More Republicans are breaking from Trump. Is it too little, too late?
With the midterms just under six weeks away, more Republican candidates are coming to the belated realization that, if they want to save their seats, they could perhaps use some distance from the very unpopular president whose approval is reaching new lows. Now, after a decade in which President Donald Trump has demanded — and increasingly […]
As the midterms approach, more Republican candidates are distancing themselves from unpopular President Donald Trump, who has seen his approval ratings plummet. Despite Trump's long history of demanding complete loyalty from his party, these attempts at separation are becoming more frequent and less timid. While some candidates remain cautious, they are increasingly vocal about their disagreements with the president on key issues.
GOP strategist Douglas Heye notes that while distancing from Trump doesn't guarantee electoral success, it is a natural response to unpopular policies and agenda items.
The most notable recent example is Florida Representative María Elvira Salazar, who represents a heavily Hispanic district that Trump won decisively in 2024. She released a campaign ad criticizing Trump's immigration enforcement efforts, stating that some of them have gone too far and that the Hispanic community feels betrayed. This ad signals the growing concerns among Latino voters, who have been a crucial component of Trump's 2024 coalition.
The backlash against Trump's policies could influence how future Republican candidates approach issues like immigration enforcement.
Two incumbent House members in Iowa, Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn, voted to end Trump's war in Iran and publicly expressed their opposition to the operation. Despite VP Joe Biden's private opposition to the decision, they still supported Trump despite their disagreements. This stance could strengthen the faction of the GOP that advocates for caution in foreign entanglements, especially as polls show strong opposition to the war among the public.
Other Republicans, such as Rep. Tom Tiffany from Wisconsin and Sen. Jon Husted from Ohio, have also called for an end to the war. Tiffany emphasized the need to focus on domestic issues, while Husted mentioned the necessity of a deal with Iran before ending the conflict. Wisconsin GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany and Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds have also distanced themselves from Trump by renaming Lake Ontario "Lake America" and removing references to him from their websites.
These actions reflect a growing trend among Republican candidates who are seeking to distance themselves from Trump and his unpopular policies in an effort to secure their seats in the upcoming midterm elections.
Written by urgent.news from Vox's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
