WASHINGTON — Republicans in Congress withstood for months the political turmoil caused by Donald Trump at the top of their ticket, confident of holding their majorities in the House and Senate despite his unconventional candidacy.
For a while it appeared that, with smart campaigns and strong fundraising, their optimism was justified.
But Republicans are increasingly worried now that the race has spun out of control. They warn that Trump has become such a down-ballot drag that the election could flip control of the Senate to Democrats and shrink the GOP’s majority in the House.
It’s not just Trump’s behavior — including allegations of past sexual assault and his refusal to say he would accept the Nov. 8 election outcome — that is making Republican candidates worry.
Democrats have seized the opening, so confident as Hillary Clinton widens her presidential lead that her super PAC has started spending money in key Senate races, with more being considered for House contests.
Republican operatives in congressional races see no easy way to reverse the slide in the time remaining. Nonpartisan analysts agree.
“I used to think there was a narrow path for them to hold on by their fingernails, but I no longer believe that’s true,” said Jennifer Duffy of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. “It’s not a pretty picture.”
Republicans are prepared for a worst-case scenario, particularly in the Senate, where Democrats need to pick up four seats to flip the chamber if Clinton wins the White House, or five if she doesn’t. The math was already in the Democrats’ favor because twice as many Republicans as Democrats are up for election this year.
The best hope is that Republicans can stem their losses with candidates who heeded early warnings not to tie their prospects to Trump’s volatile presidential campaign.
But Republican senators who have agonized most over the nominee — toggling between support for and distance from Trump — are among those now in serious jeopardy.