candidate would have lost there.
And consider the North Carolina gubernatorial race as another compelling example. Despite Trump securing the state by a margin of 3.2 percent in the presidential election, his buddy faced a significant defeat, losing to the Democrat by a striking 55 to 40 percent.
That outcome, as well as most others, highlights how MAGA candidates not named Trump are still far more vulnerable than old-school Republicans in statewide races.
And how did Kari Lake fare in Arizona last month, Charlie?
It would be wise for MAGA Republicans to reconsider any threats toward fellow GOP senators who may not align with every proposal put forth by President-elect Trump. In some cases, only those Republicans stand in the way of Democrats holding those seats.
“Again, if you support the president’s agenda, you’re good,” Kirk added. “You’re marked safe from a primary. You go up against Pete Hegseth, the president repeatedly, then don’t be surprised Joni Ernst if all of a sudden you get a primary challenge in Iowa. Don’t be surprised, Mike Rounds, when you get a primary challenge. And guess what? We might be successful in doing so.”
“We don’t get a mandate like this from the American people just to have it forwarded by a bunch of dorks that we’ve never heard of from the US Senate twiddling their thumbs and protecting the war machine. Done. And if we have to fire you through a primary, that is what we will have to do.”
Mandate? What mandate?
Could Kirk be alluding to Trump’s victory in the presidential election, where he captured less than 50 percent of the overall tally and narrowly surpassed his opponent by just 1.47 percent in the popular vote? Furthermore, had Trump not carried Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, all states he won by 0.7 to 1.7 percent, he would have lost the election.
Mandate?
Delusions of grandeur, indeed.