Voters reject Trump-backed Republican in Texas special election

REPUBLICAN voters in Texas have rejected a Trump-backed candidate for Congress, suggesting his influence over the party is waning.

Susan Wright, 54, who was hoping to fill her late husband’s seat, was expected to be propelled to victory following the endorsement by the former US president. Mr Trump has backed Ms Wright since she entered the race in April, and even held a last-ditch telephone rally for her on Monday night.

But her defeat to Jake Ellzey, 51, a state politician and former fighter pilot, suggests Mr Trump’s support failed to impress Republican voters.

Mr Ellzey held more than 53 per cent of the vote in Texas’ 6th congressional district, near Dallas. “One of things that we’ve seen from this campaign is a positive outlook, a Reagan Republican outlook, for the future of our country is what the people of the 6th District really, really want,” Mr Ellzey said in a victory speech.

Tuesday’s special election was called after Mrs Wright’s husband, Ron, died in February after being diagnosed with

Covid-19. The two candidates had no substantive policy differences, meaning the strength of Mr Trump’s appeal had become a defining issue of the race.

The former president had recorded a “robocall” urging voters to support Mrs Wright and his Make America Great political action committee had spent about $100,000 (£72,000) in an advertising blitz for her over the weekend.

Mr Ellzey had sought to overcome the disadvantage by raising more money and showing off other endorsements, including Rick Perry, the former Texas governor.

The outcome raises questions about how much Mr Trump, who is campaigning against Republicans who voted to impeach him, will sway the 2022 Congressional midterm elections.

In a further blow, the Justice Department has indicated it may not defend the 75-year-old in a lawsuit accusing him of conspiring to incite the Jan 6 attack on the Capitol building.

In a court filing, the department declined to defend Mo Brooks, a Republican congressman who is facing a similar lawsuit brought by Democratic congressman Eric Swalwell.