Donald Trump's swan dive in key state and national polls is having a ripple effect with incumbent GOP senators, whose victories in November are crucial to maintaining a majority in the upper house.
If Trump's tailspin continues, he could easily take down with him many of the 24 Senate seats being defended by Republicans.
"It scares them. Any Republican in cycle is looking at the polls right now and it makes them very nervous," Brian Darling, a former Senate Republican aide, told The Hill.
The Hill noted two swing states where recent polls show Hillary Clinton with demanding leads and its potential cause and effect:
New Hampshire
- Clinton leads Trump by 15 points
- GOP Sen. Kelly Ayotte trails her Democratic challenger by 10 points
Pennsylvania
- Clinton leads Trump by 13 points with registered voters
- GOP Sen. Pat Toomey leads his Democratic challenger by just one point, down from a 9-point lead in June
Sens. Rob Portman of Ohio and Marco Rubio of Florida could be vulnerable if Trump were to falter in those crucial swing states, The Hill reported.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has endorsed Trump, said earlier this year he nonetheless would protect vulnerable incumbent Senators, even if that means distancing them from Trump, The Hill reported.
But it's still early — the election is more than 90 days out.
"We have three debates coming up and a long way to go until Election Day," Darling told The Hill. "It's unnerving to see these numbers but what have we seen? The polls are pretty volatile. They’ve been up and down and all around."
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.