trump has helped push mr corker into retirement and played a part in speaker paul d ryan and 39 other house members leaving congress the most house republicans not to seek reelection for at least 90 yearsmr sanford had voted for much of mr trumps agenda but repeatedly lamented what he called the cult of personality gripping the party his opponent state representative katie arrington used those critiques against him to great effect casting the primary as a loyalty test and defeating mr sanford by four percentage pointsa week earlier in alabama representative martha roby who withdrew her support from mr trump in 2016 after the access hollywood video was released faced fierce attacks for her disloyalty and will have to compete in a july runoff because she fell short of winning a majority in the primarymr sanfords loss also came on the same night that mr stewart a local virginia official who has drawn attention for targeting immigrants and defending the confederacy claimed the senate nomination in what was an unmistakable victory for the sort of racially tinged politics that mr trump embraced in 2016the president exulted over both races wednesday crowing about his lastminute help torpedoing mr sanford a reference to an 11thhour tweet that called mr sanford nothing but trouble and endorsed ms arrington and mr trump argued that mr stewart has a major chance of winning in a state that has not elected a statewide republican in nearly a decadeimagecredithunter mcrae for the new york timesit was fitting that such a momentous day of voting took place in virginia because it was there four years ago that representative eric cantor then the house majority leader was upset in his primary and just as mr cantors stunning defeat all but extinguished any hope for a comprehensive immigration overhaul the results tuesday appear to have snuffed out any room for dissent among gop lawmakers who rely on the presidents supporters for votesin congress senate republicans will probably not challenge mr trump over trade and tariffs with leaders blocking a vote mr corker is pushing to require congressional approval for tariffs implemented on national security groundsand on the immigration debate house republican leaders repelled an effort by moderate party members to force a vote on bipartisan measures to protect young immigrants because the president opposed them instead the house will vote next week on two tougher measures that the white house is helping write to accommodate mr trumpwe are in a strange place said mr corker who has alternately been one of mr trumps closest allies and loudest critics referring to republican fealty to mr trump he added its becoming a cultish thingto mr trumps supporters though the fealty to mr trump simply reflects the devotion he now enjoys from the partys grass rootshis base is loyal and support is strong giving him the leverage to move votes at the ballot box and the legislative chamber said brian o walsh who runs the presidents main super pac theres room