Acutely aware of their impending losses in the upcoming November 3 midterm elections, Republican candidates and strategists appear to be turning on each other and preparing their excuses.
With just two weeks left before the midterm elections, a new POLITICO investigation published Monday, October 19, describes growing tension within the Republican Party as candidates and other officials in competitive races grow anxious about a potential Democratic takeover of Congress.
President Donald Trump participates in a commemorative tree-planting ceremony at the South Portico of the White House, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, to replace the Jackson Magnolia with a descendant sapling. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)
The report comes just two days after Reuters revealed that Trump has begun criticizing his own political advisers over everything from campaign spending to candidate selection.
The president, it seems, is angry at the party’s failure to improve its polling numbers – even though the polls repeatedly show that the Republicans’ current misfortunes are being driven by President Trump’s economic policies and the war in Iran.
Another sign of problems for the party: Republican campaign organizations are already pulling back resources from competitive congressional districts and preparing to defend seats previously considered safe.
Republicans Start Blaming Each Other
According to the POLITICO report, more than a dozen Republican lawmakers and political operatives have described a tense atmosphere within the party.
The same sources say some party officials are already thinking about who should take responsibility if Republican candidates are wiped out in huge numbers in November.
House Republicans are reportedly preparing to blame their Senate colleagues, while campaign officials working with President Trump have begun contacting candidates whose campaigns are not performing as expected.
Some candidates are also reportedly criticizing their party’s national campaign committees for not providing enough support.
Speaking to POLITICO, New Jersey Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew described how he is facing a more competitive election campaign than expected and acknowledged growing divisions in the party. He said that if Republicans lose control of Congress, there will be “plenty of blame to go around.”
Reporting and the general atmosphere suggest Republicans are already preparing to lose control of Congress, even as President Donald Trump remains publicly optimistic.
The president has even floated the possibility that American voters could surprise Democrats with a big Republican win.
Trump Turns On His Advisers
Despite remaining publicly optimistic (though the president has also suggested the party could lose the midterms), Trump is reportedly turning on his own White House advisers.
According to a Reuters report from Saturday, October 17, President Trump is privately criticizing his senior advisers over the Republican Party’s struggling election strategy.
Trump is reportedly questioning how campaign funds have been spent and whether his political operation has made all the right decisions.
According to three sources familiar with discussions inside the White House, much of the criticism has been directed at James Blair, who runs the MAGA Inc. super PAC.
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles is also reportedly under pressure, with rumors circulating that she may even be replaced after the midterms.
Reuters reported that Wiles had questioned Blair’s handling of campaign operations.
Blair, meanwhile, has criticized the White House’s legislative affairs team.
One person familiar with the ongoing disagreements described the situation as a “circular firing squad.”
Abandoning Competitive Races
The Republicans’ problems are so extensive that Republican organizations are reconsidering where they spend money. On October 14, the Associated Press reported that the Congressional Leadership Fund, a large Republican super PAC, had canceled all of its advertising spending in four competitive House districts.
The districts included Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, where Republican Rep.
Mariannette Miller-Meeks faces a challenge from Democrat Christina Bohannan, and New Jersey’s 7th District, where Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. faces Rebecca Bennett.
The Republican super PAC is now redirecting money to 16 other races, including several districts Trump carried by a small margin in 2024.
The Democrats, meanwhile, are looking to expand into races that might have previously been seen as hopeless.
Republicans Distance Themselves From Trump
Republicans are also conscious of the fact that President Donald Trump is nowhere near as popular as he was in 2024, when he won the popular vote.
Multiple surveys show the president’s approval ratings hit a historic low this month, and Republican candidates feel that pressure in their own campaigns.
According to a Reuters report from October 7, Republican candidates in 41 of 62 competitive congressional races have either publicly disagreed with the president or attempted to downplay their connections to the president.
That’s about two-thirds of the candidates examined.
In 12 races, differences between candidates and President Trump centered on the war in Iran.
Four B-1B Lancers assigned to the 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, deployed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, arrive Feb. 6, 2017, at Andersen AFB, Guam. The 9th EBS is taking over U.S. Pacific Command’s continuous bomber presence operations from the 34th EBS, assigned to Ellsworth AFB, S.D. The B-1B’s speed and superior handling characteristics allow it to seamlessly integrate in mixed force packages. While deployed at Guam the B-1Bs will continue conducting flight operations where international law permit. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Richard P. Ebensberger)
Some Republicans are even calling publicly for an end to the conflict, or legislation to restrict the president’s war powers.
With just two weeks to go, Republicans are seemingly spending as much time preparing to blame each other for their defeat as they are trying to stop the Democrats from winning.
About the Author: Jack Buckby
Jack Buckby is a British researcher and analyst specializing in defense and national security, based in New York. His work focuses on military capability, procurement, and strategic competition, and he produces and edits analysis for policy and defense audiences. He brings extensive editorial experience, with a career output spanning over 1,000 articles at 19FortyFive and National Security Journal, and has previously authored books and papers on extremism and deradicalization.
