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Trump's reputation as a political kingmaker may be on the line in Washington primary

caption: Republican Loren Culp greets a large crowd, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, at a rally near Graham, Wash.
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Republican Loren Culp greets a large crowd, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, at a rally near Graham, Wash.
AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

The first results are in for the Washington state primary, and former President's Trump's reputation as a political kingmaker may be on the line.

In Washington's 4th Congressional District, Trump-backed candidate Loren Culp is so far running third in his bid to unseat Republican Dan Newhouse.

The incumbent Newhouse earned Trump's wrath last year for voting to impeach him.

It’s a tight race, but after the first ballot count, Newhouse is currently in the lead (27.32%), Democrat Doug White is in second (25.98 %) and Loren Culp is in third (21.74 %).

It’s a similar story in the 3rd Congressional District in southwest Washington.

After the first count, Democrat Marie Perez is ahead, incumbent Jaime Herrera Beutler who voted to impeach Trump is in second, and Trump-backed candidate Joe Kent is in third.

But there are many more ballots left to be counted in both races. We'll likely find out later this week if either of the candidates the former president is backing makes it to November.

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