Trump-Backed Candidate Wins New Hampshire Primary

President Donald Trump saw his influence affirmed when his chosen candidate, Anthony DiLorenzo, won the Republican primary in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District. This victory occurred on Tuesday. DiLorenzo secured 51.5% of the vote, defeating Hollie Noveletsky, a former vice chair of the New Hampshire Republican Party, who received 26.8% of the vote, as reported by The Associated Press.

Trump’s endorsement has often played a pivotal role in Republican primaries. However, not all Trump-endorsed candidates have succeeded. In recent contests, some Trump-backed candidates have been defeated by other Republicans, indicating a mixed success record for his endorsements.

DiLorenzo’s win signifies Trump’s enduring appeal among GOP voters. This outcome also follows a recent poll by the University of New Hampshire, which had indicated a 3-point lead for Noveletsky, 28% to 25%. The survey involved 443 Republican voters conducted between August 20 and 24, 2026.

Trump’s Endorsement Record

Trump publicly endorsed DiLorenzo on Truth Social on July 13, describing him as a “very successful Businessman and Entrepreneur.” At the time, Trump expressed pride in endorsing DiLorenzo to represent New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District.

Across the country, Trump has endorsed numerous candidates, maintaining a 96% success rate in primaries this year according to Ballotpedia. Despite this high success rate, some endorsed candidates have lost to Republicans. For example, Representative Andy Ogles lost in Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District to Charlie Hatcher, who was backed by Governor Bill Lee. In Florida’s 19th District, Catalina Lauf, also endorsed by Trump, was defeated by Jim Schwartzel.

Trump’s Michigan endorsees have faced similar outcomes. Amir Hassan in Michigan’s 8th District lost to Thomas J. Smith, who later endorsed another candidate. Several gubernatorial candidates Trump endorsed also lost, such as Burt Jones in Georgia and Mike Lindell in Minnesota.

Despite these losses, Trump’s popularity with Republican voters boosts his endorsement record. A recent YouGov and The Economist poll highlighted Trump’s challenging national approval numbers, showing a -24 net approval rating, with only 36% approval nationally compared to 60% disapproval. However, among Republicans, Trump remains favored with an 80% approval rate, highlighting his continued support within the party. This survey polled 1,592 adults from August 28 to 31, 2026.

Republicans’ Chances of Flipping NH-01

While public polling for the district remains unavailable, prediction markets currently favor Democrats retaining control of the seat, presently held by Democratic Representative Chris Pappas, who is now a Senate candidate. As of Tuesday, prediction platforms like Kalshi gave Democrats an 88% chance of victory, while Polymarket placed their odds at 89%.

The district had supported Kamala Harris by over 2 points in the 2024 election, indicating competitive dynamics. However, Democrats believe the national environment and Trump’s lower national approval levels may help them maintain control in November.

Republicans hope to counter the so-called blue wave in New Hampshire. GOP Governor Kelly Ayotte is favored for reelection, and the Senate race appears increasingly competitive.

New Hampshire’s 1st District, comprising the state’s eastern regions, often presents a competitive battleground. Democrats achieve significant wins in cities like Portsmouth and Dover, while Manchester remains competitive, leaning Democratic with Harris having won it by less than 8 points. In contrast, Republicans excel in the suburbs surrounding Manchester and areas like the Lakes Region.

Chris Pappas has historically won this swing district with wider margins, securing an 8-point victory in 2024. He previously defeated Karoline Leavitt in 2022 by a similar margin. Political forecasters generally see Democrats having the upper hand, with The Cook Political Report rating the race Likely Democrat and Sabato’s Crystal Ball considering it Leans Democratic.

For this story, contact editors Jenni Fink and Sam Wilson at Newsweek.