A Republican Party strategist believes the GOP will suffer greatly in the midterms should they keep their “head in the sand” on key issues.
Mark Van Epps ultimately won the special election in Tennessee but with a much thinner margin than the GOP had been expecting. That six-point gap between Epps and Democrat candidate Aftyn Behn has caused some Republican Party insiders to question whether they have a chance in the midterms next year.
Strategist Matthew Bartlett, an appointee in the first Trump administration, suggested the single digit gap between Epps and Behn is a concerning result. He told Politico, “None of it bodes well for the GOP in the midterms. Being an ostrich with your head in the sand on the key issues that matter most to Americans is not a strategy, or certainty not a winning one.”
Senator Ted Cruz, who is reportedly eyeing a bid for the presidency in 2028, also suggested the close ties to Trump were what had prevented a higher win percentage for Epps.
He said, “It was dangerous. We could have lost this district because the people who showed up, many of them are the ones that are motivated by how much they dislike President Trump. In a year, it’s going to be a turnout election, and the left will show up. Hate is a powerful motivator.”
One House GOP leadership aide merely suggested the race was “too close” for comfort. A separate consultant has since suggested there will be recurring problems the Republican party has yet to deal with prevalent in the upcoming midterms.
They said, “The Trump coalition is captivated by the force of his personality and willingness to disrupt the established order. There’s not much interest in supporting other ‘politicians’ when Trump isn’t on the ballot.”
“The winds are likely to blow against Republicans in federal races in 2026. People are rarely satisfied anymore and they’re looking for someone to punish.”
Epps remained defiant in his victory speech, however, crediting his win to “running with Trump” rather than against him. He said, “Running from Trump is how you lose. Running with Trump is how you win.”
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