As the 2026 midterm elections draw nearer, Republican candidates across the country are subtly adjusting their campaign messaging, with some downplaying their alignment with President Donald Trump. This shift comes as the two-month sprint to Election Day begins, following contested primaries where Trump’s endorsement was often a key factor.
In Aiken and across South Carolina, voters are observing how national political trends might influence local and state races. While the majority of Republican candidates continue to embrace President Trump, a small number have begun to create distance in their public-facing materials, such as campaign websites and public statements.
For instance, Texas Republican congressional candidate Carlos De La Cruz’s website previously featured the headline AIR FORCE VETERAN. SMALL BUSINESSMAN. TRUMP CONSERVATIVE. It now reads, NATIVE TEXAN. AIR FORCE VETERAN. SMALL BUSINESSMAN. PROVEN CONSERVATIVE. His campaign maintains there is no backing away from the president, whose ability to mobilize loyalists remains crucial for Republicans in the upcoming elections. Similarly, Eric Flores, another Texas Republican, replaced SUPPORT PRESIDENT TRUMP’S AGENDA with LOWER THE COST OF LIVING as a top priority on his homepage, though Trump’s endorsements are still listed on a separate page.
In Kentucky, Ralph Alvarado, running in the 6th Congressional District, removed references to Trump and a joint photo from his campaign homepage after winning his primary. He now emphasizes INDEPENDENT LEADERSHIP, a change from his previous AMERICA FIRST FIGHTER branding. His campaign manager noted that Trump’s photo remains in a media gallery.
Nevada Republican congressional candidate Marty O’Donnell’s website, which prominently featured a pop-up with Trump and O’Donnell, no longer displays that image. His campaign stated this was part of a standard rotation and not an intentional removal, asserting O’Donnell’s continued support for Trump.
Even in Alaska, Republican Representative Nick Begich, who is seeking reelection, altered his website’s opening line. It previously mentioned delivering for Alaska Alongside President Trump, but now simply states, We have delivered for Alaska.
Some Republicans are actively highlighting policy differences. New York Republican Representative Mike Lawler, whose district was carried by Kamala Harris in the last election, stated that his race would be decided by his record and vision, rather than Trump’s presence. He supports Trump’s big, beautiful bill but points to policy disagreements, particularly on taxes. Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany publicly criticized President Trump’s order to rename Lake Ontario Lake America and also opposed Trump’s plan to import cheaper ground beef.
Michigan Representative Tom Barrett, who flipped a Lansing-area district two years ago, has emphasized his vote against Trump’s war in Iran. He has repeatedly joined Democrats in voting for the War Powers Resolution to limit the military campaign, promoting these actions in town halls. An advisor to Barrett clarified that this was a policy-specific difference, not a major break from Trump, noting Barrett’s two decades of service in the U.S. Army.
These adjustments reflect a delicate balance for vulnerable Republican candidates who need to broaden their appeal beyond Trump’s base for the general election, while also avoiding backlash from the former president or his core supporters. Recent polling from July indicates that 33% of adults approve of Trump’s job performance, with relatively low ratings on his handling of the economy, immigration, and foreign policy.
President Trump himself has urged voters to act as if he were on the ballot, stating, The problem that we have is they say that Trump does great when he’s on the ballot, but when he’s not on the ballot, his people don’t come. So what I really want you to do is pretend, please, that I’m on the ballot one more time.
