Summary
Overview
This Daily episode examines how moderate Republican Senate candidates are attempting to win in 2026 midterms by distancing themselves from President Trump, whose approval ratings have dropped into the 30s. The episode focuses on races in Maine and New Hampshire where old-school Republicans like Susan Collins and John E. Sununu are running on independent, bipartisan records that predate Trump—betting that rejecting MAGA politics can appeal to independents and crossover Democrats. The episode explores whether this formula could reshape the Republican Party's future.
Maine Voter David Bessie: The Anti-MAGA Republican Dilemma
The episode opens with a Maine voter who identifies as an "anti-MAGA Republican," struggling with whether to support Susan Collins. He represents a constituency tired of Trump's presidency but disappointed with Democratic policies on immigration and economics. His dream scenario—a 50-50 Senate with Collins as a swing vote—illustrates the complex calculations facing moderate Republicans who want to oppose Trump without empowering Democrats they disagree with.
- David Bessie identifies as an anti-MAGA Republican who views Trump's presidency as "an absolute disaster for the country"
- He criticizes Democrats for following "an open borders policy" under Biden and failing "economics 101"
- His dream scenario is a 50-50 Senate where Susan Collins would be a crucial swing vote
" I think that Trump and the Trump presidency, both Trump one and two, has been an absolute disaster for the country. I think the party is corrupt and self-dealing and honestly incompetent. "
" My dream scenario is that it's 50-50 in the Senate with Susan Collins still there. So that things that need to get passed, she would be an important swing vote on because I think she would be a swing vote. "
Susan Collins: The Old-School Republican Brand
Susan Collins has built a career since 1996 on nuts-and-bolts governance, bipartisanship, and bringing federal funding to Maine. This brand predates Trump by decades and positions her as someone who works across party lines. In a state where Democrats have won presidential races consistently, Collins is betting that her reputation for independence and willingness to occasionally break with Trump will appeal to independents and crossover voters, even as national Republican headwinds threaten her reelection.
- Collins was first elected in 1996 and has built an identity around wonky governance, particularly as chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee
- She has forged an identity as someone who brings federal funding back to Maine
- Collins emphasizes her bipartisan record: "I've always worked across party lines. That has been the hallmark of my service in the Senate."
- She built this brand for 20 years before Trump entered politics
" I've always worked across party lines. That has been the hallmark of my service in the Senate. That's what I'm known for. "
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