Republicans grow more concerned about potential midterms defeat
Within the party, there is a movement to shift attention back to economic issues, although some express concerns that the president's tariffs might lead to short-term adverse effects.
TroibNews 
Following Tuesday night’s elections, Republicans are increasingly uneasy that the impact of President Donald Trump's potential second term could affect them in the 2026 midterms.
Within the GOP, there's a rising sentiment that the party needs to return to its core principles and prioritize the economic issues that drove many voters to support them in Washington. However, there's a divide within the party concerning the implications of Trump’s new tariffs announced on Wednesday. While some argue these measures could rejuvenate American manufacturing, many of the president's own allies express concern that they might drive up prices and risk an economic downturn.
This Republican apprehension follows a significant defeat in a Wisconsin Supreme Court race, coupled with underwhelming performances in two special elections in Florida. The outcomes resonated throughout the party on Wednesday, prompting some Republican officials and strategists to urge Trump and billionaire adviser Elon Musk to adopt a more measured governing style.
Sen. Thom Tillis, one of the most vulnerable GOP senators facing reelection next year, remarked in an interview that Republicans must be "smart and measured," or they risk facing substantial backlash in the polls. Tillis referenced the early resistance against then-President Barack Obama, which led to a wave election in 2010 that saw Democrats lose numerous seats across the House, Senate, and state legislatures, including the North Carolina House, where Tillis was later elected speaker by the newly formed GOP majority.
"What we don't want to do is overreach," said Tillis. "We've got to be careful not to do the same thing. And I think that these elections are going to be proxies, or almost like weather devices for figuring out what kind of storm we're going to be up against next year."
Brian Reisinger, a former GOP strategist and rural policy expert, emphasized the importance of acknowledging Tuesday’s disappointing results and concentrating on foundational economic issues for Republicans running in crucial races next year.
“This is as clear a sign as you're going to get — ringing like a bell — that they have to talk about addressing economic frustration and they have to show they have a plan for it,” he said. “There’s a lot of support in these communities for getting tough on trade, for cutting government spending, but if tariffs spin out of control, and there’s no results on trade deals, then rural communities are really going to be hit by that.”
Inside the White House, however, officials have downplayed the outcomes of Tuesday’s election. Trump's team believes that the Wisconsin state Supreme Court race was never competitive, viewing Republican Rep.-elect Randy Fine as a weak candidate who won against a strong Democrat, Josh Weil, while asserting that the Florida seat formerly held by Rep. Matt Gaetz was never in jeopardy, according to two anonymous individuals close to the White House.
“President Trump is the only Republican in nearly 40 years to destroy the Democrats’ blue wall, and it’s embarrassing to see them spike the football after their massive defeat in November,” said White House spokesperson Harrison Fields.
Others outside Trump’s circle share this perspective.
“I'm not freaked out about it. Republicans were somewhat panicked that they’d lose a House seat, and they didn’t,” said Matt Schlapp, chair of the American Conservative Union. “A win is a win in a special election, especially when all this crazy outside money is spent.”
The White House is also willing to navigate politically sensitive terrain, with Trump unveiling new sweeping tariffs on U.S. global trading partners on Wednesday afternoon.
While many of the president’s supporters recognize his argument that tariffs could incentivize companies to invest in domestic manufacturing, there remains concern that such measures might inflict short-term economic damage, inflate prices, potentially lead the U.S. into a recession, and jeopardize Republicans' prospects in the midterms.
According to an AP-NORC poll from late March, only four in ten voters approve of Trump’s handling of the economy and trade.
“The thing that’s probably holding Trump back from having a 50 to 55 percent job approval rating is still this overwhelming fatigue about rising costs,” said GOP pollster Robert Blizzard. “Most voters, Republicans included, at the end of the day, aren't exactly sure about what the positive impact for them is when it comes to tariffs.”
Democrats only need to flip a few seats to regain a House majority. Their strong performance in Florida and the success of running an anti-Musk campaign in Wisconsin have left Democratic operatives optimistic about using Musk as a target in midterm messaging.
“As long as he’s there using a chainsaw to all the programs that people back home rely on and need to make ends meet, of course we’re going to make him a central character,” said Rep. Lori Trahan, a member of House leadership.
Democratic leaders sense an opportunity to leverage Musk as part of a successful message.
“The Republicans are going to try to distance themselves from Elon Musk. It's not going to work. It's too late. You're attached at the hip, and you're going to feel the consequences of it, just like you did in Wisconsin last night,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters.
Nevertheless, some Republicans in the House expressed that they were not surprised by the results from Tuesday. There was little consensus within the party regarding whether Musk bore unique responsibility. Trump has indicated to his close advisors that the tech billionaire will soon step back from political involvement.
Rep. Mike Kelly stated that Tuesday’s outcomes “were not surprising,” while Rep. Derrick Van Orden, representing a key battleground district, referred to Musk as a “shiny object” and said Republicans struggled to mobilize Trump voters during an off-election year.
“I think the results are fairly indicative of what we normally see in special elections when it comes to the party of a newly elected president,” said Rep. Don Bacon, another swing-seat Republican. “I expected to see an uptick in Dem turnout and some inattention by the GOP after a November victory.”
In a sign of how some GOP lawmakers would prefer to shift focus, Sen. Mike Rounds mentioned he was watching the Yankees instead of the results as they came in.
However, many within the party remain worried. Whit Ayres, a GOP pollster, interpreted the results in Wisconsin as more of a referendum on Musk—who prominently featured in the campaign—than on Trump himself.
"Elon Musk is hurting Donald Trump, there's no question about that,” Ayres said, referencing a survey his firm conducted last week that indicated greater public support for federal workers compared to Musk, who has taken on the task of reducing the federal government.
Republicans, Ayres concluded, should "take his money and tell him to go to Mars.”
Anna Muller for TROIB News
Within the GOP, there's a rising sentiment that the party needs to return to its core principles and prioritize the economic issues that drove many voters to support them in Washington. However, there's a divide within the party concerning the implications of Trump’s new tariffs announced on Wednesday. While some argue these measures could rejuvenate American manufacturing, many of the president's own allies express concern that they might drive up prices and risk an economic downturn.
This Republican apprehension follows a significant defeat in a Wisconsin Supreme Court race, coupled with underwhelming performances in two special elections in Florida. The outcomes resonated throughout the party on Wednesday, prompting some Republican officials and strategists to urge Trump and billionaire adviser Elon Musk to adopt a more measured governing style.
Sen. Thom Tillis, one of the most vulnerable GOP senators facing reelection next year, remarked in an interview that Republicans must be "smart and measured," or they risk facing substantial backlash in the polls. Tillis referenced the early resistance against then-President Barack Obama, which led to a wave election in 2010 that saw Democrats lose numerous seats across the House, Senate, and state legislatures, including the North Carolina House, where Tillis was later elected speaker by the newly formed GOP majority.
"What we don't want to do is overreach," said Tillis. "We've got to be careful not to do the same thing. And I think that these elections are going to be proxies, or almost like weather devices for figuring out what kind of storm we're going to be up against next year."
Brian Reisinger, a former GOP strategist and rural policy expert, emphasized the importance of acknowledging Tuesday’s disappointing results and concentrating on foundational economic issues for Republicans running in crucial races next year.
“This is as clear a sign as you're going to get — ringing like a bell — that they have to talk about addressing economic frustration and they have to show they have a plan for it,” he said. “There’s a lot of support in these communities for getting tough on trade, for cutting government spending, but if tariffs spin out of control, and there’s no results on trade deals, then rural communities are really going to be hit by that.”
Inside the White House, however, officials have downplayed the outcomes of Tuesday’s election. Trump's team believes that the Wisconsin state Supreme Court race was never competitive, viewing Republican Rep.-elect Randy Fine as a weak candidate who won against a strong Democrat, Josh Weil, while asserting that the Florida seat formerly held by Rep. Matt Gaetz was never in jeopardy, according to two anonymous individuals close to the White House.
“President Trump is the only Republican in nearly 40 years to destroy the Democrats’ blue wall, and it’s embarrassing to see them spike the football after their massive defeat in November,” said White House spokesperson Harrison Fields.
Others outside Trump’s circle share this perspective.
“I'm not freaked out about it. Republicans were somewhat panicked that they’d lose a House seat, and they didn’t,” said Matt Schlapp, chair of the American Conservative Union. “A win is a win in a special election, especially when all this crazy outside money is spent.”
The White House is also willing to navigate politically sensitive terrain, with Trump unveiling new sweeping tariffs on U.S. global trading partners on Wednesday afternoon.
While many of the president’s supporters recognize his argument that tariffs could incentivize companies to invest in domestic manufacturing, there remains concern that such measures might inflict short-term economic damage, inflate prices, potentially lead the U.S. into a recession, and jeopardize Republicans' prospects in the midterms.
According to an AP-NORC poll from late March, only four in ten voters approve of Trump’s handling of the economy and trade.
“The thing that’s probably holding Trump back from having a 50 to 55 percent job approval rating is still this overwhelming fatigue about rising costs,” said GOP pollster Robert Blizzard. “Most voters, Republicans included, at the end of the day, aren't exactly sure about what the positive impact for them is when it comes to tariffs.”
Democrats only need to flip a few seats to regain a House majority. Their strong performance in Florida and the success of running an anti-Musk campaign in Wisconsin have left Democratic operatives optimistic about using Musk as a target in midterm messaging.
“As long as he’s there using a chainsaw to all the programs that people back home rely on and need to make ends meet, of course we’re going to make him a central character,” said Rep. Lori Trahan, a member of House leadership.
Democratic leaders sense an opportunity to leverage Musk as part of a successful message.
“The Republicans are going to try to distance themselves from Elon Musk. It's not going to work. It's too late. You're attached at the hip, and you're going to feel the consequences of it, just like you did in Wisconsin last night,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters.
Nevertheless, some Republicans in the House expressed that they were not surprised by the results from Tuesday. There was little consensus within the party regarding whether Musk bore unique responsibility. Trump has indicated to his close advisors that the tech billionaire will soon step back from political involvement.
Rep. Mike Kelly stated that Tuesday’s outcomes “were not surprising,” while Rep. Derrick Van Orden, representing a key battleground district, referred to Musk as a “shiny object” and said Republicans struggled to mobilize Trump voters during an off-election year.
“I think the results are fairly indicative of what we normally see in special elections when it comes to the party of a newly elected president,” said Rep. Don Bacon, another swing-seat Republican. “I expected to see an uptick in Dem turnout and some inattention by the GOP after a November victory.”
In a sign of how some GOP lawmakers would prefer to shift focus, Sen. Mike Rounds mentioned he was watching the Yankees instead of the results as they came in.
However, many within the party remain worried. Whit Ayres, a GOP pollster, interpreted the results in Wisconsin as more of a referendum on Musk—who prominently featured in the campaign—than on Trump himself.
"Elon Musk is hurting Donald Trump, there's no question about that,” Ayres said, referencing a survey his firm conducted last week that indicated greater public support for federal workers compared to Musk, who has taken on the task of reducing the federal government.
Republicans, Ayres concluded, should "take his money and tell him to go to Mars.”
Anna Muller for TROIB News
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