Obama Grapples With Growing Dissent From Democrats on Capitol Hill

President Barack Obama is encountering an increasingly resistant Democratic caucus on Capitol Hill, as lawmakers in his party break with him on a series of issues in the run-up to the November elections.

On issues such as judicial nominees, the Keystone XL pipeline, taxes and trade, the fraying party unity is a sign that individual Democrats have reached a point where their own re-election needs take precedence over Mr. Obama's goals.

It is a common election-year posture for lawmakers from the same party as the sitting president, especially one whose...