On Friday night, former President Donald Trump is set to return to the campaign trail with a rally in Arizona. Republicans would probably prefer it if he didnt.

Its not so much the former presidents unpopularity many Republicans are willing to trade the risk of turning off swing voters for the benefit of juicing the partys base.

Its about whom hes campaigning for: Senate candidate Blake Masters, an uber-wealthy venture capitalist and disciple of democracy skeptic Peter Thiel, and gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, a former TV news anchor who bashes the media and has made false beliefs about a stolen election the centerpiece of her campaign.

Both are running in the states Aug. 2 primary, and Republicans in both D.C. and Arizona increasingly fear the duo could become the latest potentially unelectable candidates the GOP nominates in key states and races.

High inflation and widespread dissatisfaction with President Joe Biden polls regularly show he is less popular than Trump was at this point in their terms means the national political environment strongly favors Republicans, and the party is well positioned to win control of Congress in November. But across the country, the GOP is facing problems like Masters and Lake: far-right candidates, often with the backing of Trump, who could blow winnable races for the party.