Vulnerable GOP senators are taking steps to appeal to President Trump as they stare down the possible threat of primary challengers next year.
A handful of these senators have faced criticism from the right wing accusing them of not being sufficiently supportive of Trump and his agenda.
Since Trump took office in January, however, some of these Republicans, including Sens. Bill Cassidy (La.), John Cornyn (Texas) and Thom Tillis (N.C.), have taken steps to show their allegiance to Trump through public statements and support for his nominees.
“[Trump’s] the most powerful he’s ever been,” Republican consultant Scott Wilfong said. “And if you don’t have his favor, you’re looking to get it.”
The risk of a primary challenge for not being supportive enough of the president has been a political reality for the GOP during the Trump era. Since first taking office, Trump has shown a willingness to criticize members of his own party, withhold his endorsement of them and even back challengers to incumbents, unlike any of his predecessors in the Oval Office.
While the Republican Party has only become increasingly unified behind Trump, there remains a handful of party figures who — despite considering themselves strong supporters of the president and overwhelmingly voting in line with his stances — have been attacked for insufficient loyalty and commitment to his ideals.
This criticism has generally come from Trump’s most fervent supporters, some of whom are interested in ousting those members of Congress.
The most vulnerable may be Cassidy, the two-term Louisiana senator who already has a primary challenge announced.
Louisiana state Treasurer John Fleming (R) launched his candidacy for Cassidy’s seat in December, declaring Cassidy has “failed the people of Louisiana” and arguing the state deserves a “true conservative voice.”
Fleming slammed Cassidy’s support for some legislation supported by the Biden administration, including the bipartisan infrastructure law and gun safety law passed in the aftermath of the Uvalde, Texas, shooting.
But the biggest blemish on his career in the eyes of Trump’s most loyal followers is voting to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial over the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Cassidy’s willingness to criticize Trump could be his main Achilles' heel, more than any policy issue, said Wilfong, who is based in Louisiana.
“I think it's unique, because I really don't know a lot of policy issues that voters are mad at Cassidy on. He doesn't have one of those bad votes, other than the vote on Trump,” Wilfong said, adding that some may be upset at his infrastructure bill vote, but the anger is not as pronounced.
Wilfong said Cassidy has improved his chances in recent years, coming “back from the dead,” putting in hard work for local constituents and delivering infrastructure money for the local government. And he, and others in similar positions, have been playing up their allegiance to Trump.
The social media profiles for Cassidy, Tillis, Cornyn and Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst (R) are filled with posts praising the president's decisions and noting contrasts with the Biden administration.
Posts thanking and praising the Trump administration are certainly commonplace for Republican members of Congress, but may have particular importance for those in potentially vulnerable electoral positions.
“You can never thank Donald Trump too much, but you can thank him too little,” one North Carolina Republican operative said.
Beyond statements declaring support for Trump’s
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