Los Angeles Times

Trump's role in disappointing midterm elections could leave GOP in a box

Gretchen Whitmer, center, celebrates with Lt. Garlin Gilchrist II, left, during an election night watch party at MotorCity Casino Hotel on Nov. 9, 2022, in Detroit. Gov. Whitmer won her race over Republican challenger Tudor Dixon.

WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump — who picked many of his party’s candidates and demanded fealty from them throughout the 2022 midterm campaign — was likely an albatross for the GOP Tuesday night, limiting Republicans’ gains in a midterm election the party expected to dominate.

But if recent history is any guide, Trump’s not going anywhere. The once and likely future presidential candidate is unpopular, but he continues to exercise outsized sway over the Republican base, and could hamstring the party for the next two years and beyond.

As vote-counting continued Wednesday morning,

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