On Tuesday night in Georgia, crowded Republican field tested the strength of President Donald Trump's endorsement of Republican Clay Fuller.

In a race to fill the seat once held by former Representative Marjorie Taylor Green, the question weighing over this year's critical midterm

elections is whether the president's backing is a help or hindrance.

Hello and welcome to USA Today's The Exert. I'm Dana Taylor. Today is Thursday, March 11,

2026. As these contests unfold alongside

domestic economic concerns and major global tensions, what can they tell us about where American

politics is heading? Joining me now to share his insights on the latest elections is USA Today,

Chief Political Correspondent, Philip M. Bailey.

Philip, it's good to have you back.

Hey, Dana. How are you?

I'm good.

So, Philip, we know this Georgia race between Fuller and Democrat Sean Harris is headed to a runoff.

Is this race a good indicator that Trump still has a lock on the Republican Party.

Well, I think there are a few things to pay attention to here in Georgia's 14th

congressional district that are good signs for President Trump, but also at the same time,

if I'm someone close to him politically, I might be a bit worried.

So yes, he endorsed Clay Fuller in this crowded field of candidates to replace Marjorie

Taylor Green in Georgia that

included like 15 or so Republicans. He endorsed Mr. Fuller, a former prosecutor, a cancer

survivor, or veteran of the National Air Guard, and at the same time, it didn't really clear the

field. None of the other Republicans dropped out, including former Georgia state legislator Colton Moore. So you didn't see this clearing of the field that

you would usually expect when the king of Maga makes it clear who he supports in the race.

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