Trump suffers another surprise primary blow as MAGA candidate defeated in New Jersey

Trump-endorsed MAGA candidate Serrano Glassner is set to lose the GOP nomination for the New Jersey Senate race, according a projection from the Associated Press, in another setback to the former president.

Real estate developer Curtis Bashaw is predicted to secure the nomination, meaning he will compete for the seat which has been held by Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, who is embroiled in a federal corruption case in which he is facing charges of bribery and other offenses.

The incumbent chose not to run for the Democratic nomination following the indictment against him and widespread calls within his party to resign, but he officially launched an independent bid for the seat on Monday. He denies all allegations of wrongdoing.

Republicans hope Menendez’s candidacy could split the vote in the solidly blue state, putting the seat more in play despite no Republican being elected to the Senate from New Jersey in more than 50 years.

Rep Andy Kim won the Democratic nomination to compete for the seat in a landslide victory on Tuesday

As of Wednesday morning, Bashaw had 45 per cent of the vote in the GOP race, while Glasser had 38 per cent. Two other candidates, former Tabernacle Committeeman Justin Murphy and US Navy veteran Albert Harshaw, had 11 per cent and five per cent, respectively.

While Glassner had the support of Donald Trump, Bashaw had the support of most of the county Republican parties in the state, which are particularly influential in New Jersey, meaning he secured the county line in a majority of the counties in the state.

The state has for decades used a ballot organization system known as the county line in which candidates who receive the county endorsement are given the most optimal positioning on the