(Photo by J. Scott Applewhite/AP)
House Republicans have reportedly entered “triage mode” weeks before the midterm elections, as more people privately fear that their chances of retaining control of the Legislature are dwindling.
According to a CNN report published Saturday, Republicans are increasingly afraid of the president. that of Donald Trump in internal polls, including in traditionally Republican territory, and some members are now working to limit their losses.
A recent Associated Press poll shows the president’s disapproval rating at 69 percent. Over the past two days, Trump has rallied behind three states — Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama — that he won handily in 2024.
These fears have put the party in “triage mode,” according to CNN. Sarah Ferris And David Wright ” wrote, with Republicans talking about diverting money from races they now view as hard to win. Among the seats reportedly under discussion are those held by representatives. Marianne Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Tom Kean (R-NJ), with an open seat in Nebraska.
A day earlier, Semafor separately reported that the Republican Party-aligned Senate Leadership Fund was suspending what had so far been a $30 million ad campaign supporting the Republican Senate candidate. Michael Whatley in North Carolina and redirect resources to Kansas, where Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) faces an increasingly competitive race — a development that CNN’s political director called “incredible.”
Republicans nevertheless hold a significant financial advantage over Democrats in the fight for the House. AdImpact data cited by CNN shows that Republicans are currently willing to spend more than Democrats on advertising in each of the 10 most expensive House races between October 1 and Election Day. Republicans are also spending heavily in newly redrawn districts in Texas and Florida, which could help offset losses elsewhere.
“Ultimately, redistricting could be the lifeline one way or the other — either minimizing losses or potentially retaining the majority,” a GOP leadership aide told CNN.
President of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA), meanwhile, remains confident that Republicans can maintain control. A political aide told the network that Johnson was “absolutely still confident” the GOP would retain the House and had not taken away any seats.
Although “many Republicans acknowledge to CNN that the degraded domestic environment — fueled by soaring diesel prices, stubborn inflation and hardening opposition to the war in Iran — (is) largely beyond their control at this late stage in the race,” Ferris and Wright wrote. “They (said) their strategy now is focused on how to limit Democrats to the smallest possible majority.”
Multiple sources told CNN that the goal of this scenario would be to keep the Democratic advantage to less than 10 seats.
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