House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is calling his shot early. He told reporters Monday afternoon, Jan. 27, that Republicans will expand their majority in the 2026 midterms.
“It’s going to be four years at least and then more. Because we are going to win, grow the House majority in 2026,” Johnson told reporters at the Republican retreat in Florida.
That will not be an easy task. Unless there are more retirements or resignations, Republicans will hold only a five-seat majority during the next election. That means Democrats will have to flip just three seats to take control.
Since FDR, the president’s party has only expanded its majority three times in midterm elections. Historically, a majority loses an average of 26 seats in midterm elections.
“That won’t happen this time around because there’s been a sea change. We’re going to deliver on this agenda, and that begins now,” Johnson said.
Johnson said he is confident Americans support their agenda and that Democrats remain weakened after their loss in November.
“The Democratic Party is in disarray. They have no obvious leader; they have no obvious vision or agenda,” Johnson said. “Their platform has to be rewritten whole cloth.”
Democrats, on the other hand, say House Republicans and President Donald Trump haven’t done anything to address Americans’ number one concern — the economy.
“None of these bills that they are advancing would lower the costs for the American public,” Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., said on Jan. 14. “None of these bills are going to lower grocery costs, make housing more affordable, that’s the unfortunate part, and it’s a missed opportunity.”
Fundraising is already taking place for the 2026 midterms. In 2022, election spending set a record of $8.9 billion. The upcoming election will likely meet or exceed that amount.
