Trump urges GOP to scrap August Senate recess, putting vulnerable members in bind
Republican senators say President Trump's demand to cancel the August Senate recess threatens their chances in the upcoming midterm elections.
President Donald Trump has asked Senate Republicans to forgo the scheduled August recess so they can push the SAVE America Act to passage. Several GOP senators warn that missing the campaign window could cost them seats in the November midterms, with Thom Tillis likening the request to a tone-deaf lockdown. John Cornyn, who is retiring, admits the bill has little chance of moving but says he might have voted differently if he were seeking reelection.
Vulnerable incumbents such as Jon Husted and Dan Sullivan are publicly supporting the legislation but remain reluctant to comment on the recess issue, while Roger Marshall says he would remain in Washington only if it could affect the vote. The debate highlights the tension between legislative ambitions and the practical need for candidates to connect with voters before the election.
Why it matters
The clash between Trump’s legislative push and GOP members’ re-election needs could shape Senate composition after the midterms.
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