Donald Trump had to be dissuaded from making an early endorsement in the 2022 race for the U.S. Senate in Ohio, a sign of his eagerness to engage politically, people familiar with the talks said to Axios.
What we’re hearing: The former president discussed endorsing former Republican state president Jane Timken last week during a meeting in Mar-a-Lago with RNC president Ronna McDaniel, but key advisers – including Donald Trump Jr. – asked him to wait.
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“It is too early to make endorsement decisions in many of the races, especially when the primaries are more than a year away,” Trump adviser Jason Miller told Axios. “This is much broader than any race.”
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Endorsements will come only after candidates have established their campaigns and are examined by the Trump operation, including completing a questionnaire that “will help ensure that all endorsers are conservatives of America First Republicans,” said Miller.
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Trump’s endorsement, which is highly coveted by Republicans across the country, could be the deciding factor for the Ohio Democratic Party, a state party that has moved away from traditional John Kasich conservatism towards a full embrace of Trumpism.
Between the lines: During the meeting, Trump asked McDaniel what she thought about Timken, who recently resigned as president of the state party. He also wondered if McDaniel thought Timken was “loyal” to him, said two sources familiar with the conversation.
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McDaniel spoke positively about Timken and its chances of succeeding Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), the sources said, although it is against the RNC statute that the president is involved in primary campaigns.
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“President McDaniel is a good friend of Jane Timken and has a high regard for her. But President McDaniel has made no recommendation on endorsements to President Trump and remains neutral in the primaries, ”said RNC spokesman Mike Reed.
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Trump later talked to Timken and discussed the race.
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Timken’s name originally came up while Trump and McDaniel discussed Bob Paduchik’s candidacy for the Ohio Republican Party presidency. The Trump-backed candidate was nominated for the job on Friday.
At the end of the week, Trump met with his main political team, including Don Jr., former campaign managers Bill Stepien and Brad Parscale, former social media director Dan Scavino, former deputy campaign manager Justin Clark and Miller, as reported by the first time at the Politico.
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As the team discussed a series of races, young Trump said his father should not endorse in Ohio anytime soon, said a person familiar with the meeting to Axios.
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Don Jr. said there are many unknowns in the race now, and added that there are several candidates who are running, or thinking about running, who are pro-Trump.
Be smart: Donald Trump has already made several endorsements before the 2022 elections, including Paduchik, Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) For re-election and his former White House press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a candidate for Arkansas governor.
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