At Republican watch parties, some blame midterm failure on Trump’s unkept promises — including Ukraine

At a Washington Republican watch party, the mood turned sombre as election results indicated that Democrats had taken control of both chambers of Congress. Some attendees blamed the losses on Donald Trump’s failure to fulfil campaign promises, including his pledge to end Russia’s war in Ukraine quickly.

A South Carolina voter said disappointment with Trump had hurt Republican candidates, while Iranian-American attendee Roxana Sasani said the Iran war had influenced some Iranian-American voters to support Republicans. Ron Ali Davis argued that the party needed to broaden its appeal and better address voters’ needs. The article presents these views from attendees at one event, rather than a comprehensive account of why voters chose as they did.