Trump Costs GOP 1 Senate Seat, Jeopardizes Another as Midterm Majority Comes Under Strain
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 20
Trump Costs GOP 1 Senate Seat, Jeopardizes Another as Midterm Majority Comes Under Strain
8 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 20
One Republican incumbent has already lost and John Cornyn is now in danger after Trump intervened in GOP Senate primaries, deepening party anger six months before the midterms.
Republican senators say Trump chose personal revenge and loyalty tests over governing, leaving them with a harder legislative path while their narrow majority is at risk.
Bill Cassidy’s Saturday primary defeat and Trump’s late endorsement against Cornyn have also created more lame-duck senators who will still serve until Jan. 3.
That leaves the White House dealing with the current Senate, even as Trump pushes for a more MAGA-aligned conference next year amid a worsening political climate shaped by Iran-war fallout and tariff-driven costs.
Can bipartisan energy reform succeed in lowering costs before the upcoming midterm elections?
After the Supreme Court's tariff ruling, how will new import duties impact American businesses and consumers?
Trump’s 2026 Primary Purge: GOP Faces $100 Million Texas Showdown, Party Divisions, and Rising General Election Risks
Overview
Donald Trump’s direct interventions in the 2026 Republican Senate primaries have reshaped the electoral landscape by targeting incumbent Republicans he views as disloyal and promoting candidates who show strong loyalty to him. This strategy has led to significant, costly, and divisive primary battles, such as those in Louisiana and Texas, which have compromised party unity and created immediate risks for the Republican Party in the general election. The intense focus on loyalty over unity has not only fractured the party but also drained resources, making it harder for Republicans to present a united front and succeed in upcoming elections.