Trump's GOP takeover means party's future will be inextricably linked to him

It's happening all across the nation: Anyone who endorsed Donald Trump and worked for his election against the headwinds is now getting a tailwind in their bids to oust establishment Republicans. "Loyalists are looking to dislodge state party leaders who are perceived as insufficiently committed to the president-elect," writes Politico. Here are just a few examples:

Virginia

In Virginia, Corey Stewart, Trump’s former state chairman, is preparing a 2017 bid for governor that will first pit him against fellow Republican Ed Gillespie, a former RNC chairman who was lukewarm in his support of Trump during the presidential campaign and never appeared onstage with him. [...]

“People know that I’m a true-blue Trump supporter,” said Stewart, adding that he wanted to campaign with Trump. “It’s been like rocket fuel for my campaign as soon he won. It’s a complete change from what it was before Nov. 8.”

Michigan

Scott Hagerstrom, who directed Trump’s successful Michigan campaign, is running to unseat the state’s sitting GOP chairwoman, Ronna Romney McDaniel, a niece of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Hagerstrom has promised to “drain the swamp” and combat “special interests” — themes frequently used by Trump.

The RNC

The pro-Trump push has extended all the way up the chain to the race for the RNC chairmanship. Dave Urban, Trump’s top staffer in Pennsylvania, has talked with Trump about leading the national committee and is seen as a serious contender for the post. Trump is expected to settle on his pick for the job sometime over the next month.

The full-scale takeover of the GOP by Trump and his henchmen could have significant upsides for Democrats if Trump turns the federal government into a calamity when he takes over—Republicans will be in charge of all. There's no passing off a massive loss of health care, fewer jobs, or a new war on Democrats. And if Trump fails at the top, all those down-ballot candidates will be incontrovertibly wedded to his failures in 2018 and 2020.