House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told Todd Starnes on his radio program Tuesday that he is confident Republicans will defy historical trends and gain seats in this fall’s midterm elections.
“I’m absolutely convinced of it,” Johnson said.
Johnson acknowledged that the party controlling the White House traditionally struggles in midterm elections, noting that “it’s only twice in the last 90 years that a sitting president has picked up seats for his party in that first two-year cycle.”
“But we are the group that defies conventional wisdom and makes history every day, and we’re going to do it again,” he said.
Republicans hold a slim House majority after retaining control in 2024, when President Donald Trump won reelection and Republicans swept the swing states. Johnson cited several factors giving Republicans an advantage heading into November: candidate recruitment, fundraising, and Trump’s continued campaigning.
“We’ve got better candidates than Democrats do,” he said. “We have a fundraising advantage for the first time in over a decade, and we have a great political environment.”
He also credited Trump for keeping attention on the stakes of the election. “We have a president who’s out running like he’s on the ballot, doing rallies and events, and making sure people understand the necessity of this midterm,” Johnson added.
Johnson argued that Democrats are increasingly dominated by their far-left wing, which he claimed is alienating voters. “The Democrats are in total disarray,” he said. “They’re on the verge of an open civil war in their party.”
Johnson also warned about “the rise of what I call many Mamdanis,” referring to “actual Marxists running for office on the Democrat side” such as New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Johnson emphasized that Republicans must remain focused on economic concerns facing Americans, particularly rising living costs. “Every election really is at a certain extent” about kitchen table issues, he said. The cost of living is a big issue, Johnson stated, adding that affordability has become “the buzzword right now that Democrats are using,” but argued Republicans have focused on the issue longer through tax and spending policies.
“Our legislation, our marquee achievement of this Congress so far, the Big, Beautiful Bill, the Working Families Tax Cut, and all the legislation that has preceded that and followed it has been geared toward making government smaller, more efficient, more effective, and putting more money in the pockets of hardworking Americans,” he said.
Johnson pointed to higher fuel costs tied to tensions involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz as a major factor driving up prices. “Grocery prices are elevated a little bit because when gas prices are [high], it takes more money to transport those goods to your local marketplace,” he explained. “So, it’s all tied in together.”
