ANALYSIS — For someone who has made winning a key part of his personal, professional and political brand, Donald Trump is set to rely on a large stable of losers in his second term. The president-elect has tapped more than a dozen people who previously lost elections to join his administration next year.
Even though both parties love to deride unsuccessful candidates who run again, the term “loser” doesn’t have to be a pejorative. Losing candidates regularly get elected later, including in the 2014 and 2020 election cycles. It also isn’t a disqualifying factor to serve a president, or even to serve as president.
Of the eight most recent presidential winners, all have had prior election losses on their résumés, including Trump (2020 presidential general election), Joe Biden (1988 and 2008 Democratic presidential primaries), Barack Obama (2000 Democratic primary for U.S. House in Illinois), George W. Bush (1978 House race in Texas), Bill Clinton (1974 House loss and 1980 reelection defeat as Arkansas governor), George H. W. Bush (1964 and 1970 Senate races in Texas and 1980 GOP presidential primary), Ronald Reagan (1976 GOP presidential primary) and Jimmy Carter (1966 Democratic gubernatorial primary in Georgia).
But the large number of losing candidates potentially coming into the second Trump administration is striking compared with recent presidents.
Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, Biden’s and Obama’s secretary of Agriculture, ran unsuccessfully for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination. Pete Buttigieg, Biden’s current Transportation secretary, fell short in his bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. In 2008, Hillary Clinton lost the Democratic presidential primary to Obama before becoming his secretary of State. And Republican Ray LaHood lost election for a full term to the Illinois state House in 1982, 12 years before getting elected to Congress and about 26 years before he became Obama’s Transportation secretary.
Trump hasn’t even taken office yet, and he’s already named at least 17 electoral losers to join his administration. They include:
Secretary of State
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio lost the 2016 GOP presidential primary to Trump, highlighted by an infamous debate performance before New Hampshire Republicans went to the polls.
Secretary of Education
Connecticut Republican Linda McMahon lost Senate bids in 2010 (to Democrat Richard Blumenthal) and 2012 (to Democrat Christopher S. Murphy).
Secretary of Labor
Republican Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer lost reelection this month to Democrat Janelle Bynum, 48 percent to 45 percent, in Oregon’s 5th District.
Secretary of the Interior
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum sought the 2024 GOP presidential nomination but ended his bid late last year.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Former Georgia Rep. Doug Collins lost a 2020 special election for Senate in Georgia, finishing behind Democrat Raphael Warnock and Republican Kelly Loeffler. Loeffler, who was apparently under serious consideration to be Trump’s next Agriculture secretary, lost to Warnock in a runoff.
Secretary of Defense
Military veteran and Fox News host Pete Hegseth ran for Senate in Minnesota in 2012 but dropped out before the primary. The former Princeton Tigers guard also lost to North Carolina in the first round of the 2001 NCAA March Madness basketball tournament, 70-48.
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Scott Turner lost a 2006 House special election in California to succeed disgraced Republican Rep. Duke Cunningham, finishing eighth out of 17 candidates with 1.5 percent of the vote. Turner subsequently moved to Texas and was elected to the state Legislature in 2012, although he subsequently lost a race for state House speaker three years later.
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was on his way to losing the 2024 Democratic primary to Biden before dropping out to run as an independent in the general election, which he would have lost to Trump had he not dropped out a few months before Election Day.
Environmental Protection Agency administrator
Former New York Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin lost a spirited 2022 race for New York governor to Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul, 53 percent to 47 percent.
U.S. ambassador to NATO
Matthew Whitaker lost a 2002 race for Iowa treasurer, 55 percent to 43 percent, to Democrat Michael Fitzgerald. He also lost a bid for Senate in 2014, finishing in fourth place with 8 percent in the GOP primary won by Joni Ernst.
Director of National Intelligence
Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administrator
Celebrity physician and TV personality Mehmet Oz defeated Dave McCormick in the 2022 GOP Senate primary in Pennsylvania before losing the general election to Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman. (McCormick won the commonwealth’s other Senate seat this year.)
U.S. ambassador to Canada
Former Rep. Pete Hoekstra lost the 2010 GOP primary for Michigan governor to Rick Snyder and the 2012 Senate race to Democratic incumbent Debbie Stabenow.
U.S. ambassador to Israel
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee lost a 1992 race for lieutenant governor and ran unsuccessfully for the GOP presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director
Former Florida Rep. Dave Weldon lost the 2012 Republican nomination for Senate to Rep. Connie Mack IV. Earlier this year, he also lost a GOP primary for the Florida House by 30 points to state Sen. Debbie Mayfield.
Department of Government Efficiency co-leader
Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy ran unsuccessfully for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.
White House press secretary
Karoline Leavitt lost a 2022 race for New Hampshire’s 1st District to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas, 54 percent to 46 percent.
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