'Don't know when they are going to learn': Republican laments MAGA election wins on MS NOW

A former Republican lawmaker lamented recent election victories by MAGA candidates in Arizona during a new interview on MS NOW, warning that it could lead to a world of hurt for the party in the midterms.

Charlie Dent, a former Republican lawmaker from Pennsylvania, told MS NOW's Alex Witt that the recent victories of candidates like gubernatorial candidate Andy Biggs, a Republican congressman who supported President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, and Mark Lamb, a Trump-endorsed candidate to replace Biggs in the House who faced a sexting scandal ahead of the primary, could weigh on the party going forward.

"It doesn't help, and it makes itmuch harder for ... notjust Arizonans, but Republicansgenerally to win generalelections," Dent said.

Dent's comments came at a time when Republicans are gearing up for a tough midterm season. Democrats have won a slew of statewide races since Trump's second term began, prompting some analysts to suggest the party could win back both the House and Senate in November.

However, some analysts also worry that Trump may be trying to blunt those gains through illicit means. For instance, Trump recently gave a national address about alleged foreign interference in the 2020 general election, which some saw as the president laying the groundwork to contest the upcoming election results if Republicans suffer steep losses.

Dent said the recent MAGA election victories put Republicans in a position to lose more than they gain.

"Arizona has done this before, by the way, with Kari Lake and other nominees who are simply repulsive to a lot of, I'll say. To mainstream voters, those more centrist voters, independents, [they are a] total turn-off," Dent said. "So, election deniers, they mightplease the president in someelements of the base. Butrepublicans end up losing farmore than they gain."

"I neverquite understood it," he added. "I don'tknow when Arizona Republicansare going to learn their lesson.They haven't had a lot ofsuccess statewide since Governor [Doug] Ducey. And so, it looks like they're[going to] have another bad year."