Trump-backed candidate in Iowa loses primary

Randy Feenstra's defeat could prove to be a case of the president's political instincts being off. Trump-backed candidate in Iowa loses primary Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Randy Feenstra was seen by many as a frontrunner, and was a reliable Trump supporter File image of Randy Feenstra. He wears a suit as he attends a hearing in the US House A candidate hoping to run for governor in the US state of Iowa has lost a closely watched primary contest, despite getting the backing of Donald Trump. Randy Feenstra, who was seen by many as a frontrunner, conceded the race on Tuesday, having received a last-minute presidential endorsement ahead of the vote. The three-term Iowa congressman, who was running for his party's nomination for November's governor contest, had also been a reliable Trump supporter. But for his part, the winner, farmer and businessman Zach Lahn, campaigned on a decidedly Trumpian platform – with slogans like "Make Iowa Healthy Again" and "Iowa first". He campaigned on limiting foreign and out-of-state ownership of Iowa land and railed against "global elites". Lahn also had the backing of Turning Point USA, the conservative group founded by the late Charlie Kirk, and grassroots conservatives in the state who viewed Feenstra as too much a part of the Washington establishment. Trump has been out of the public eye the past six days, other than prerecorded interviews with friendly media and his postings on Truth Social, which included an assertion that negotiations with Iran over the war "have been going on continuously". While the talks may be ongoing, they don't seem to be making much progress. It's been a rough week for Trump domestically as well - his administration has abandoned plans to create a $1.8bn (£1.3bn) "anti-weaponisation" fund. The fund had been designed to compensate individuals who claimed to be targets of political investigation by previous presidential administrations. And Tuesday night marked a hit to his golden track record of political endorsements. Over the past few weeks, it has appeared like a Trump endorsement was a guaranteed ticket to success. Congressman Thomas Massie in Kentucky and Senator Bill Cassidy were both unseated by Trump-backed challengers. And Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton won his state's Republican Senate nomination contest over incumbent John Cornyn - although it appeared increasingly likely that Paxton was going to defeat his opponent with without Trump's help. Trump is at the podium and speaking while wearing a dark blue suit and bright blue tie. To his right and behind him is Todd Blanche who is wearing a dark suit and indigo tie The end of Trump's 'weaponisation' fund is another sign Republicans are fighting back This is a head and shoulders pic of Karen Bass who is smiling broadly and wearing a grey, checked suit. The background, slightly out of focus, appears to be red seating Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass advances to run-off in race to run California's biggest city Attorney General Ken Paxton is seen in profile at a lectern with a dark background from the waist up. He appears to be smiling and clapping and his campaign sign is on the front of the lectern MAGA candidate's win in Texas primary may also help Democrats in Senate battle As for the Feenstra result - that may prove to be a case of the president's political instincts being off in a state that, while voting for him in three straight elections, appears to be a souring a bit. Trump's wide-ranging programme of trade tariffs – and the Chinese response to them – have hit Iowa's farmers hard. And then came the US-Israeli war with Iran, packing a double punch with its higher fuel and fertiliser costs. According to a recent YouGov/Economist poll, Trump has a net approval rating of -20% in Iowa. This unease has given Democrats hope of flipping the governorship, where Lahn will now face off in November against Democratic State Auditor Rob Sand. Democrats are also targeting the Senate seat being vacated by Republican Joni Ernst. Projected results show that Paralympian Josh Turek - a centrist who had the backing of national Democrats - won his party's primary and will go on to face Republican candidate Ashley Hinson. Several election analysis groups have moved both races to a toss-up or leans Republican. So, while Texas gets a lot of national attention, the key to Democratic success in November may lie amidst the cornfields of Iowa - which was once generally blue but has voted red in recent years. That all makes it worth keeping a close eye on the Hawkeye State. A thin, grey banner promoting the US Politics Unspun newsletter. On the right, there is an image of North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher, wearing a blue suit and shirt and grey tie. Behind him is a visualisation of the Capitol Building on vertical red, grey and blue stripes. The banner reads: "The newsletter that cuts through the noise.” Follow the twists and turns of Trump's second term with North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher's weekly US Politics Unspun newsletter. Readers in the UK can sign up here. Those outside the UK can sign up here. Follow the twists and turns of Trump's second term with North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher's weekly President Donald Trump, wearing a white USA cap and a red golfing sweater, waves as he passes by white pillars outside the White House Trump administration drops $1.8bn 'anti-weaponisation' fund It comes after the US Supreme Court struck down many of US President Donald Trump's previous duties in February. Iran says the attack on Kuwait was in retaliation for earlier US strikes on an Iranian oil tanker and island. Republican Spencer Pratt, known for his TV role on The Hills, appears to be in a tight race with two Democrats in Los Angeles. The $1.8bn fund would have paid people the Trump administration decided were unjustly and politically targeted. Republican lawmaker Tom Kean Jr has not been seen in Washington or his New Jersey district for several months. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's announcement to abandon the fund comes amid pushback from top Republican lawmakers. The head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, who pushed for criminal charges against Trump's foes, will step in as acting Director of National Intelligence. Every president in modern history - including Donald Trump this week - has taken an annual physical exam that is as much about messaging as it is about health.