The Republican Party is facing internal tensions following its loss of control of the U.S. Senate, with campaign officials blaming President Donald Trump’s policies for the disappointing election results.
According to the Associated Press, two Republican officials involved in Senate campaigns, speaking on condition of anonymity, said defeats in South Carolina, Ohio and Texas reflected voters’ rejection of the president’s policies.
They argued that dissatisfaction with Trump’s agenda, particularly his handling of the cost of living, had directly affected the party’s performance in the November 3 midterm elections.
According to the officials, Trump had urged Americans to vote as though he himself were on the ballot, but the results fell short of his expectations.
Trump, however, has rejected the idea that the outcome represents a personal defeat.
In a phone interview with Fox News, he congratulated Democrats on their campaign while placing responsibility for the Republican losses on the party’s candidates.
“I don’t see it as a blow to me,” Trump said.
The president also criticized Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott following his defeat to Democratic candidate Gina Hinojosa.
The November 3 election results have given Democrats control of the Senate, while the party is also seeking to secure a majority in the House of Representatives.
According to the AP, Democrats have indicated that they intend to use their congressional powers to increase oversight of the Trump administration, including through investigations into the conduct of senior officials.
The shift in congressional control is expected to reshape relations between the White House and Congress during the remaining two years of Trump’s presidential term.
