‘Embarrassing’: Trump’s endorsement rejected by Republicans in ‘landslide’ defeat for seat once held by his chief of staff

Voters in North Carolina went to the polls on Tuesday for a special election to fill the vacancy created when Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) resigned from Congress to serve as Trump’s chief of staff.

Trump had repeatedly urged his supporters to back Lynda Bennett in the race for North Carolina’s 11th congressional district.

But voters decided not to go along with Trump’s wishes.

“A 24-year-old motivational speaker has defeated the Republican candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows in a GOP runoff for Meadows’ old congressional seat, according to unofficial results,” the Charlotte Observerreported Tuesday evening. “Madison Cawthorn defeated Lynda Bennett in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District in far-western North Carolina. He was leading with 65% of the vote with nearly all of precincts reporting. The Associated Press called the race in Cawthorn’s favor at 8:47 p.m.”

Here’s some of what people were saying about the race: