New Jersey Republicans could have their best shot in years at winning a US senate seat with two strong contenders vying for the GOP nomination in the race to replace embattled Senator Bob Mendez but they'll have to dodge a political landmine to get there pledging devotion and support for Donald Trump backing the former president has been successful for candidates in primaries but it hasn't worked for Republicans seeking a Statewide office in New Jersey senior political correspondent David takes a look at how the issue is shaping the GOP race I'm giving her my complete and total endorsement because she is where are you where are you Christine sanog Glassner has been here all along she was Trump from 2015 before it became a prerequisite and hearing the former president say her name correctly and he praise upon her recent is the big payoff maybe in a Senate primary where being with Trump can't hurt anymore and actually helps listen uh president Trump is very popular amongst the base um and so the idea that they're going to be you know seeking his uh endorsement which glasner got and that Basha's um you know kind of messaging is is going to align some level with him uh makes a lot of sense I mean they they have to get through a primary Glassner whose campaign has stopped talking to most news outlets was last seen here in 2023 talking up Trump Donald Trump was a president who had phenomenal policies since then she's gone even deeper saying she would not have voted to certify the election of 20120 and calling into to question her opponents Trump bonafides Curtis Bashaw has a history of opposing president Trump hotelier Curtis bashua who's had to repeatedly beat back charges of being a Trum come lately says he gets what Trump did and won't hold it against the former president you know uh Christine's husband works for Donald Trump for 11 years uh the president opted to endorse his long-term employees wife uh I understand and respect loyalty I'm loyal to my employees uh so I it doesn't change my view that Donald Trump we needs to win this fall of course this race isn't taking place in a vacuum some Republicans hope that a good showing in November by the GOP candidate could bode well for the Governor's race in 2025 and in that regard the arrow may be pointing to bashua who it should be noted has most of the GOP establishment support here's gubernatorial candidate Jack chiarelli late last year we've got a great candidate and that's mendum burrow mayor Christine Glassner and I'm supporting her and she's going to be out there and I look forward to the race this week though the chiarelli campaign said he is officially neutral in the race and John bramnick the anti- Trump candidate in the race says he's no fan of glasser's election denying and plans to have a talk with her but analyst like mic rasm admit it's tough to tell who's most motivated for June 4th this is a a low turnout primary couple hundred, Republicans are going to vote Statewide and it's a question of which one's vote is it organizational types if it is Bashaw wins and if it's Trump voters and supporters then she may win Sado GL it's been Generations since a republican won a senate seat in New Jersey whoever wins the Republican primary knows that and while Donald Trump may be a buoy in a primary he's more like an albatross in a general election here unless something happens to change that reality I'm David Cruz and J Spotlight news