Republicans are assessing House losses and Senate risks in states President Donald Trump carried in 2024, potentially narrowing his legislative room after the Nov. 3 midterms, The Independent reported, citing Politico.
In its Friday article, The Independent said Politico reported that House Republicans are privately trying to estimate how many seats they may lose. Candidates in districts once regarded as secure have asked party leaders for urgent campaign funding, the report said. Some Republicans have stopped commissioning their own polling, the outlet added.
Republican worries also extend to Senate contests in Ohio, Kansas, South Carolina, Texas and Louisiana. The Independent said these states, which Trump won in 2024, are among those where Republicans now see tougher races.
The Independent cited a recurring midterm pattern: The party holding the presidency often loses ground. It also pointed to voter disapproval of the Iran war and Trump’s perceived failure to act on affordability as factors weighing on Republicans. The report said some Republicans are concerned that young men who backed Trump in 2024 may not support the party again, amid frustration over economic promises they see as unfulfilled.
Trump has asked supporters to make the midterms a test of his leadership, according to The Independent. The outlet cited Pew Research in reporting that his approval rating was 30%, the lowest of his second term.
NPR, PBS News and Marist found Democrats ahead 52% to 44% among likely voters in a national survey conducted Oct. 19-20. The poll asked which party voters favored for Congress; it did not predict which party would control either chamber. EconoTimes previously covered the 52%-44% generic congressional ballot poll.
The Independent estimated that around 40 million Americans had cast ballots by the time of its Friday report. A Democratic Senate operative told Politico, as reported by The Independent, that the outcome remained uncertain. The outlet said Democratic gains could make it harder for Trump to advance his legislative priorities during the second half of his final term. Voters will decide the midterm races Tuesday, Nov. 3.
