Source: Politics<\/p>\n
Former President Donald Trump endorsed Idaho Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin\u2019s bid to primary Gov. Brad Little, as the former president looks to further remake the Republican Party in his image.<\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s Tuesday evening endorsement of McGeachin does not mention or even allude to Little, who first won the office in 2018. Instead, Trump praises her as \u201ca true supporter of MAGA since the very beginning\u201d who has his \u201cComplete and Total Endorsement\u201d to be the next governor of the state.<\/p>\n
McGeachin and Little have been locked in a bizarre power struggle<\/a>, as she challenges him. On several occasions when Little has left the state, McGeachin has used her authority as acting governor to issue executive orders often in relation to various pandemic-related mandates, which she has tried to ban. Little has then rescinded those orders<\/a>.<\/p>\n A spokesperson for Little did not immediately return a request for comment. A spokesperson for the Republican Governors Association noted that the RGA supports its incumbent governors, but did not comment further.<\/p>\n McGeachin wrote in a tweet<\/a> that it was \u201ca great honor\u201d to receive Trump\u2019s endorsement, and that there\u2019s \u201cmuch more to come from the two of us.\u201d<\/p>\n Big problem for Little: Trump\u2019s endorsement of McGeachin could present an existential challenge for Republicans. Unlike other Republican governors the now-former president has raged against \u2014 including Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine \u2014 Little has done little to draw Trump\u2019s ire, at least publicly.<\/p>\n Recently, Little tweeted that it was \u201can honor to be recognized\u201d by Trump at an event<\/a>. Trump gave Little a brief shoutout at a gala for the America First Policy Institute, a nonprofit closely aligned with the former president, held at Trump\u2019s Mar-a-Lago estate on Nov. 4.<\/p>\n \u201cWe also have Gov. Brad Little, who is a terrific gentleman,\u201d Trump said a week ago<\/a>. \u201cThank you Brad. He\u2019s working on a project.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s endorsement suggests that deference may not be enough to stop the former president from cannon-balling into any election.<\/p>\n Ximena Bustillo contributed to this report.<\/p>\n