[The Hill] The Democratic sweep in Tuesday’s elections has raised the pressure on Republicans to make good on their campaign promises.Republican senators downplayed any setback to their tax-reform push from the elections, but said the results drove home the need to deliver legislative wins before votes are cast in 2018.
"I do think, however, that it does speak to the need for us to get accomplishments. ... I think right now there's a general frustration in the country that even though we've gotten some things done on our agenda, that some of the big ticket items remain incomplete," Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, told reporters.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said he "predicted" the rough election night and that the party needs to make changes quickly before the midterms arrive.
"Unless we get our act together, we're going to lose heavily," he said.
Asked if Tuesday's elections showed the need for a "course correction," Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), who has emerged as one of Trump's loudest critics, smirked before adding, "maybe that's potentially self-evident."
"I've certainly made some observations, but I'll keep them to myself," he said.
Democrats won victories up and down the ballot on Tuesday night, their first major election wins since the devastating results of 2016.