41 of 62 competitive districts see Republicans break with Trump

12 candidates scrub Trump's name and photo from campaign websites

Policy rifts widen over Iran war, tariffs and high cost of living

Angry Trump claims his rallies are sending GOP support 'through the roof'

US President Donald Trump raises his arms and sways at a campaign rally at the Pinnacle Bank Expo Center in Grand Island, Nebraska, on Monday. Trump attended the event to support Republican candidates in the state's Senate and gubernatorial races ahead of the November midterm elections. [AFP]
US President Donald Trump raises his arms and sways at a campaign rally at the Pinnacle Bank Expo Center in Grand Island, Nebraska, on Monday. Trump attended the event to support Republican candidates in the state's Senate and gubernatorial races ahead of the November midterm elections. [AFP]

With less than a month to go before the US midterm elections, two out of three Republican candidates in competitive districts are distancing themselves from President Donald Trump. Some have gone as far as scrubbing his photos and endorsements from their campaign websites. Trump insists his rallies are boosting Republican support, but candidates in the battleground races that will decide control of Congress have been reluctant to appear alongside him.

Republican candidates in 41 of 62 competitive House and Senate districts have taken steps to differentiate themselves from Trump, according to Reuters on Wednesday. The finding is based on Reuters' analysis of candidates' congressional voting records, public statements and campaign materials.

The most visible shift is on policy. In 23 of the 62 districts, candidates have staked out positions that diverge from the Trump administration's. The Iran war was the central issue in 12 of those races, with some Republican candidates voting to limit the president's war powers or calling for a swift end to the conflict, citing high energy prices and the burden on household budgets.

Disagreements have also emerged over the expansion of AI data centers, which critics say are monopolizing public infrastructure such as water and electricity. While the Trump administration is pushing to accelerate data center construction to maintain US dominance in AI, three Republican candidates in competitive districts have criticized the projects or called for a slower pace of development.

The erasure of Trump from campaign materials is also growing. Twelve Republican candidates have removed the president's name, photos or endorsements from their campaign websites, Reuters found. Most took those steps after securing the Republican nomination.

Mike Beltran, who is challenging Democratic incumbent Rep. Kathy Castor in Florida, is a prime example. As recently as August, the front page of his campaign website featured a photo of him with Trump. It has since been replaced with images of Beltran and his family, and all references to Trump have disappeared.

The strategy in battleground districts amounts to what might be called "selective distancing" — not a full break with Trump, but a willingness to diverge on policies that have drawn the sharpest backlash from local voters.

Nebraska Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts criticized Trump's plan to expand beef imports, yet recently shared a stage with the president at a Nebraska rally, telling the crowd, "Mr. President, I have been fighting for you in Washington," in a show of loyalty.

Iowa Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks also criticized the beef import policy and voted to limit the president's war powers over Iran, but later stood beside Trump at the White House to announce a major steel mill investment.

New York Republican Rep. Mike Lawler told a party event last month, "The president and I don't always agree. And that's OK."

Behind the selective distancing is a slide in Trump's approval ratings. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll put his job approval at 32 percent. Among registered voters, 44 percent said they would support Democrats in the midterms, compared with 37 percent for Republicans. Among independents, Democratic support stood at 37 percent, well ahead of the 21 percent for Republicans.

Republican strategist Ron Bonjean said candidates "are reflecting the attitudes of voters in their districts," adding that "if voters aren't on Trump's side, candidates need to show they can draw a line."

Trump, meanwhile, has continued to tout the impact of his campaign appearances.

According to CNN, Trump claimed at least five times on Tuesday that his rallies were lifting Republican support.

"I'm out there campaigning across the country. Republican support is going through the roof," he said. "Someone was wondering why — it's because I started moving. I had to get out there."

Yet few competitive-district Republican candidates have appeared at Trump's midterm events. His recent rally schedule has also been concentrated in states with less competitive races, such as Alabama, Oklahoma and New York. In Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott declined to attend a Trump rally.

While Trump still wields considerable influence in energizing the Republican base, the calculation in battleground districts — where independent voters decide outcomes — appears to be that his presence could be more liability than asset.

The White House pushed back on that assessment. White House spokesperson Davis Engle said Trump is the "unquestioned leader and top messenger" of the Republican Party and "a motivator without peer." Republican consultant Janet Hoffman described the candidates' approach as "a kind of tightrope walk," saying they are trying to capitalize on the administration's record while accounting for "how toxic the Trump brand has become."


sjy@heraldcorp.com