Trump began a five-state campaign swing through Republican territory Thursday as high gas prices and persistent inflation rose to the top of voters’ concerns. The Senate also rejected a bill that would have required utility regulators to consider making large companies pay for new data-center energy infrastructure rather than passing the costs to consumers. Trump’s itinerary includes Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Ohio and Nebraska, where Republicans are seeking to reproduce their 2024 presidential-year turnout and Democrats are looking for gains.
Who Pays for Energy Costs
The Senate rejected the Ratepayer Protection Act, backed by Sen. Jon Husted (R), by a 57-43 vote, with four Democrats joining Republicans. The bill would have required utility regulators to consider adopting a federal standard holding large companies responsible for new energy infrastructure costs for data centers. Democrats said it didn’t go far enough. Consumers didn’t get the proposed requirement that regulators consider shifting those costs to large companies.
Rising energy prices have also drawn attention to Nebraska’s Senate race. Sen. Pete Ricketts (R) told CNN’s Dana Bash, “There’s no doubt that high fuel prices put a strain on the budgets for every Nebraska family.” Ricketts is running against Independent Dan Osborn, who has said he wouldn’t caucus with either party. Trump is expected to portray Osborn as aligned with the left.
Trump was scheduled to visit Peterbilt Motors Company’s manufacturing facility in Denton, Texas, on Thursday afternoon and tout his economic record and what he calls the resurgence of American manufacturing. Texas has a competitive Senate race between Democratic state Rep. James Talarico and Texas state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R); polls have shown Talarico ahead. Trump’s super PAC has spent millions in recent weeks supporting Paxton. Democrats are also seeking House gains in Texas despite a Republican redistricting effort.
Campaign Promises and Party Stakes
In Oklahoma, Trump is expected to appear with his endorsed gubernatorial pick, Mike Mazzei, who is running against Democratic nominee Cyndi Munson. Mazzei campaign spokesman Jahan Wilcox said Mazzei was fighting “to eliminate the state income tax, abolish property taxes for seniors and veterans, and make Oklahoma more affordable for every family.” The Cook Political Report rates the race “solid Republican,” while a Democratic operative said Democrats had seen polling showing it tied. An unnamed GOP strategist called Mazzei “the worst possible candidate out of the field of Republicans in Oklahoma” and said Trump was going there “to try to save his brand.”
Alabama’s Senate and gubernatorial races aren’t expected to be competitive. Rep. Shomari Figures (D) faces a House race after Republicans redrew congressional lines to help the party gain a seat. Figures’ current district includes Mobile; the district will be based in the state’s southeastern quadrant starting with this year’s elections. The GOP nominee, state Rep. Rhett Marques, is slated to speak at Trump’s rally in the 1st Congressional District, while House Republicans are targeting Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District.
Bills Deferred, Votes Rejected
Senate Democrats blocked the Stop Insider Trading Act, sponsored by Ricketts, by a 53-47 vote, short of the 60-vote threshold. The measure was intended to restrict members of Congress from buying new stocks in publicly traded companies. Osborn has accused Ricketts of profiting from his stock portfolio. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the Republican bill was “a permission slip for corruption, not a stock-trading ban.”
The Senate adjourned after its final votes before the November midterms and began a multiweek recess. The farm bill, FISA reauthorization, the annual defense authorization bill, 12 regular appropriations bills, a permitting reform bill and an emergency supplemental defense spending package now await the lame-duck Congress. Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) deferred those items until after Election Day. The Senate confirmed Keith Sonderling as permanent Labor secretary, 47-41, on party lines.
Republican reactions to the tour were mixed. Trump said, “We have the best economy anywhere in the world,” while Republican donor Dan Eberhart said, “Nobody can motivate the base like Trump,” but would rather see him campaign in more competitive Senate races. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said Trump could discuss “how much he’s cut taxes, how we’re adding jobs, how the economy is growing.” Republican leaders had planned to promote their tax bill before November, but war, high gas prices and persistent inflation had become voters’ leading concerns.