GOP CANDIDATES DISTANCE THEMSELVES: Reuters Review Finds Shift Away From Trump In Competitive Races
Oct 8, 2026·1 min read
Two-thirds of Republican candidates running in 62 competitive House and Senate races have publicly distanced themselves from President Trump on at least some issues as the midterm elections approach, according to a Reuters review published Wednesday.
The candidates have generally stopped short of rejecting Trump’s broader agenda, instead separating themselves from the president on specific issues such as war powers, economic policy and proposed beef imports.
Reuters also found that roughly a dozen candidates removed references to Trump from campaign materials, while some declined to appear at presidential events or avoided discussing whether they wanted his direct involvement in their campaigns.
The strategy reflects the difficult balance facing Republicans in closely divided districts, where candidates need strong turnout from Trump’s political base while also competing for independent voters.