CNN: Senate Republicans Have A “Trump Problem”

GOP’s Embrace Of Trumpism Will “Complicate” Republicans’ Attempts To Regain Senate Majority

A new analysis of the 2022 Senate map by CNN lays it out clearly: “Senate Republicans already have a Donald Trump problem” that is “going to complicate Republican attempts to retake control of the Senate next November.” 

See also: Washington Post: Trump inspired Republican Senate candidates create early tensions over direction of the party; New York Times: Republicans Fear Flawed Candidates Could Imperil Key Senate Seats; The Hill: Trump allies line up ahead of potentially bruising primaries. 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

CNN: Senate Republicans already have a Donald Trump problem

• Over the past 10 days, two things happened that make clear that a) Trumpism isn’t going anywhere and b) it’s going to complicate Republican attempts to retake control of the Senate next November.

• So, Greitens and Brooks are in. And that is a major problem for the likes of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who badly wants to become Senate MAJORITY Leader Mitch McConnell following the 2022 election.

• Why? Simple. Both Brooks and Greitens, by dint of their unstinting loyalty to Trump — not to mention their high profiles in their states — will likely start as the frontrunners for the respective Republican nominations in both states.

• Which is the problem. Because, for different reasons, Greitens and Brooks could well put what should be safe Republicans seats in some jeopardy if they wind up as the GOP nominees.

• But remember that in order for Republicans to retake the Senate, they need to pick up at least one Democratic seat while not losing any one their own. And while Brooks and Greitens could well hold these two states for Republicans, they each have considerable weaknesses as candidates that could force the national party to spend money to get them over the finish line.

• And every dollar (or million dollars) spent to hold Missouri or Alabama is a dollar not being spent on turning a Democratic seat in Arizona or Georgia or Nevada.

• The Point: Winning the Senate majority isn’t just about flipping competitive seats. It’s also about putting away what should be non-competitive seats early in the election. The candidacies of Greitens and Brooks will make doing just that much harder for Republicans.

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