The GOP fears a backlash in the suburbs

Republicans are increasingly worried about losing their suburbs for a second consecutive election – this time with President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump will welcome Kuwait's leader to the White House in September at the White House. West Virginia governor poll: Manchin leads GOP justice by 10 members of US forces killed in action in Afghanistan MORE at the top of the ticket in 2020.

The GOP lost the House in 2018 largely after losing suburban voters, a key voting block that turns out to be at the polls but with which Trump has turned out to be particularly unpopular since he became President.

The suburbs could also pose a threat to Trump's chances of re-election, as well as to a number of vulnerable Senate Republicans facing tough reelection battles in states like Colorado, Maine, North Carolina and the United States. Arizona. The GOP currently holds a narrow majority of 53 to 47 in the upper house.

Republican lawmakers and strategists say they face an even greater challenge in reclaiming suburban residential neighborhoods, especially given Trump's controversial actions in recent days.

The President sent mixed signals on firearms taxes and reforms; retaliation against a European ally who refused to discuss a sale of Greenland to the United States; criticized Jewish democrats as "unfaithful"; attacked its chairman of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, as "enemy"; and suggested that the next summit of the Group of Seven (G-7) be held in its own private golf course in Florida.

"Trump does not make any breakthrough in the suburbs. People like it or hate it, and this is happening in the suburbs, "said The Hill, a House GOP legislator. "This style does not help that."

Former representative Leonard LanceLeonard LanceBottom Line urges that "Medicare for all" worries Central Democrats Dems Inner Dem Legislator: Trump "sympathizes" with leaders accused of moral transgression "MORE (RN.J.), who represented a wealthy and well-educated suburb outside of New York City, was one of two dozen Republicans ousted during the anti-Trump election of the blue wave of last autumn. Democrats now hold a majority of 235 to 197 in the lower house.

Lance said the incoherent messages from Trump and the White House did not instill the confidence of suburban voters like the ones he previously represented.

"I think the president should be consistent in his remarks and that's the best way to govern and move the agenda forward. Too often, this has not been the case, "said Lance during a phone interview.

"We have some work to do in the suburbs. The suburbs are part of the Republican Party forces, which was obviously not the case in 2018. And I have concerns, "he added. "We need to do a better job in 2020."

Trump's current support in the suburbs is bleak. An analysis of NBC News updated last week shows it "under the water" in five of the six NBC News / Wall Street Journal polls conducted this year.

In addition, 63% of white women graduated from the university said that they would certainly vote or probably vote for the Democratic candidate in 2020, while 30% said they would vote for Trump, according to one NBC News / Wall Street Journal's separate poll released last week.

"I do not see how things will improve for Trump in the suburbs this time around. I do not do it, said a Republican strategist at The Hill. "In the suburbs, it depends a lot on the top of the ticket."

The Trump campaign and Republican allies, however, do not lose hope. Even before the Democrats choose a candidate, they already describe the Democrats as "socialists" with radical ideas about health care and taxes.

Republican officials believe that progressive policies such as "Medicare for All" will divert voters from the suburbs and that a moderate democratic party no longer exists.

National Republican Congress (NRCC) Campaign Committee spokesman Chris Pack told The Hill that Trump would help GOP candidates in the suburbs, claiming he won them in 2016 and continued to win. influence the voters of the region.

Exit polls in 2016 show Trump wins suburban voters by 4 points on Democratic candidate Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonDNC Recommends Ending Virtual Caucus Projects From Iowa And Nevada For Security Reasons Voters Cause Trump Trouble In 2020 Sanders, Killer Mike Talk About Income Inequality, health care PLUS, although this support has plagued since his election.

The group's 2020 target list includes the reconquest of a number of districts that Trump had won or close to win in 2016, but that Republicans had lost in 2018, including Kansas' third congressional district, the United States. Fifth District of New Jersey, Georgia's sixth congressional district and the first congressional district.

The Trump campaign is also seeking to strengthen its weak position among women. Last week he launched an initiative to mobilize voters in the suburban districts of at least 13 states, encouraging them to support Trump and other Republican candidates by 2020.

Republicans point out that they can take advantage of a number of issues before 2020, including the economy, which has developed under Trump even as signs of unrest have emerged recently. , partly because of the ongoing trade dispute between the administration and China.

"We have a real opportunity here. The economy is doing well, "said another Republican strategist at The Hill. "People generally feel good about it. The question is, can we convince people that it is the Republicans who are alone and singularly responsible for this? I think we can. "

"It's the local individual candidate, that it's a broader district or one of being able to sell that narrative," said the strategist.

And Trump still enjoys tremendous popularity in his own party. Strategists warn that GOP candidates risk losing the support of Trump's conservative base if they stray too far from the president.

"This is a very precarious place, and there is no silver bullet, because you can not go too far because you would have depressed the vote of Trump," said the same strategist. "Someone like Kelly AyotteKelly Ann AyotteTrump rarely goes to the state of Clinton, hoping to reclaim New Hampshire. Key Points: One Who Is Who, In The First States, Sinema, Gallagher's Fastest Legislator In A Charity Run MORE in 2016 can you say. "

Ayotte, a former New Hampshire senator, was narrowly eliminated by re-election in 2016, with Trump topping the standings. She withdrew his support for Trump, then a candidate, after the leak of an "Access Hollywood" tape in which he made vulgar comments about women.

Republicans also pointed out that the whole of the year 2020 would increase voter turnout, as it would be a presidential election, which could make the suburbs much more competitive than in the 2018 midterms.

"It's going to be ok, there will be another presidential level participation in all these districts and states," said Rob Simms, consultant for the former representative. Karen HandelKaren Christine HandelThe Democrats see a golden opportunity to take Georgia to the Senate seat of Georgia GOP President amazes at the vacant Senate position The US Congress GOP Georgia candidate retires after qualifying as "nationalist" white »CONT'D (R-Ga.) Who in 2018 lost its seat in the 6th district of Georgia, now targeted by Republicans.

"And one of the questions is how many other anti-Trump voters can democrats identify and reveal themselves? How many Republican-slash-Trump voters did not vote in the "18" at the "20"?

Handel is looking to reclaim his former headquarters in Atlanta's northern suburbs in a rematch against the freshman. Lucy McBathLucia (Lucy) Kay McBathThe Democrats see a golden opportunity to sit in the Senate in Georgia The Georgia GOP Congress candidate retires after qualifying himself as a "white nationalist" Democrats in the House ask to be seated in Georgia sit down with McConnell to discuss gun MORE (RE).

Democrats seeking to go on the offensive in a large number of suburban districts currently held by Republicans, including the sixth largest parliamentary district in Arizona, the first, second and third districts of New York, as well as the seventh federal district from Georgia, make no case.

"The Republicans have started another election cycle defending their incredibly unpopular agenda in Washington that has increased the health care costs and taxes of millions of Americans," the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesman said. from Canada, Cole Leiter, in a statement to The Hill.

"Add a historically unpopular president to the top of the list and you'll understand why more and more Republicans in Washington are planning to throw in the towel instead of embarking on a difficult race for the last 15 months of their mandate," he said. he continued.