President Donald Trump managed to avoid a potential humiliating defeat on Tuesday evening (the 23rd) by offering last-minute endorsements for both candidates in the South Carolina Republican runoff.

Meanwhile, candidates backed by New York City Council Member Zohran Mamdani achieved overwhelming victories in the Democratic primaries, even unseating key party figures. While these wins underscore Mamdani’s growing influence in shaping the future direction of the Democratic Party, Trump merely reaffirmed his status as a powerful force within the Republican Party.

South Carolina

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson secured the Republican gubernatorial nomination on Tuesday, soundly defeating Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette in the runoff. Although Wilson finished second to Evette in the initial primary, he won the runoff by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.

Trump initially endorsed Evette, which helped her secure first place in the first round, while Wilson narrowly placed second. Rom Reddy, Ralph Norman, and Nancy Mace were eliminated in the first round.

Polls had predicted a significant lead for Wilson in the runoff, and President Trump ultimately endorsed both candidates over the weekend. By doing so, he avoided a repeat of the Georgia Republican gubernatorial primary, where voters chose businessman Rick Jackson over Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, whom Trump had backed.

Utah

In Utah, Trump endorsed incumbents Blake Moore and Celeste Maloy, both of whom faced challengers in the primary. Although both Maloy and Moore are moderate candidates closer to traditional Republican lines, Trump played it safe with these endorsements.

Moore’s survival was perhaps a more surprising outcome, as he had lost the delegate vote at the state convention to State Representative Karianne Lisonbee before his final victory on Tuesday evening.

New York

Mamdani secured victories against two incumbent Democrats on Tuesday evening. Former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander is expected to win against New York State Assemblyman Dan Goldman in an election where the Israel-Hamas conflict emerged as a central issue.

Another candidate supported by Mamdani, Darializa Avila Chevalier, narrowly defeated incumbent Adriano Espaillat, a New York State Assembly member who heads the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and is considered pro-Israel.

Democratic State Assemblywoman Claire Valdez also won her primary in the 7th District, though she did not face an incumbent.

All three contests represent a win for Mamdani and the socialist wing of the Democratic Party, though all three took place within Mamdani’s home base of New York.

The infiltration and influence of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) within the U.S. Democratic Party have expanded significantly in recent years, moving beyond a "grassroots base" to become a potent mainstream political force that is reshaping both Congress and local governments.

In the past, early progressive entrants like Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) and Rashida Tlaib were seen as a small minority, but their influence has surged to the point where they are now being discussed as potential presidential candidates.

With at least five official DSA-affiliated members expected to enter the House in upcoming elections—barring any major upsets—including Chevalier and Valdez in New York and Chris Rabb in Philadelphia, the DSA’s influence is projected to grow for some time.

In the New York State Assembly (Albany), at least 15 to 16 officially endorsed DSA candidates have secured seats, building the largest socialist legislative bloc in U.S. history since the 1910s.

This trend has sparked concerns, as it suggests that American society, which struggled to move past the shadows of communism, may be entering a new period of growing pains, this time grappling with a different iteration of collectivism in the form of socialism over 70 years later.

Hong Sung-goo, Representative Editor, U.S. NNP / NNP Special Correspondent info@newsandpost.com