WASHINGTON _ In the late hours of Election Day, Republicans were deeply conflicted.
They had easily maintained the Senate, warding off the kind of shock upsets that many were dreading as recently as the preceding weekend. But their mounting House losses suggested problems for the party's brand nationally, as both sides now regroup with an eye on the 2020 presidential campaign.
Donald Trump proved his strength with conservative voters and deepened the urban-rural divide, but it came at the cost of the centrist suburban voters who have long been a crucial part of the GOP coalition _ and on Tuesday, they demonstrated a willingness to abandon their party.
