Elizabeth Oresanya, the president of Pitt's College Republicans, said the group acts as a “pseudo-Pitt for Trump” group on campus, but prioritizes local races. She said members don’t agree with the president on every issue, but most support his re-election.

Andrew Bellesis faces new decisions about his career prospects as the recently introduced Republican tax bill looms over the potential cost of his next five years at Pitt. “We will defeat this bill,”...