Republicans in Congress spent their final hours before the midterm elections pushing a series of doomed votes they hoped would signal effort on cost-of-living concerns. They failed to advance bills limiting congressional stock trading or requiring data centers to cover rising energy costs. Despite attempts to frame Democrats as obstructionists, some Republicans conceded their party was more likely to face voter backlash.
Senators Jim Justice of West Virginia and John Thune of South Dakota warned that voters would punish incumbents if they could not pay bills, while Thune framed the election as a choice between higher taxes and spending under Democrats versus GOP leadership. With Trump’s approval ratings low and inflation persisting, GOP leaders acknowledged the need to distance from the national brand. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, opting not to run for re-election, urged colleagues to focus on state priorities over national politics.
The party entered the midterms with a favorable map but found itself on defensive ground in traditionally red states due to economic strain, the war in Iran, and Trump’s unpopularity. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina noted shifting fortunes, citing Kansas as an example of changing dynamics.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing