In the 2018 midterms, there are 23 House Republicans who will be seeking re-election in districts Hillary Clinton won in 2016. Though incumbent advantage is significant, such recent history makes these representatives vulnerable.
It does not, however, make them open to President Trump's presence on the campaign trail. Axios contacted the offices of all 23 and found just two — Reps. Dana Rohrabacher (Calif.) and Carlos Curbelo (Fla.) — who said they'd accept Trump stumping for them. Of the other 21, most ignored or dodged the question, but four explicitly said they did not want Trump's help.
"We have not requested the president's assistance and we don't plan on requesting his assistance," said the office of Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.), one of those who preemptively turned Trump down. And Curbelo's office, though willing to have Trump involved, offered a tepid statement mentioning the representative's past appearances with both Trump and Obama. It concluded, "Anyone who wants to support Carlos' efforts and endorse his bipartisan approach to public service is welcome to do so."
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