Trump faces first 2022 primary loss as Nebraska governor pick loses following groping allegations

Donald Trump has proven in the 2022 midterms so far that he has coattails, but the former president faced his first defeat Tuesday evening when his pick in the Nebraska gubernatorial race failed to prevail following several allegations of sexual misconduct.

All eyes turned to the Nebraska and West Virginia primaries Tuesday as voters headed to the polls to select who they want to run in November against the opposing party.

In the two states, Trump threw his endorsement behind Nebraska gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster and Republicans Carol Miller and Alex Mooney in their respective House races in West Virginia.

With nearly all polling places reporting in West Virginia Tuesday evening, Mooney prevailed with 54 percent of the vote for the 2nd congressional district in the deep red state.

Former President Donald Trump (right) faced his first endorsements defeat on Tuesday when his pick for Nebraska governor Charles Herbster (left) lost following allegations of groping from multiple women

The winner in Tuesday’s GOP primary election for Nebraska’s next governor is Brett Lindstrom, who was backed by outgoing term-limited GOP Governor Pete Ricketts

His top competitor was Representative David McKinley, who was backed by the state’s GOP Governor Jim Justice and Democratic Senator Joe Manchin. The current representative for the 1st district who was now running in the 2nd, lost by 18.6 percent.

Trump was critical of McKinley for supporting the infrastructure package and voting for the creation of an independent commission investigating the January 6 Capitol riot.

Compared to Mooney, West Virginia House primary candidate Miller won with even more percent of the vote in the 1st district of West Virginia as more than 67 percent of voters cast their ballot for her.

But in Nebraska, businessman Herbster failed to do as well as he faces multiple sexual misconduct allegations, which he has denied.

Eight women accused Herbster of groping in a report published by the Nebraska Examiner.

In an ad denying the allegations, Herbster compared himself to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh, who also faced allegations of sexual misconduct during their respective confirmation hearings.

In West Virginia, both of Trump’s picks for the two open House seats prevailed –  Alex Mooney (left) and Carol Miller (right)

Of the dozens of endorsements Trump has issues for the 2022 GOP primary elections, all have won so far – making Herbster the first loss for the former president, who doesn’t like losing.

With most of the votes accounted for in Nebraska, only 25 percent went to Herbster.

Brett Lindstrom, a state senator from Nebraska backed by Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, is set to win the nomination for governor with nearly 33 percent of the vote as of Thursday evening.

In second with nearly 30 percent of the vote came Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen, who had the backing of the state’s term-limited Governor Pete Ricketts.

West Virginia was a bit more straightforward, with both House races going to the Trump-backed candidates.

Both Nebraska and West Virginia are deep red states that had some of the largest majorities going for Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election.

In Nebraska, 58.2 percent of voters cast their election for Trump and in West Virginia a massive 68.6 percent voted for the former president to get a second term.

During Trump’s rally in Greensburg, Pennsylvania on Friday he bragged about his record of GOP primary wins in the 2022 midterms.