WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two-thirds of Republican candidates in competitive U.S. House and Senate races have broken with President Donald Trump on policy or played down ties to him, a Reuters review found, revealing a widespread effort to distance themselves from the president as his unpopularity threatens the party's hold on Congress.

The review of voting records, public statements and campaign materials found candidates in 41 of 62 competitive congressional races seeking some distance from Trump ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

The candidates have largely criticized or diverged from Trump on individual issues rather than repudiated his broader agenda. The findings suggest an effort to attract independent voters while avoiding a direct break with their party leader.

Policy differences were the most common point of divergence, appearing in 23 of the 62 races.

In 12 contests, the split centered on war on Iran, with vulnerable Republicans either voting to curb Trump's war powers or calling publicly for an end to the fighting that has raised gas prices and squeezed household budgets.

Data centers are among the issues dividing Trump and some Republican candidates. Reuters identified three candidates in competitive races who have criticized or sought to slow such projects despite the president's support for faster development.

The shift is notable because Trump has spent the past decade remaking the Republican Party in his own image and has been swift to punish lawmakers and candidates who defied him through primary challenges, personal attacks or public pressure to fall into line.

News organizations have highlighted individual cases of distancing, the Reuters review is the first to systematically measure the trend across competitive races that will decide whether Republicans retain control of either or both chambers of Congress.

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll underscored the challenge facing Republicans: Trump's approval rating remained stuck at a career-low 32%, while registered voters favored Democrats over Republicans 44% to 37% ahead of the midterms. Among independents, Democrats led 37% to 21%.

Reuters also found a broad effort to play down ties: A dozen candidates removed his name, image or endorsements from campaign websites, most after securing their party's nomination.

Others acted in subtler ways, skipping his events or declining to say whether he should campaign on their behalf.

Direct criticism was relatively rare, underscoring Trump's dominance of the Republican Party and the risks candidates face in openly challenging a president who still commands the loyalty of many ardent supporters.

*****US President Donald Trump leaves the stage at a rally, ahead of the midterm elections, at The Mitchell Center at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama, U.S., October 2, 2026.