Republicans are facing increasing pressure ahead of the November US midterm elections, with concerns growing among some party candidates and strategists over the political impact of President Donald Trump’s standing with voters.
The Republican Party currently holds narrow majorities in both the House and Senate, but recent developments have exposed divisions over issues including the war in Iran and rising prices. Several Republican candidates in competitive races have recently called for the conflict to end, while some lawmakers have broken with the administration on war powers.
The House GOP’s concerns were highlighted when three Republicans joined Democrats to support a resolution seeking to end the fighting in Iran. Republican candidates in Michigan and Iowa have also publicly called for a quicker end to the war.
At the same time, Republicans retain significant financial advantages in key Senate contests. Party candidates and their allies have committed substantially more spending than Democrats in Senate races, while redistricting has altered the electoral landscape in several states.
Trump has sought to make himself central to the midterm campaign, urging voters to treat the election as a judgment on his administration. However, some Republican candidates have begun creating greater distance from the president as they campaign in competitive races.
The November elections will determine control of Congress for the remainder of Trump’s term and could shape the direction of his domestic and foreign policy agenda.
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