The Ohio primary was a giant proxy battle over him, in which Republican candidates outdid each other trying to sound just like Trump – railing against undocumented immigrants, coastal elites, "socialism," and "wokeness," and regurgitating the Big Lie. Trump's April 15 endorsement of JD Vance made the difference – as could his backing of Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania's May 17 primary and Hershel Walker in Georgia's May 24 primary. But whether Trump's bets pay off in wins for these candidates is beside the point. Trump is making these races all about himself —and in so doing, casting the midterms as a referendum on his continuing power and influence. June's televised hearings of the House January 6 committee will likely show how Trump and his White House orchestrated the attack on the U.S. Capitol, and rekindle memories of Trump's threat to withhold military aid to Ukraine unless Ukrainian president Zelensky came up with dirt on Biden.