REMINDER: Senate Republicans Own Trump’s Chaotic, Price-Spiking Tariffs and Reckless Trade War With Canada

GOP Senate candidates are “totally okay with,” “wholeheartedly,” and “fully” support the “masterful” and “important” GOP tariffs – urge Americans to have a “little bit of patience”

Semafor: “President Donald Trump’s escalating tariff threats against Canada are running headlong into one of his party’s top priorities: retaining Senate control. The new levies could have an outsized effect in […] states that could determine the Senate majority next year” 

As Trump imposes new chaotic, sweeping tariffs, here’s a reminder that GOP Senate candidates across key battleground states have vowed support for and even voted to uphold them.

DSCC spokesperson Tommy Garcia: “Americans are paying more for everything because GOP Senate candidates have served as a rubber stamp for Trump’s chaotic tariffs at the expense of their states. Come November, voters will hold them accountable for making life more expensive.”

ACROSS BATTLEGROUNDS, GOP CANDIDATES HAVE SERVED AS A RUBBER STAMP FOR TRUMP’S COSTLY TARIFFS: 

IN ALASKA: Dan Sullivan supports and is “totally okay with” the GOP’s price-spiking tariffs, voting in favor of them multiple times and even backing legislation to make them “stronger from a legal perspective.”

• Economists say Alaska is “uniquely vulnerable” to the effects of Trump’s tariffs.

IN GEORGIA: Mike Collins supports the GOP’s price-spiking tariffs, voting in favor of them multiple times and arguing that “our economy is better off because of them.”

• Georgia small businesses have felt the “pressure” of tariffs, with business owners saying they couldn’t restock and could not “sleep at night.” Tariffs have hurt Georgia’s agriculture industry by disrupting demand for cotton, peanuts, poultry, and other goods produced in the state. Tariffs have also slowed auto manufacturing in Georgia, hurting plants across the Peach State.

IN IOWA: Ashley Hinson supports the GOP’s price-spiking tariffs, voting in favor of them multiple times and continuing to defend them after the Supreme Court struck them down.

• Iowa, a key exporter of agricultural goods subject to tariffs, such as soybeans and pork, was expected to be the fourth-most-impacted state by tariffs, with Iowa farmers at the forefront of the trade war.

IN MAINE: Susan Collins has argued that her post as chair of “the most powerful committee in Congress” would help her “shape the fiscal priorities of our country,” but has refused to use her power as Appropriations chair to stop Trump’s tariffs and even voted against an attempt to prevent the tariffs from increasing grocery prices.

• In 2024, Maine traded more than $6 billion worth of goods with Canada, including blueberries, lobsters, grain, metals, and forest products, which were impacted as a result of the tariffs. Maine, which relies on Canadian tourism, has seen visitation decline sharply following the implementation of the tariffs.

IN MICHIGAN: Mike Rogers supports the GOP’s price-spiking tariffs, calling them a “masterful” decision and an “absolute win.” Rogers said people needed to have a “little bit of patience” for tariffs to “work.”

• Trump’s tariffs put Michigan’s automotive sector at unique risk, and threaten 13,000 jobs across the state. More than 1 in 5 Michigan jobs are in critical manufacturing, construction, and maintenance sectors, which have high exposure to tariff price increases.

IN NEW HAMPSHIRE: John E. Sununu supports the GOP’s price-spiking tariffs, claiming tariffs were “important” and would have a “very modest” economic impact.

• New Hampshire is especially vulnerable to retaliatory tariffs, having the highest percentage of exports of any New England state. In the wake of the tariffs, Canadian tourism to New Hampshire decreased by 30 percent.

IN NORTH CAROLINA: Michael Whatley “wholeheartedly” supports the GOP’s price-spiking tariffs, claiming they would “ultimately” be good for North Carolina.

• As a state uniquely dependent on international trade, North Carolina has been harmed by tariffs that affected key industries such as farming, furniture, and manufacturing. Steel and aluminum tariffs have hurt North Carolina’s growth in electric vehicle manufacturing, craft brewing, and school construction.

IN OHIO: Jon Husted supports the GOP’s price-spiking tariffs, voted in favor of them multiple times, and said they were giving Ohio businesses “a great boost.”

• Tariffs have been especially harmful to Ohio’s agriculture sector, raising costs and hurting farm operations across the state.

IN TEXAS: Ken Paxton “fully supports” the GOP’s price-spiking tariffs, calling them a “bold action.”

• Tariffs hit Texans “very hard” with increased costs, slowed economic growth, and the loss of tens of thousands of jobs. 76 percent of surveyed Texas manufacturers planned to pass tariff-related costs on to consumers.