With the November election fast approaching, former President Donald Trump's political machine is in full swing. However, recent primary results in battleground states have revealed the limitations of his purported king-making power and raised concerns within the party.

In Tuesday's Republican primaries, prominent MAGA candidates suffered setbacks in Colorado, New York, Utah, and South Carolina. One of the biggest blows came in Utah, where Trump-backed candidate Trent Staggs was defeated in a landslide by Rep. John Curtis, who has distanced himself from Trump during the election cycle.

Colorado's state GOP Chair Dave Williams, a staunch MAGA candidate who boasted about having Trump's personal number, faced a resounding defeat in his House primary. Similarly, Trump-endorsed televangelist Mark Burns narrowly lost to nurse practitioner Sheri Biggs in South Carolina, who had secured a competing endorsement for Republican Governor Henry McMaster.

The losses in Tuesday's primaries add to a string of recent defeats and near misses that are causing concern within MAGAworld. In Virginia, the race between incumbent Rep. Bob Good, known for his far-right views and alignment with Trump, and Trump-backed state Sen. John McGuire remains too close to call, likely heading for a recount. Good, following Trump's playbook, has refused to accept the results, raised fraud claims, and threatened to block the certification of results in a key city within the district.

Trump's endorsement record has raised alarms previously, particularly in the 2022 midterms when his backed candidates failed to secure victories in their primaries. The expected "Red Wave" turned out to be less impactful than anticipated, with Democrats expanding their control of the Senate and the GOP only achieving a narrow majority in the House.

Following the midterms, the Republican Party engaged in self-reflection regarding the influence of Trump's bombastic persona on electoral gain. Some party members questioned what Trump had gotten right and wrong and how they could learn from it to win future elections.

While the Republican National Committee (RNC) chose not to outright blame Trump for their underperformance during the midterms, Trump himself disclaimed any responsibility. In this election cycle, his loyalists successfully ousted RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel, replacing her with Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump.

As the GOP approaches another general election, candidates relying solely on Trump's endorsement for victory in November may need to reassess their strategies. Recent defeats and close calls suggest that Trump's influence may not be as decisive as once believed, prompting questions about the extent of his true electoral prowess.