‘This is on Trump’: Brutal election backlash

It turned out to be more of a “red ripple,” poll pundits have said. The results remain unclear. The Republicans could still take control of the House and Senate which will be a success. Yet, even if that’s the case it will be by a much smaller margin than the party expected. And there’s one man who all fingers are now pointing at.“This is going to be on Trump,” one election analyst said. Not only did many of the candidates Trump backed perform poorly but a number of candidates he belittled did surprisingly well. That includes Florida’s re-elected governor Ron DeSantis who is Trump’s most likely challenger if he once again runs for President.The midterm elections – so called because they are held midway between presidential terms – decide the makeup of the House of Representatives and the Senate. These are the two house of Congress, equivalent to Australia’s parliament. The Democrats had held both by a whisker. That has helped Democrat President Joe Biden pass his agenda. But with the economy in the doldrums, rising prices, antipathy towards Mr Biden and the general trend for Congress to swing towards the opposition in the midterms, the Republicans were hoping to easily snatch both houses. It hasn’t necessarily panned out that way. Trump’s hand-picked candidates stumble“How did Republicans not win big in this economy? Abortion and the Trump problem,” University of Sydney political scientist Luke Mansillo told news.com.au.“The Democrats, given all the fundamentals, kicked arse. Things are a lot better than the Democrats expected – but the House and Senate are tight”. Republicans are predicted to just gain control of the House, which would hamper Biden’s chances of passing legislation. But even though just one seat was needed by the Republican Party (GOP) to take the Senate, it’s still unclear if the party will achieve that goal. Indeed, the Democrats have picked up a Senate seat in Pennsylvania after John Fetterman triumphed over Mehmet Oz. Better known as “Dr Oz,” for many years he dished out medical advice on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Winfrey had endorsed Mr Fetterman. Dr Oz was one of a slew of Trump backed candidates who flopped. “This is all about winning elections in order to stop the ‘radical left’ maniacs from destroying our country,” Trump had said of Dr Oz in his endorsement.That was enough to get him selected as the Republican candidate for the vital swing state. For his part, Dr Oz said in April that “we cannot move on from the 2020 election,” before walking his election denying comments back. Mr Fetterman, who suffered a stroke during the election campaign and struggled during debates, won more than 50 per cent of the vote to Dr Oz’s 47 per cent. “Strong and prod election denier’ loses electionAlso in Pennsylvania, Doug Mastriano convincingly lost the race to be governor. Trump had endorsed the far-right candidate commenting he had “revealed the theft of the 2020 election”. In the Georgia governor race, Republican Brian Kemp won re-election. While that’s great for the GOP, it’s no good for Trump given Mr Kemp refused to give into pressure from the former president over the baseless claims of fraud at the 2020 electionIn the Georgia Senate race it’s neck and neck between Democrat Raphael Warnock and Trump endorsed Republican Herschel Walker. They contest may not be decided until December.In New Hampshire, Democrat Maggie Hassan was easily re-elected as a senator in the bell weather state. Her Republican opponent army veteran Dan Bolduc, who attended the January 6 2020 rally which led to the storming of the Capital, was also endorsed by Trump who called him a “strong and proud election denier”. Abortion has also played a role, with many voters worried by statements from some Republicans that it should be banned in all circumstances.“This is on Trump’Rick Klein, a political analyst for US TV station ABC, said the results were a rebuke not just for the former president but for the Republicans as a whole. The party was so in thrall to Trump it put his endorsements on the ballot rather than candidates that had wider appeal in the electorate. “This is going to be on Trump,” he said. “If it wasn’t for Trump would Governor Sununu have stood in (New Hampshire)?”Mr Klein was referring to Chris Sununu, a popular Republican who romped home on Tuesday to win a fourth term as the state’s governor. He has said Trump needs “better advisers”.That’s not to say that all Trump’s picks were thwarted. His former press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders will become the new governor of Arkansas.In Arizona, Kari Lake, a prominent election denier, could yet become governor. That role would see her play a major role in certifying the results of the 2024 Presidential election. High profile Republican and Trump endorsed JD Vance will become an Ohio Senator. “The people who Trump backed and won in the senate and governor races would have won anyway,” said Sydney’s University’s Mr Mansillo. “Trump is in a weaker position than he was before the midterms but this doesn’t mean people will gain confidence to go into battle with him. Fundamentally it’s his party now. “If Republicans take the Senate or the House or both any valid criticism for his endorsement will be ignored after a week and he will power through with his support from actual republican voters,” Mr Mansillo said.“Trump will still be able to end careers by 2024 for people who criticise Trump.”Ron DeSantis in poll position for presidential runOne of the careers Trump might target to end is that of 44-year-old Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. On a night that was deflating for Republicans, the result in Florida was energising. There DeSantis, who the Financial Times described as “Trump with the brains but without the drama,” won a landslide victory partly by gaining ground with Latino voters. He also barely uttered Trump’s name.Trump has branded the governor “Ron DeSanctimonious” with his staff demanding he rule out a presidential tilt. But voters in Florida who spoke to news.com.au before the election spoke of Mr DeSantis glowingly. “Trump is too focused on being Trump,” said Chris in St Augustine. “DeSantis was in the military, he went to the right schools, and he’s a lawyer. He’s done all the right things for high office.”On Wednesday, Republican strategist Caleb Hull said the party needed an overhaul. “Trump pushed a bunch of candidates that suck and everyone knew it but we have no choice but to go along. “We had everything on our side and missed the mark. DeSantis is the new head of the party, not a 76 year old man.”Pollster Mark Penn told Fox News that, “particularly the Trump candidates are struggling.”He said Mr DeSantis’s easy win was an “affirmation” for him as a potential presidential candidate, and Mr Trump was now in “a very difficult position”.Trump has hinted he may announce his candidacy for president as soon as next Tuesday. Following the midterms many Republicans may now be urging him to do no such thing. Whether he listens to that advice is another thing.

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November 09, 2022 at 11:46PM
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It turned out to be more of a “red ripple,” poll pundits have said. The results remain unclear. The Republicans could still take control of the House and Senate which will be a success. Yet, even if that’s the case it will be by a much smaller margin than the party expected. And there’s one man who all fingers are now pointing at.“This is going to be on Trump,” one election analyst said. Not only did many of the candidates Trump backed perform poorly but a number of candidates he belittled did surprisingly well. That includes Florida’s re-elected governor Ron DeSantis who is Trump’s most likely challenger if he once again runs for President.The midterm elections – so called because they are held midway between presidential terms – decide the makeup of the House of Representatives and the Senate. These are the two house of Congress, equivalent to Australia’s parliament. The Democrats had held both by a whisker. That has helped Democrat President Joe Biden pass his agenda. But with the economy in the doldrums, rising prices, antipathy towards Mr Biden and the general trend for Congress to swing towards the opposition in the midterms, the Republicans were hoping to easily snatch both houses. It hasn’t necessarily panned out that way. Trump’s hand-picked candidates stumble“How did Republicans not win big in this economy? Abortion and the Trump problem,” University of Sydney political scientist Luke Mansillo told news.com.au.“The Democrats, given all the fundamentals, kicked arse. Things are a lot better than the Democrats expected – but the House and Senate are tight”. Republicans are predicted to just gain control of the House, which would hamper Biden’s chances of passing legislation. But even though just one seat was needed by the Republican Party (GOP) to take the Senate, it’s still unclear if the party will achieve that goal. Indeed, the Democrats have picked up a Senate seat in Pennsylvania after John Fetterman triumphed over Mehmet Oz. Better known as “Dr Oz,” for many years he dished out medical advice on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Winfrey had endorsed Mr Fetterman. Dr Oz was one of a slew of Trump backed candidates who flopped. “This is all about winning elections in order to stop the ‘radical left’ maniacs from destroying our country,” Trump had said of Dr Oz in his endorsement.That was enough to get him selected as the Republican candidate for the vital swing state. For his part, Dr Oz said in April that “we cannot move on from the 2020 election,” before walking his election denying comments back. Mr Fetterman, who suffered a stroke during the election campaign and struggled during debates, won more than 50 per cent of the vote to Dr Oz’s 47 per cent. “Strong and prod election denier’ loses electionAlso in Pennsylvania, Doug Mastriano convincingly lost the race to be governor. Trump had endorsed the far-right candidate commenting he had “revealed the theft of the 2020 election”. In the Georgia governor race, Republican Brian Kemp won re-election. While that’s great for the GOP, it’s no good for Trump given Mr Kemp refused to give into pressure from the former president over the baseless claims of fraud at the 2020 electionIn the Georgia Senate race it’s neck and neck between Democrat Raphael Warnock and Trump endorsed Republican Herschel Walker. They contest may not be decided until December.In New Hampshire, Democrat Maggie Hassan was easily re-elected as a senator in the bell weather state. Her Republican opponent army veteran Dan Bolduc, who attended the January 6 2020 rally which led to the storming of the Capital, was also endorsed by Trump who called him a “strong and proud election denier”. Abortion has also played a role, with many voters worried by statements from some Republicans that it should be banned in all circumstances.“This is on Trump’Rick Klein, a political analyst for US TV station ABC, said the results were a rebuke not just for the former president but for the Republicans as a whole. The party was so in thrall to Trump it put his endorsements on the ballot rather than candidates that had wider appeal in the electorate. “This is going to be on Trump,” he said. “If it wasn’t for Trump would Governor Sununu have stood in (New Hampshire)?”Mr Klein was referring to Chris Sununu, a popular Republican who romped home on Tuesday to win a fourth term as the state’s governor. He has said Trump needs “better advisers”.That’s not to say that all Trump’s picks were thwarted. His former press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders will become the new governor of Arkansas.In Arizona, Kari Lake, a prominent election denier, could yet become governor. That role would see her play a major role in certifying the results of the 2024 Presidential election. High profile Republican and Trump endorsed JD Vance will become an Ohio Senator. “The people who Trump backed and won in the senate and governor races would have won anyway,” said Sydney’s University’s Mr Mansillo. “Trump is in a weaker position than he was before the midterms but this doesn’t mean people will gain confidence to go into battle with him. Fundamentally it’s his party now. “If Republicans take the Senate or the House or both any valid criticism for his endorsement will be ignored after a week and he will power through with his support from actual republican voters,” Mr Mansillo said.“Trump will still be able to end careers by 2024 for people who criticise Trump.”Ron DeSantis in poll position for presidential runOne of the careers Trump might target to end is that of 44-year-old Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. On a night that was deflating for Republicans, the result in Florida was energising. There DeSantis, who the Financial Times described as “Trump with the brains but without the drama,” won a landslide victory partly by gaining ground with Latino voters. He also barely uttered Trump’s name.Trump has branded the governor “Ron DeSanctimonious” with his staff demanding he rule out a presidential tilt. But voters in Florida who spoke to news.com.au before the election spoke of Mr DeSantis glowingly. “Trump is too focused on being Trump,” said Chris in St Augustine. “DeSantis was in the military, he went to the right schools, and he’s a lawyer. He’s done all the right things for high office.”On Wednesday, Republican strategist Caleb Hull said the party needed an overhaul. “Trump pushed a bunch of candidates that suck and everyone knew it but we have no choice but to go along. “We had everything on our side and missed the mark. DeSantis is the new head of the party, not a 76 year old man.”Pollster Mark Penn told Fox News that, “particularly the Trump candidates are struggling.”He said Mr DeSantis’s easy win was an “affirmation” for him as a potential presidential candidate, and Mr Trump was now in “a very difficult position”.Trump has hinted he may announce his candidacy for president as soon as next Tuesday. Following the midterms many Republicans may now be urging him to do no such thing. Whether he listens to that advice is another thing.