Oct 28, 2026 · 37 min
Trump’s grip tests the Republican comeback strategy
Is Running From Trump Enough to Save Republicans on Tuesday?
The episode examines whether Republican candidates can win moderate voters by distancing themselves from Donald Trump while he still controls the party’s money and institutions.
- 1Susan Collins’s bipartisan brand remains electorally useful, but Democrats argue her breaks with Trump rarely change crucial votes.
- 2John Sununu’s anti-Trump strategy keeps him competitive in New Hampshire, though he still trails Democrat Chris Pappas.
- 3Even Republican losses may not loosen Trump’s grip, given his fundraising power, institutional control, and influence over candidates.
Don't miss
John Sununu’s campaign stresses that he has never met Donald Trump, turning personal distance from the president into a central political message.
The brief
A Maine Republican voter who rejects MAGA politics sets up the central question: can candidates distance themselves from Donald Trump without losing the party’s base?
Jess Bidgood explains why Susan Collins remains a powerful test case: her pragmatic, bipartisan image appeals to independents, but Democrats say her record often stops short of meaningful resistance.
John Sununu is pursuing a similar strategy in New Hampshire, highlighting opposition to Trump’s tariffs and foreign policy while emphasizing that he has never met the president.
The broader Republican shift is uneven: late efforts to reclaim independence may help in competitive states, but they are unlikely to dislodge deeply pro-Trump candidates in safe Republican territory.
A Collins victory alongside losses by strongly pro-Trump candidates could encourage Republicans to break away, yet Trump would retain the money, institutions, and influence to shape what comes next.
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