Republicans are increasingly worried they failed to address voters’ economic concerns while they had full control of Washington, fueling fears that the party could pay a steep price in November.
uncertain
party → worry → November
The anxieties offer an early preview of the Monday-morning quarterbacking to come after the Nov. 3 midterm elections, in which Republicans increasingly acknowledge they could lose both chambers to Democrats.
uncertain
they → offer → Democrats
Sen. Jim Justice (R-WV), a conservative ally of President Donald Trump, described the GOP as having “glossed over” everyday voters “out here really hurting.”
asserted
Justice → describe → voters
The first-term senator is a millionaire coal tycoon who’s weighing a bid to return to the West Virginia governor’s mansion.
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who → weigh → mansion
“We, as Republicans, can become tone deaf,” Justice told the Washington Examiner, citing Trump’s desire to acquire Greenland as an example.
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Justice → become → example
“I think we, as Republicans, should own it.
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we → think → it
This is not to say, ‘Well, our president screwed up, or Congress screwed up,’ or whatever it may be.
uncertain
it → say → ?
We ought to own it.
asserted
We → own → it
Senate GOP leadership kept the chamber in session this week after Republicans lobbied for attempts at last-minute policy wins that battleground members can tout on the campaign trail ahead of November.
asserted
members → keep → November
The House departed Washington Sept. 16 and won’t return until after the elections.
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House → depart → elections
Among the messaging bills being considered this week is a proposal from Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH), one of the GOP’s most vulnerable incumbents, to shield households from rising energy costs caused by data centers.
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proposal → consider → centers
Husted’s bill is expected to fail Wednesday due to opposition from Democrats, who say that it lacks enforcement mechanisms.
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it → expect → mechanisms
Likewise, a measure from Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) to ban lawmakers from stock trading and implement portions of a separate Republican voter ID bill will also be shot down by Democrats.
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measure → ban → Democrats
Ricketts faces a surprisingly competitive reelection in deep-red Nebraska.
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Ricketts → face → Nebraska
Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA), a popular campaign surrogate for battleground Senate candidates, said that Republicans should have “tried to work something out with the Democrats” for Husted’s legislation to pass the upper chamber.
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Republicans → say → chamber
The bill passed the House by a whopping 417-to-3 vote before the chamber left for its recess.
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chamber → pass → recess
“Instead, we’re doing it at the last minute,” Kennedy lamented.
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Kennedy → do → minute
“And the reason we’re doing it is because a lot of us raised fresh hell.”
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lot → do → hell
GOP frustration over the legislative agenda and schedule foreshadows the likely blame game that is to take place if a Democratic wave materializes in November, which nonpartisan election forecasters say is a real possibility.
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forecasters → foreshadow → November
A lot could also be riding on the results for Thune and his Democratic counterpart, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), when their respective parties hold secret-ballot leadership elections in the days and weeks after Nov. 3.
uncertain
parties → rid → Nov.
Thune is not facing a concrete threat or even talk of a real challenger, but the calculus could shift depending on Democrats’ ability to flip seats.
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calculus → face → seats
The White House has cited achievements such as a bipartisan college sports bill, its immigration agenda, and extending expiring tax cuts as important election factors.
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House → cite → factors
But Republicans say higher gas prices from the Iran war and a lack of continued focus on pocketbook issues, such as distractions with Trump’s yet-to-be-constructed White House ballroom, undermine successes.
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prices → say → successes
Trump has also irked GOP lawmakers this week with taxpayer-funded, campaign-style ads, and by canceling nearly $1 billion in federal spending passed by Congress.
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Trump → irk → Congress
Some Republicans have advocated that Trump focus his executive action on the economy where possible, such as a diesel export ban in an attempt to bring down fuel costs.
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Trump → advocate → costs
“We’re flying into some serious headwind on the issues because the president does not believe that we should address affordability issues,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), who lost his primary to Trump-backed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
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who → fly → Paxton
“I think [Thune’s] done the best he can, and I would look to the White House if you want to look for who’s responsible for the outcome.”
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who → think → outcome
David Sivak contributed to this report.
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Sivak → contribute → report
The Aporia
