California Republicans walk a tightrope as Trump jumps into midterms campaigning

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Set us as preferred WASHINGTON — As President Trump tells supporters to vote in November as if he were on the ballot, California Republicans in tight congressional races are sending a different message to voters.The four California Republicans running in the state’s most competitive U.S.House races, plus a fifth opposing a fellow Republican in a close contest, are appearing to keep some distance from Trump as they campaign ahead of the Nov.

3 election.They all skipped the president’s midterm convention in Dallas this month.

Two candidates in tough races removed references to Trump on their campaign websites.And most are favoring a heavy focus on local and state issues in their campaigns — a contrast to Trump’s approach, driven home in Dallas, of casting the election as a loyalty exercise.“You’ve got to do me the biggest favor you’ve ever done me.

You’ve got to do this for me: You have to pretend I am on the ticket,” Trump told a crowd at the GOP midterm convention.“Pretend I am on the ticket because this is going to turn out to be one of the most important elections.”The dynamic within the GOP reflects several competing factors: the need to attract new voters in districts made more purple by California’s redistricting, the hope that Trump can rally the base while candidates focus on swing voters, and the fear among Republicans that the president’s flagging approval ratings could cost them crucial seats in the midterms.“There is a bit of jujitsu to it,” said Rob Stutzman, a longtime California Republican consultant.

“These candidates are hoping that Trump motivates these voters to vote ...[while they] focus on gaining votes, particularly from independents who don’t like the president right now.”The state’s redistricting under Proposition 50, which redrew the congressional map to be...