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Republicans hope to hold the line this November against Democratic attempts to take back more power in Congress and Columbus.

to correct course after their defeat in 2016. Meanwhile, local GOP voters say they support President Trump and have been energized by the recent Supreme Court confirmation hearings.

Earlier this month, a couple dozen people filled seats in a Republican campaign office in Lyndhurst. Projected on a screen near the back was the second gubernatorial debate between Republican Mike DeWine and Democrat Richard Cordray.

Some people listened while sticking stamps on campaign letters. Afterward, they handed out literature for Republicans up and down the ticket.

Asked if President Trump would help or hurt Republicans this year, Barbara Latini said people should look at his record.

鈥淗e鈥檚 done some excellent things,鈥� Latini said. 鈥淪ome people don鈥檛 like the way he talks, or his tweets. But when you look at what he has accomplished, that鈥檚 a good thing.鈥�

She mentioned the administration鈥檚 reinstatement of what鈥檚 known as the , a ban on using U.S. foreign aid to support or provide information about abortion.

Rita Krebs, another anti-abortion voter, said she was unhappy with the nomination hearings for Brett Kavanaugh, the Trump Supreme Court pick accused of committing sexual assault while in high school. Kavanaugh has denied the allegations.

鈥淚 was very upset with how Kavanaugh was treated in regards to the general media,鈥� Krebs said.

That was a common refrain among loyal Republican voters. Many said they feel Senate Democrats treated Kavanaugh unfairly. Another shared theme: a belief that the news media is against them.

Two years ago, a number of Republicans expressed skepticism that Trump could truly represent the party. Some worried he鈥檇 weigh down other GOP candidates. In some Cleveland suburbs like Bay Village, Westlake and Rocky River, Trump underperformed the 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

But Bob Bodi, the president of the Westshore Republican Club, said times have changed.

鈥淭hat question鈥檚 gone. That question is dead,鈥� Bodi said. 鈥淎lmost everybody who questioned that now agrees that Trump has been a good Republican. He鈥檚 implemented conservative policies, he鈥檚 cut taxes, he鈥檚 nominated conservatives to the Supreme Court.鈥�

This year, Bodi said, national developments like the Kavanaugh hearings could animate voters who aren鈥檛 so moved by the governor鈥檚 race.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think either of the candidates are extremely charismatic,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd so people are just kind of ignoring it, and so you get the complacency and people don鈥檛 necessarily want to turn out. But when they see what鈥檚 happening in Washington, I think it certainly wakes up the base.鈥�

He said Republicans will probably lose some seats in the House and gain a couple in the Senate.

In North Royalton last week, members of the local Republican club gathered for a regular meeting.

Stephen Sweetnich was visiting from another conservative club, the Cuyahoga Valley Republicans. He said it鈥檚 possible that Democrats could win the House. And if they do, he鈥檚 concerned they鈥檒l set to work blocking and dismantling the president鈥檚 policies. 

鈥淚 see all those things are at stake in this election,鈥� Sweetnich said. 鈥淎nd so I鈥檓 terrified that they鈥檒l take the House and reverse these things. I think we need to give Trump two more years to complete his initial agenda and prove that he鈥檚 good for his word.鈥�

One local Republican, Ken Wolnik, offered some constructive criticism for the president this election season.

鈥淚鈥檇 like to see Trump get rid of his tweeter,鈥� Wolnik said. 鈥淚 mean he鈥檚, I know what he鈥檚 doing, because he鈥檚 trying to compensate for all of the negative publicity from the left.鈥�

But the tweets, he said, can give opponents ammunition.

Still, Wolnik mentioned Trump rallies and speeches he鈥檚 seen, and said he thinks the president will energize Republicans this fall.

鈥淚 think Republicans are going to win big,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 believe in the blue tide.鈥�