Trump Aides Concede House Majority as Midterm Focus Shifts to Senate Defense
With just 20 days remaining until the midterm elections, aides from the Trump administration believe the GOP has slim prospects of holding onto the House, shifting their focus to preserving the Senate majority. The Congressional Leadership Fund has halted ad spending in Democratic areas of Michigan, Ohio, and New Jersey, and has paused its efforts in North Carolina. Officials from MAGA Inc. are exploring potential Senate victories in Alaska, Iowa, and Ohio, although they acknowledge that North Carolina is a long shot. Trump has campaigned in Ohio for Jon Husted and in Alaska for Dan Sullivan, with additional events scheduled leading up to a $1 million fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago, emphasizing the need to energize the MAGA base amid rising gas and living costs tied to the Iran conflict.
Key facts
- Trump White House aides see almost no path to Republicans keeping the House in the midterms
- The Congressional Leadership Fund pulled ad buys in Michigan and Ohio Democratic districts and in the Nebraska seat vacated by retiring Don Bacon
- The fund canceled remaining ad reservations in two New Jersey and Iowa House races
- Senate Republicans' campaign arm paused ad spending in North Carolina from the start of October
- MAGA Inc. officials discussed a Senate firewall of Alaska, Iowa and Ohio wins
- Trump rallied in Ohio for Jon Husted, who trails Democrat Sherrod Brown, and in Wasilla, Alaska, for Dan Sullivan, who trails Democrat Mary Peltola
- Trump is set to host a $1 million-per-plate MAGA Inc. fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago
- Trump has not rallied in Iowa with Republican Ashley Hinson, who called for measures to end the Iran war
- Twenty days remain until the election
Entities
Artists
- Donald Trump
- Mike Johnson
- Don Bacon
- Michael Whatley
- Liz Huston
- Natalie Baldassare
- Sherrod Brown
- Jon Husted
- Sarah Palin
- Dan Sullivan
- Mary Peltola
- Ashley Hinson
- Hugo Lowell
Institutions
- White House
- Republican Party
- Congressional Leadership Fund
- MAGA Inc.
- Republican National Committee
- Senate Republicans' campaign arm
- Inner Loop
- Wired
Locations
- United States
- Michigan
- Ohio
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- Iowa
- Alaska
- North Carolina
- Wasilla
- Arizona
- Kentucky
- Mar-a-Lago
- Iran