Key facts
- Democrats attempted to link Republican opponents to President Donald Trump.
- Republicans sought to articulate nuanced positions on the Iran war and data centers.
- Some Republican candidates, particularly in blue states, expressed willingness to diverge from Trump's policies.
- Former Senator John Sununu criticized Trump's policies on trade, Iran, and Ukraine.
- Michelle Tafoya disagreed with Trump's tariff policy and immigration enforcement.
With less than two weeks until Election Day, statewide candidate debates are concluding. Democrats have focused on tying their Republican opponents to President Donald Trump, while Republicans have attempted to present more nuanced stances on issues such as the Iran war and data centers. The debates revealed that some Republican candidates, particularly in states leaning Democratic, are willing to distance themselves from Trump. For instance, in New Hampshire, former Senator John Sununu stated he has "never met President Trump" and has criticized the president's policies on trade, Iran, and Ukraine. In Minnesota, Republican Senate nominee Michelle Tafoya expressed disagreement with Trump's tariff policy and immigration enforcement, emphasizing her focus on Minnesotans' endorsements.