Donald Trump Just Lost His Third Election in a Row

Questions over Donald Trump's continued influence over the Republican party ahead of the 2024 presidential election have been raised after the GOP's disappointing midterm performance.

As well as essentially being a referendum on President Joe Biden and the Democratic party, the November 8 elections had a subplot regarding the potential future of the GOP as Trump hoped to fill the House and the Senate with a number of his endorsed candidates, many of whom backed the false claim espoused by Trump that the 2020 election was rigged.

It appears Trump was hoping the apparent Republican midterm "red wave"—which ultimately never came to fruition—would cement his place as the leader of the GOP and pave the way for a return to the White House, with his formal announcement that is running for president again expected in the coming days.

For live updates on the midterms, head over to Newsweek's Live Blog: Who Won the Midterm Elections 2022?—Senate, House, Governor Results

The GOP's failure to dominate the House, with the Senate also looking like it could eventually remain in control of the Democrats, has already resulted in fingers being pointed toward Trump and the looming shadow he cast for the party's floundering results.

Looking forward, the GOP may also be considering whether they want Trump to lead the party, especially as Tuesday was the third major election in which Trump has lost in four years, following the 2018 midterms—where the Democrats took control of the House and flipped several gubernatorial races—and his own 2020 election defeat to Biden.

Bernard Tamas, associate professor of political science at Valdosta State University in Georgia, said that November 8 was a "particularly bad election" for Trump

"His image as a political heavyweight has taken a hit. His choice of candidates have had mixed success, and more importantly, lost critical elections that the Republicans had clearly expected to win," Tamas told Newsweek.

"Since this is a midterm election with an unpopular Democratic president facing significant economic challenges, historical patterns would've indicated a wave of significant Republican victories throughout the country, which has not happened."

With the expected major Republican gains failing to materialize in the midterms, speculation will continue to grow that the one-time Trump-protegee Ron DeSantis will step forward as the new leader of the GOP as eyes turn to 2024.

The Florida governor and the former president have long been considered the two frontrunners to face off against each other in the GOP presidential primary, resulting in Trump appearing to turn on his former ally.

There are also signs in Republican circles that the party is moving towards DeSantis and away from Trump in the wake of the midterm results.

On Wednesday morning, the Rupert Murdoch-owned New York Post—which Trump once declared his "favorite newspaper"—featured the DeSantis on its front page following his Florida gubernatorial election win, along with the headline "DeFuture."

Tamas added that responsibility for the Republican Party's "lackluster" performance does not rest entirely on Trump's shoulders, the results may give future GOP election candidates pause as to whether or not they want the previously highly-sought Trump endorsement.

"It is clear that while a Trump endorsement may help a candidate in the Republican primary, it is at best of little value when it comes to the general election," Tamas told Newsweek.

"Of course, Trump's most ardent supporters will give him credit regardless of what happens, but that won't help him maintain control over the Republican Party—or beat Ron DeSantis in the presidential primaries should they both decide to run."

However, one person who will probably dismiss any suggestions the midterm results will affect his 2024 chances is Trump himself.

On the eve of the midterm vote, Trump told NewsNation that he should "get all the credit" if his chosen candidates win their elections, but "not be blamed at all" if they lose.

"But usually what would happen is, when they do well, I won't be given any credit. And if they do badly, they will blame everything on me," Trump said. "So I'm prepared for anything, but we'll defend ourselves."

Trump has previously teased he will be making a "very big announcement" on November 15 at Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.