'Trump is political and electoral poison': Christie blames GOP losses on former president

Kentucky’s Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear fended off a challenge Tuesday from Trump-backed opponent Daniel Cameron, in a victory Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie warns could be a sign of the former president's weakness with voters.

"Trump endorsed candidate Daniel Cameron loses the Governor’s race in DEEP RED Kentucky. Another loss for Trump. The losing will only end for Republicans if we rid ourselves of Donald Trump. Trump — loser in ‘18, ‘20, ‘21, ‘22 and now ‘23," Christie tweeted Tuesday.

Christie, who is challenging Trump in the 2024 race, has repeatedly pinned Republican losses, including 2018 House defeats, 2020 presidential and Senate losses and poor 2022 midterm performance on the former president.

Trump carried Kentucky by more than 25 points in 2020 and leading up to the Kentucky gubernatorial election, those close to Cameron suggested the race could be a proxy battle for a 2024 general election rematch between Biden and Trump.

Cameron himself attributed his victory in Kentucky's Republican primary to the former president, exclaiming during his May victory speech that "the Trump culture of winning is alive and well in Kentucky.”

But embarrassing Trump was a mistake, Christie argued.

"Cameron was a rising star in the Republican party until he decided to throw his lot in with Donald Trump," he said during an appearance on CNN Tuesday night. "Let's face it, Donald Trump is political and electoral poison down ballot."

Beshear, meanwhile, is among the most popular governors in the country. Some 60% of Kentucky voters approve of his performance, compared to 68% who disapprove of the job President Joe Biden is doing, according to a recent Morning Consult poll.

And although recent national polling has shown Trump leading Biden in key swing states, Christie warned Republicans that Cameron's loss in Kentucky should be a wake up call.

"Any Republican who was overconfident about beating Joe Biden next year is a foolish Republican," Christie said. "If he is the candidate for the Democratic Party, which it appears he will be, he will always be a difficult opponent."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chris Christie blames Trump 'poison' for Cameron loss in Kentucky