Trump poses a puzzle for Republican governors

GOP chief executives, with eye on 2018 election, cast wary eye toward D.C.

AUSTIN, Texas — For nearly a decade, meetings of the Republican Governors Association were buoyant, even giddy affairs, as the party — lifted by enormous political donations and a backlash against the Obama administration — achieved overwhelming control of state governments.

But a sense of foreboding hung over the group’s gathering in Austin this past week, as President Donald Trump’s unpopularity and Republicans’ unexpectedly drastic losses in elections this month in Virginia, New Jersey and suburbs from Philadelphia to Seattle raised the specter of a political reckoning in 2018.

“I do think Virginia was a wake-up call,” said Gov. Bill Haslam of Tennessee, who took over here as chairman of the governors’ association. “There’s a pretty strong message there. When Republicans lose white married women, that’s a strong message.”

In a series of closed-door meetings, governors tangled over how best to avoid being tainted by Trump, and they debated the delicate task of steering Trump’s political activities away from states where he might be unhelpful. Several complained directly to Vice President Mike Pence, prodding him to ensure that the White House intervenes only in races in which its involvement is welcome.

A larger group of governors from agricultural and auto-producing states warned Pence that Trump’s proposed withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement could damage them badly.

Republicans have long expected that