“Former President Trump could have been an important asset for the GOP, turning out voters as it seeks to regain control of Congress in next year’s midterm elections. But, out of office, he’s continuing his destructive behavior, endorsing weaker candidates in contested primaries, squelching the campaigns of erstwhile allies, and elevating not-ready-for-prime-time contenders in must-win Senate contests. His erratic behavior since losing the presidential election – exemplified by his conspiracy theorizing and suppression of the GOP vote in Georgia’s Senate runoffs in January, handing Democrats the majority – is only accelerating as the midterms draw closer. It’s leading to increasing Republican pessimism about their chances of retaking the Senate majority next year, even as the political environment is awfully favorable on paper to the party out of power.”

“When he was in office, Republicans were often able to redirect Trump’s worst political impulses into constructive behavior. There’s no doubt he was a one-man turnout machine, helping Republicans in redder states prevail despite his political vulnerabilities. He acted transactionally, backing vulnerable members in exchange for their loyal support, even endorsing a frequent critic like Sen. Ben Sasse, all but ensuring that the independent-minded Nebraskan wouldn’t speak out against him until he prevailed in a primary. But now that he lacks tangible political power, he’s showing little willingness to play ball with party leadership. National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Rick Scott made headlines in declaring that the party wouldn’t engage in competitive primaries, and he has said he hoped Trump would follow suit. But since then, Trump has picked his favorites with abandon, elevating a leading election denialist like Rep. Mo Brooks to front-runner status in Alabama, opposing party-backed Sen. Lisa Murkowski in Alaska, and urging a political novice like former NFL star Herschel Walker to run in a must-win Georgia contest. ‘We can’t let this guy pick our candidates if we want to be in the Senate majority,’ said a senior Republican strategist involved in Senate races” – National Journal.