Fears of losing majority baffle Republicans in Congressional elections

Republican fears of losing seats in both the House of Representatives and the Senate are intensifying as the U.S. midterm elections, scheduled for November 3, approach. This surge in anxiety comes amid declining popularity for President Donald Trump, driven by rising prices and the fallout from the war with Iran, while Democrats seek to capitalize on public discontent to shift the balance of power in their favor.

The competitive race stretches from Maine, where Republican Senator Susan Collins faces a tough test to retain the seat she has held for nearly three decades, to Alaska, where Trump visited to rally support for Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, amid heated electoral contests in other states.

Collins, 73, faces mounting pressure in a state that leans Democratic, despite her past success in winning five previous elections by leveraging her image as a relatively independent and moderate Republican. However, rising living costs, anger over Trump’s performance in his second term, and demands for a new generation of politicians are all factors that complicate her re-election bid.

Collins is running against progressive Democrat Troy Jackson, a former member of the state legislature. She faces criticism from some voters over her stance on the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn federal constitutional protections for abortion, as well as concerns about soaring heating fuel prices in the context of the war with Iran and public outrage over the killing of an immigrant by an officer from the state’s immigration and customs enforcement agency, according to reports.

In Alaska, Trump traveled nearly 3,400 miles to rally support for Sullivan, who faces strong competition from former Democratic Representative Mary Peltola. The race has become increasingly critical for Republicans as their chances of retaining seats in other states, including North Carolina and Georgia, diminish.

Trump’s visit coincided with a pro-Trump rally and anti-Trump protests organized by local Democratic groups. During his speech, Trump attacked Peltola and urged voters to support his Republican candidates, including Sullivan, Nick Begich, and state gubernatorial candidate Bernadette Wilson. Trump also announced pardons for two men from the Wasilla area, whom the administration of former President Joe Biden had accused of violating the Clean Air Act. He also brought in Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr, who announced plans for the agency to invest more than $160 million to expand access to high-speed internet in Alaska.

Despite the warm reception Sullivan received at the rally, he acknowledged the rise in energy costs and the burden they place on some residents, without directly addressing the war with Iran, whose economic repercussions have become a significant factor in Republican candidates’ calculations.

U.S. political circles are watching closely to see whether voter discontent over rising living costs and the war will impact the November election results, potentially giving Democrats an opportunity to reduce Republican influence in Congress.