Even Trump Voters Want Republicans to Break With Him – President Donald Trump is becoming a major liability for Republican candidates ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, and new polling suggests that even some voters who elected him in 2024 want GOP candidates to distance themselves from the White House to save the Republican majority in both chambers of Congress.
A new POLITICO poll published on Friday, October 9, found that 26% of Americans who voted for Trump in 2024 believe that Republican candidates should break with the president to improve their chances of winning. The findings come as Republican opposition to the war with Iran grows, and as economic conditions continue to decline. And it comes as other polls suggest that the political damage caused by the war is becoming impossible for the Republicans to ignore just weeks from election day.
A B-52 Stratofortress from the 2nd Bomb Wing returns home to Barksdale Air Force Base following a Bomber Task Force mission at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Aug. 20, 2023. BTF missions demonstrate the credibility of the United States forces to address a global security environment that is more diverse and uncertain than at any other time in history. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Seth Watson)
B-52 Bomber Flying High in Sky. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
A Quarter of Trump Voters Want Change
The POLITICO survey, conducted by independent polling firm PF Global between October 3 and 5, asked 2,001 American adults and found that a large minority of Trump’s own voters who supported him in 2024 are distancing themselves from him.
The divide was particularly notable among non-MAGA voters who supported him in the last election. Those voters broke with the president on issues including the economy, trade policy, and the Iran war.
However, the survey also found that about two-thirds of MAGA voters still favor Republican candidates who remain aligned with Trump.
The data show the Republicans have a problem in the coming election, with candidates who support Trump unconditionally risking alienating themselves from moderate Republicans and independents who criticize the president for being too aggressive.
Republicans Lose Faith In the War
The survey follows a separate Pew Research Center poll released Thursday, October 8, showing public opposition to the president’s handling of the Iran war at 65%.
Only 33% of American voters approve of the president’s handling of the conflict.
The survey, which questioned more than 5,000 adults between September 28 and October 4, also showed declining support among Republicans and Republican-leaning independent voters. In March, not long after the war began, 69% of Republican-aligned respondents approved of the president’s handling of the war. That figure has now dropped to 63%.
The percentage of Republicans who believe the original decision to attack Iran was justified has also fallen from 71% to 65%.
The economic consequences of the war also appear to be why Trump is losing favor.
Republican Candidates Demand the War End
Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers called for the war in Iran to end on September 21, publicly arguing that ending the fighting now would help bring energy prices down.
And he’s not the only one.
Wisconsin Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany also called for American forces to leave the conflict, arguing that Washington should concentrate on domestic priorities.
“The president has final say regarding this,” Tiffany said, according to a video shared by FOX6 News reporter Jason Calvi.
“I just believe that we should be exiting Iran, that it’s time to move on,” he continued. “We’ve degraded their nuclear facilities. We degraded their military. Most of their ships are at the bottom of the ocean. Time to come home, take care of business here in America.”
John James, the Republican gubernatorial candidate for Michigan, has also backed a rapid end to the war, as has Ohio Senator Jon Husted, who faces a re-election challenge from Democrat Sherrod Brown.
In September, seven House Republicans also joined Democrats in supporting legislation to restrict further military action against Iran. Those Republicans included Iowa Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn, both of whom are facing competitive elections. Miller-Meeks also argued that the administration must publicly explain how it plans to conclude the war, rather than engaging in an indefinite military campaign against Iran.
The War Hurts Republicans In Iowa
In Iowa, where Republican Senate candidate Ashley Hinson faces a surprisingly competitive race against Democrat Josh Turek, the war’s political consequences are becoming clear.
On September 25, Hinson held a press conference in Des Moines, demanding an immediate end to the Iran war and proposing measures to lower fuel costs. Speaking to the media, Hinson said that the federal gasoline tax should be suspended and diesel exports restricted. She also said Congress should establish a relief program for consumers affected by rising diesel prices.
During an October 7 Senate debate, Hinson also said she would like to see the war end without restricting the president’s military authority.
On September 22, an Axios report also documented a growing dividing line in the Republican Party over the president’s foreign and economic policies, including among Republican officials and elected representatives.
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. With extensive editorial experience, he has published over 1,000 articles at National Security Journal and has previously authored books and papers on extremism and deradicalization.
