Republicans fear Trump backlash could cost them Senate control
Source: The Hill
02/05/26 6:00 AM ET
Senate Republicans are concerned that a public backlash to President Trumps handling of the economy and his aggressive deportation policies could give rise to a Democratic wave that not only sweeps away the House Republican majority, but also threatens their own three-seat majority.
The latest alarm bell rang over the weekend when Democratic candidate Taylor Rehmet won a state Senate seat in North Texas that President Trump won by 17 points in 2024, a stunning upset that GOP senators say should serve as a wake-up call heading into November. One GOP senator who attended a Tuesday briefing at the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) said concern over the approaching midterms should be very, very high.
The lawmaker called Saturdays loss in the Texas special election a wake-up call and said Republican senators in battleground states, such as Sen. Susan Collins (R) in Maine and retiring Sen. Thom Tillis (R) in North Carolina, have repeatedly warned Senate colleagues that the party faces a deteriorating political environment. Senators are saying more and more loudly that theyre very, very concerned about the environment, that its continuing to deteriorate.
They say it over and over again, the senator said of discussions within the GOP conference about political headwinds facing GOP candidates. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) called Rehmets 14-point victory in Tarrant County despite being heavily outspent by his Republican opponent a rough night. It underscores the need for Republican turnout in November, he warned. Republicans think they have a good chance of keeping control of the upper chamber, but theyre not dismissing the possibility that a Democratic wave could grow so large that it sweeps Democrats to victory in Republican-leaning states like Ohio, Alaska or possibly Iowa.
Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5723418-republicans-fear-trump-backlash-could-cost-them-senate-control/
cstanleytech
(28,302 posts)Lovie777
(22,236 posts)concerning the deaths by the hands of ICE.
That in itself tells me fear outweighs the security, economics, healthcare, et al of the USA and her people.
BaronChocula
(4,166 posts)to someone they acknowledge is damaged goods. It makes no sense. This is the time for CYA, but they still won't dare. That's republican thinking for ya.
augyboston
(379 posts)It isn't like the Senate Republicans were passive bystanders here.
They have been in lock step from the get go with all that Trump has done.
They OWN IT!
turbinetree
(27,205 posts)and that includes the US Supreme court maga 6, Judicial Watch, Federalist Society...................
Multichromatic
(51 posts)They only care now and are scared because they might lose power. They didn't care about any of the destructive things Trump has been doing. They didn't care about Democracy being destroyed. They didn't want to curb Trumps power or remove him.
NOW Trumps behavior is a problem ONLY because they will lose power. Republicans are such weak, whiney, spineless, sycophants.
I would say I'm disgusted... but Republicans ALWAYS disgust me nowadays.
William Seger
(12,263 posts)homegirl
(1,938 posts)this morning Donald Trump reminded the participants that he had bailed out the American farmers after his tariffs sent their buyers elsewhere. Am I wrong when I say- he has turned American farmers into "welfare queens"? And that was (is) $12 BILLION DOLLARS of American taxpayer money that could support education, health and housing? And if the farmers lost money, surely they didn't pay taxes on earned profits!
BaronChocula
(4,166 posts)who are still losing their farms.
angrychair
(11,881 posts)Are likely already screwed. While this whole ice thing hasn't helped them, at all, one thing they have said, repeatedly, in public, that is going to be the one thing to bring it all down on them and that is the statements that appear to want to end the right to carry a gun in public.
That, more than anything, is why. It's core component of their political identity. To say the things they have said, it's the unforgivable sin. A bell they can't unring.
They are toast unless they stop elections all together which has other significant and long lasting implications.
johnnyplankton
(616 posts)Not holding my breath on that one...
bucolic_frolic
(54,457 posts)So far they're fading from all the hatred they've vented. Now they're moderating their messaging. It's always about messaging. Can they sell it with lipstick?
Lulu KC
(8,701 posts)Keep shaking in your shoes, please.
mdbl
(8,260 posts)They have have abdicated their responsibility to our entire country.
BadgerMom
(3,392 posts)They are Trump; Trump is the Republican Party, including the elected Republican puppets in Congress. If you wanted to survive you should have separated yourselves. You didnt. You dont. Youll lose. Walk your blame to the mirror and have a look, cowards.
louis-t
(24,582 posts)He will tie himself in knots trying to cancel mid-terms, nationalize elections, throw out votes that are not for him, convince his worshipers that there is massive fraud and we don't need elections because everything is going so great, and create massive distractions including military attacks so he can say we are at war and can't have elections. I can see already that everything he is trying to do to distract is backfiring, everything he tries to control is being pulled further away. I see a major disaster if his goons show up at the Super Bowl and Olympics. It will not be pretty.
sakabatou
(45,910 posts)But now repukes are stuck with shit on their face.