Midterms, three weeks out: most vulnerable Republicans keep distance from Trump as Democrats widen their target map

With the US midterm elections set for 3 November, two Reuters reports published on 10 October show how both parties are adjusting their strategies.

Republicans: keeping a distance

A Reuters analysis found that 41 of 62 Republican candidates in competitive House and Senate contests — about two-thirds — are separating themselves from President Donald Trump in some way. Steps include voting or speaking against some of his policies, such as the Iran war and his push on data centres, removing mentions of him from campaign materials, or declining to say whether they want him to campaign for them.

The White House said Trump remains “the unequivocal leader, best messenger and unmatched motivator” for the party, and the Republican National Committee said Republicans are united behind his agenda of cutting taxes, lowering drug costs and securing communities.

Democrats: widening the map

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee this week added 14 races to its target list, which now covers 66 Republican-held House seats, including districts in Arkansas, New York and Virginia that Trump won by as much as 24 points and Tennessee’s redrawn 9th district. Democratic operatives told Reuters that part of the aim is to force Republicans to spend money defending safe seats and to unlock donor money; some Republican-aligned groups have already started spending in newly added districts.

The party in power historically loses House seats in midterms, and the current Republican majority is razor-thin. In the Senate, Democrats need to flip at least four seats, including in typically Republican states.