The 2022 midterm election results, and the narratives that went along with them, were different from what many people had expected. Now it’s Republicans, rather than the Democrats, fighting over what went wrong, who’s to blame, and what’s the best path forward.
With the “red wave” failing to materialize, the Senate still in Democratic hands and the House still too close to call, many Republicans outside Washington want a path away from Trump’s outsize influence, while those in office, fearful of his wrath, want to deflect blame away from him.
The party didn’t do much soul-searching after the 2020 election; very few Republicans called for a new course for their party. This time, Republicans are looking for someone to blame for the midterm underperformance.