Some in GOP distance from Trump as midterms inch closer : NPR

Key Points:

• A growing number of Republican candidates and officials are distancing themselves from key parts of President Trump's agenda, including calls to end the U.S. war with Iran and criticism of his immigration policies, signaling rare dissent within the GOP ahead of the midterm elections.
• With less than 40 days until the vote, the GOP is struggling to maintain a slim majority in Congress, while Trump's historically low approval ratings and his call for voters to treat the midterms as a referendum on him may be backfiring, as a plurality of voters see their vote as against Trump.
• Republican lawmakers like Utah Sen. John Curtis have begun openly challenging Trump-related issues, such as urging an investigation into Donald Trump Jr., indicating a perceived weakening of Trump's influence within the party.
• Some GOP candidates in competitive races, including Ashley Hinson and Mike Rogers, have publicly opposed the war with Iran and linked it to rising living costs, breaking with Trump's stance and reflecting voter concerns about inflation and economic strain.
• In districts with significant Hispanic populations, Republicans like Rep. María Elvira Salazar are criticizing Trump's immigration policies, warning that his approach risks alienating key voter blocs that previously supported him, while still maintaining a cautious relationship with the former president.