GOP Candidates Drift Away from Trump as Midterms Loom

As midterms near and Trump’s approval remains under 40%, battleground Republicans are quietly distancing themselves from the president, softening references to Trump and retooling positions on issues like immigration, tariffs, and foreign policy to avoid dragging their campaigns. Wisconsin’s Tom Tiffany, Florida’s Maria Elvira Salazar, and several Iowa Republicans illustrate the trend, with others skipping party events to balance loyalty with voters’ preferences in a tougher political environment.