GOP Faces a Tightrope: Affordability, Trump Tensions, and the Midterm Clock

Senate Republicans are growing anxious about defending their majority in the 2026 midterms as inflation, higher energy costs, and the Iran conflict elevate affordability as the campaign’s core issue. While they want a cost‑of‑living message, intra‑party rifts over the SAVE America Act and pressure from Trump over filibuster strategy complicate efforts. Key races in Maine, North Carolina, Michigan, and Georgia will largely shape whether the GOP can hold the line or lose ground.