US President Donald Trump has spent the past week abroad, discussing trade, nuclear weapons, and rare earths across Asia. He hasn’t campaigned in states voting this week — not in New Jersey, Virginia, or California. But Democrats and Republicans alike are still talking about him. Even without being on the ballot, Trump remains the defining force behind voter behaviour and party strategy heading into next year’s midterms, the New York Times reported.

A test case in New Jersey

The New Jersey governor’s race is being watched for signs of how firmly Trump’s base still holds. Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli, once a mild-mannered centrist, now sounds more like Trump — railing against “open borders” and aligning with far-right figures. His gamble is that copying Trump’s tone can energize

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