Trump endorsed this MAGA congressman’s twin. Will he make history?

Trump twin endorsement: MAGA congressman’s brother nears historic House win

Muhammad Asghar | GlobalBeat

President Donald Trump endorsed identical twin brothers running for Congress from different states, putting both on track to become the first twins simultaneously serving in the House since 1853.

The second endorsement came Friday for Aaron Heineman, whose brother Nathan already holds a Utah seat and won Trump’s backing last year.

Twin brothers serving together hasn’t happened since the Alabama Bell brothers during the Fillmore administration. A victory would mark the first time identical twins represent different states in the same Congress.

Aaron Heineman leads his North Carolina GOP primary by 14 points after Trump’s endorsement, according to a Carolina Strategies poll released Saturday. Nathan Heineman won Utah’s 3rd District last November with 68 percent of the vote while campaigning alongside his brother at joint rallies across both states.

“We’re going to make history,” Aaron Heineman told supporters at a Wilmington barbecue restaurant Saturday. “Not just for being twins, but for bringing the America First agenda to two different states at the same time.”

The 38-year-old brothers finished each other’s sentences during campaign stops, confusing voters who showed up for events in both states. Their campaign slogan “Double the fight, double the might” appears on matching red caps.

North Carolina’s 7th District opened after Republican Rep. David Rouzer announced his retirement in January. The district covers eight southeastern counties including Wilmington and most of the state’s coastline.

Aaron Heineman worked as a commercial real estate broker before entering politics. He previously served as finance chair for the North Carolina GOP and chaired Trump’s 2024 campaign in New Hanover County.

The brothers’ political rise began during the pandemic when they organized “Reopen NC” and “Reopen UT” protests simultaneously. They gained national attention for holding joint press conferences over Zoom, appearing in matching blue suits and red ties.

Their campaign has raised $3.2 million combined, with Aaron slightly outpacing his brother at $1.7 million to Nathan’s $1.5 million. Small donors account for 73 percent of contributions under $200, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

“These brothers represent the future of the Republican Party,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Friday. “Aaron will be just as incredible as Nathan has been for Utah. Together they will be UNSTOPPABLE!”

Democrats have targeted both districts heavily. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spent $2.8 million on ads linking the twins to Project 2025, the conservative policy blueprint for a second Trump term.

Aaron’s Democratic opponent, state Sen. Harper Peterson, criticized the twin dynamic as “gimmicky politics” during a debate last week. Peterson trails by 11 points in recent polling.

Political scientists note the rarity of their situation. “Twins in Congress from different states is practically unheard of,” said Duke University professor Kerry Haynie. “The last siblings serving together were brothers from the same state.”

The Heineman brothers have differentiated their policy focuses. Nathan emphasizes energy production and federal land management for Utah. Aaron focuses on military spending and coastal protection for North Carolina, home to multiple Marine bases.

Their father, retired Army colonel Mark Heineman, appeared in campaign ads for both sons wearing his uniform. The family moved 11 times during his military career, living in both Utah and North Carolina.

“The military taught us service comes before self,” Aaron said at a veterans rally. “Nathan and I are just continuing that mission in different theaters now.”

Background

Identical twins serving simultaneously in Congress remains extremely rare throughout American history. The last instance occurred when Alabama Democrats William and Josiah Bell held office from 1851 to 1853 during the Millard Fillmore administration.

More recently, brothers have served together but never identical twins from different states. The Kennedys produced multiple siblings in Congress, including John, Robert and Ted Kennedy, but never simultaneously. The Udall cousins represented different states but weren’t siblings.

The Constitution requires only that House members inhabit the state they represent, creating no barrier to siblings or twins serving together. Age requirements of 25 years and citizenship for seven years pose the only restrictions beyond state residency.

North Carolina’s 7th District has swung between parties but trended Republican after redistricting. Trump carried the district by 12 points in 2024. Utah’s 3rd District remains solidly Republican, with Nathan Heineman replacing another Trump ally, retiring Rep. John Curtis.

What’s Next

Aaron Heineman faces Democratic opponent Harper Peterson in the November 4 general election. Early voting begins October 23 in North Carolina. His brother Nathan will be sworn in for his second term January 3, 2027, potentially joining Aaron if he wins.

The brothers plan joint campaign events across both states during the final weeks. They scheduled rallies in Salt Lake City and Wilmington for late October, hoping to boost turnout for down-ballot Republicans.