diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/admin/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/admin/+page.svelte
index dc17fa7..cd6bae2 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/admin/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/admin/+page.svelte
@@ -139,26 +139,28 @@
       addBusy = false;
     }
   }
+  // Merge the server-returned candidate (keeps status/updated_at/preview in sync)
+  // while preserving the transient UI-only fields (_cat/_activate/_err).
   async function repreviewCandidate(c) {
     c._err = '';
-    try { const u = await postJSON(`/api/admin/candidates/${c.id}/preview`); c.preview = u.preview; }
+    try { Object.assign(c, await postJSON(`/api/admin/candidates/${c.id}/preview`)); }
     catch (e) { c._err = e?.message || 'Re-preview failed.'; }
   }
   async function promoteCandidate(c) {
     c._err = '';
     try {
-      await postJSON(`/api/admin/candidates/${c.id}/promote`, {
+      const res = await postJSON(`/api/admin/candidates/${c.id}/promote`, {
         default_category: (c._cat || '').trim() || null,
         active: !!c._activate,
       });
-      c.status = 'promoted';
+      Object.assign(c, res.candidate);
       await loadStats(); // surface the new (paused) source in the table below
     } catch (e) {
       c._err = e?.message || 'Promote failed.';
     }
   }
   async function rejectCandidate(c) {
-    try { await postJSON(`/api/admin/candidates/${c.id}/reject`); c.status = 'rejected'; }
+    try { Object.assign(c, await postJSON(`/api/admin/candidates/${c.id}/reject`)); }
     catch { /* leave as-is */ }
   }