Republicans are growing increasingly grim about their chances in November, with aligned groups pumping money into reliably red states and candidates scrambling to distance themselves from unpopular White House policies.
asserted
candidates → grow → policies
From Texas to Ohio and Alaska to Iowa, campaigns are grappling with a fed-up electorate that is sour on the president and angry over soaring fuel prices driven by an unpopular war.
asserted
that → grapple → war
While Republicans are flush with unprecedented cash that could move the needle in some races, overall the mood is glum heading into the election’s final stretch as campaigns try to counter palpable Democratic enthusiasm to maintain their narrow lead in the House and Senate this November.
uncertain
campaigns → move → House
You see the poll numbers.
asserted
You → see → numbers
Everybody is cranky about gas prices,” said Jeanette Hoffman, a Republican strategist from New Jersey.
asserted
Hoffman → say → Jersey
“The party in power is playing defense.
asserted
party → play → defense
Trump is trying to protect Republicans with cash
After mounting pressure from endangered candidates in battleground states, groups affiliated with President Donald Trump finally began unleashing their stockpile of campaign cash earlier this month, joining with Republican committees that have amassed a record fortune that dramatically eclipses their Democratic counterparts.
asserted
that → try → counterparts
“Republicans have air superiority.
asserted
Republicans → have → superiority
House Democrats are scrambling to catch up with the very limited resources they have,” said Mike Marinella, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee.
asserted
Marinella → scramble → Committee
But the spending underscores the extent to which Republicans are playing defense.
asserted
Republicans → underscore → defense
Three Trump-aligned groups — MAGA Inc., No Going Back PAC and Safety and Affordability PAC — have spent more than $163 million on advertising and air time since Sept. 1.
asserted
groups → align → Sept.
Nearly 40% of that money — more than $63 million — has been spent in states and districts where Trump won by 10 percentage points or more in the 2024 election, according to an Associated Press analysis of data from AdImpact, which tracks media spending and ad buys.
uncertain
which → spend → spending
That includes 12 House districts and three states with major Senate races.
asserted
That → include → races
In Texas, Republicans have spent nearly $107 million on ads and reservations since the beginning of the month trying to bolster scandal-plagued attorney general Ken Paxton in his Texas Senate race against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico.
asserted
Republicans → spend → Talarico
The spending, which is for ads through Election Day, is nearly four times as much as Democrats in a state Trump won by nearly 14 points.
asserted
Trump → win → points
Further north in Ohio, Republican spending to defend Sen. Jon Husted has exceeded $152 million, compared to $90 million on behalf of Democratic nominee Sherrod Brown, according to AdImpact.
uncertain
spending → defend → AdImpact
Terry Casey, an Ohio Republican strategist, said both Republicans and Democrats are “kind of sitting on pins and needles because of the national and economic circumstances.”
asserted
Republicans → say → circumstances
The outcome, he said, would depend on whether Democrats can turn out voters.
asserted
Democrats → say → voters
Democrats are competing in red states
States that Trump won by wide margins — like Texas, Iowa, Ohio and Alaska — have become some of the most competitive battlegrounds in the midterms.
asserted
Trump → compete → midterms
The White House is even investing time in states that haven’t been considered competitive for years.
asserted
that → invest → years
Vice President JD Vance recently traveled to Kansas to campaign for Sen. Roger Marshall, who is facing a challenge from Democratic nominee Adam Hamilton.
asserted
who → travel → Hamilton
The founder of the nation’s largest United Methodist church, Hamilton received a rousing welcome from scores of people who crammed into a Topeka coffee shop to see him Tuesday.
asserted
who → receive → him
“In all my 50, 60 years in politics, I’ve never seen a candidate that quite has the momentum going,” said Jim Ploger, an 82-year-old longtime Democratic activist from Topeka who believes Hamilton gives the party “the best chance we’ve ever had” to win a Senate seat.
asserted
we → see → seat
Vance has also been to Iowa, Ohio, Maine and North Carolina to bolster Republican candidates, while Trump is also hitting the road.
asserted
Trump → bolster → road
The week after the party’s unusual midterm convention in Dallas, he traveled to North Carolina to hold a rally with Michael Whatley, his former national party chairman.
asserted
he → travel → Whatley
Republicans are increasingly concerned that he could fall short in his Senate race against Democratic former Gov. Roy Cooper.
uncertain
he → concern → Cooper
There are more concerns about Georgia, where Rep. Mike Collins is trying to unseat Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff.
asserted
Collins → be → Ossoff
Although Ossoff began the cycle as Republicans’ top target, Collins has endured weeks of negative headlines about a House ethics investigation and his son-in-law’s white nationalist views.
asserted
Collins → begin → law
“I don’t think anyone’s expecting Collins to win,” said Tim Waters, chairman of the Peach County Republican Party.
asserted
Waters → think → Party
“Do I like that?
asserted
I → like → that
No, I don’t like that.
asserted
I → like → that
But it’s just the facts.”
asserted
it → ’ → ?
In Texas, officials are hoping a huge influx of last-minute cash will help save Paxton.
asserted
influx → hop → Paxton
Sen. John Cornyn, who lost his primary to Paxton after Trump turned on him earlier this year, isn’t so confident.
asserted
Trump → lose → him
“I think it’s going to be very rough, lots of headwinds,” he said.
asserted
he → think → headwinds
“Even in places like Texas, which are pretty red, we’ve got flawed candidates who I think are going to have a hard time.”
asserted
I → get → time
Republican National Committee spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre said the party is focused on turnout and is well aware of the historic trend in which the party in control typically loses seats in the midterm.
asserted
party → say → midterm
“We have money to spend and we’re not taking anything for granted this cycle,” she said.
asserted
she → have → anything
“This is very high stakes, and it’s unfortunate that other people feel glum and down.
asserted
people → ’ → ?
But we’re doing everything we can to protect and expand our majorities so we’re full steam ahead.”
asserted
we → do → majorities
…and 28 more, not listed.
The Aporia
