Yes
I do.
No
I don’t.
As President Donald Trump continues to lead the Republican Party, an old political question has returned to the spotlight: Does supporting a president mean Republican lawmakers must agree with him on every major issue?
Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina recently argued that disagreement with Trump should not automatically be treated as disloyalty.
His comments come at a time when several Republican lawmakers and candidates have publicly differed with the Trump administration on major issues. Recent disagreements have involved the war with Iran, energy policy, immigration and presidential war powers.
NPR reported on September 25 that a number of Republican candidates and elected officials have recently distanced themselves from portions of Trump’s agenda while still identifying themselves as Republicans.
The debate touches on a basic tension found in every major political party.
Party unity can make it easier for a president to advance legislation, confirm nominees and present voters with a consistent message. Presidents naturally depend on members of their own party to support major parts of their agenda.
But senators and representatives are separately elected officials. They represent individual states and congressional districts, and their constitutional responsibilities are independent from the White House.
That can sometimes produce disagreements even between politicians who share the same party affiliation.
Recent events demonstrate that tension. Reuters reported that Republican Senate candidates Mike Rogers in Michigan and Ashley Hinson in Iowa called for a quicker end to the Iran conflict, putting distance between themselves and Trump on an issue that has become increasingly important during the midterm campaign.
Trump has historically placed significant emphasis on political loyalty, while some Republicans argue that disagreement over individual policies should not be interpreted as opposition to the president or the Republican Party.
Others believe party members elected under the same political banner should generally support the agenda voters placed in power.
The distinction between healthy disagreement and political disloyalty is ultimately something Republican voters themselves may judge differently depending on the issue.
With the November midterms approaching, that debate could become increasingly important as candidates decide whether to closely embrace the White House agenda or establish independent positions on certain policies.
Now we want to know what you think.