Key facts
- Two-thirds of Republican candidates in competitive US House and Senate races have broken with President Trump.
- Susan Collins stated she voted against President Trump 137 times in the current Congress.
- In 21 of 35 US Senate races, no debates are scheduled.
- Ken Paxton has not accepted any debate invitations for his Texas Senate race.
US Senate candidates are navigating complex political landscapes ahead of the November midterm elections, with debates highlighting divisions within the Republican party and the prevalence of personal attacks. Many candidates are grappling with their alignment to President Donald Trump, with some distancing themselves and others expressing loyalty while breaking with specific policies. Susan Collins, a Republican senator from Maine, has emphasized her frequent votes against Trump's positions, while Iowa's Ashley Hinson has broken with the president on certain policy points. The tone of some debates has been particularly acrimonious, featuring pointed personal attacks between candidates. In the race for Michigan's Senate seat, Republican Mike Rogers questioned his Muslim opponent Abdul El-Sayed's background, while El-Sayed labeled Rogers a 'sock puppet for the Trump administration.' Similarly, in Georgia, Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff and Republican Representative Mike Collins exchanged insults, with Ossoff calling Collins a 'bigot.' The absence of debates in many Senate races is also notable, with observers pointing to the Texas contest between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton as a prime example of a candidate avoiding the stage. Political science professor Peter Trumbore noted that skipping debates offers opponents the opportunity to negatively frame a candidate's platform.