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The Republican whip describes how he worked to get the president's agenda through a closely divided House without burning bridges or losing his sense of humor.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) is staring at a scary political environment for Republicans and claiming to see something very different: a path to 225 seats . Why it matters: Republican leaders insist they can retain the majority, but only if they drive their voters to the polls by manufacturing the kind of voter enthusiasm Democrats are generating organically. - "If we make it a contrast election, we win," Scalise told Axios in an interview Thursday. - "We could get to 225. It would be a good night for us if we did, but it's possible," he said. - "235 is not," he said. "You're literally doing coin tosses in a couple of seats." Between the lines: Asked if he saw any signs of a blue wave forming or the map expanding,…
Rep. Mike Lawler 's (R-N.Y.) fight to hold on to a key battleground seat is getting a behind-the-scenes assist — for now, at least — from an unlikely group: House Democrats. Why it matters: Kamala Harris carried Lawler's district in 2024, but some Democrats are privately wary of spending the small fortune it would take to oust one of the GOP's most bipartisan — and electorally savvy — members. - "If you're going to have a Republican, it's the kind of Republican we want in the Congress," a Democratic source told Axios of Lawler, also noting that the New York City area is the nation's most expensive media market. - A senior House Democrat told Axios: "I don't think Lawler is beatable." State of play: Republicans are outspending…
For Speaker Mike Johnson, Rep. Chuck Edwards ' decision to drop his re-election bid just trades one problem for another. Why it matters: Instead of trying to hold a vulnerable seat with a scandal-ridden candidate , Republicans now have to scramble for a replacement who'll be starting at square one three months out from Election Day against a well-funded Democrat. - North Carolina's 11th District already was in Democrats' sights long before Edwards became the target of a House Ethics probe this spring — and things were not trending Republicans' way. - Sabato's Crystal Ball shifted the race from "lean Republican" to "toss-up" last Thursday, after Edwards' Democratic opponent, Jamie Ager, significantly outraised him in the second…
Republicans passed a more than $1-trillion Pentagon bill alongside a budget blueprint that would let them bypass Democrats and unlock other funds for the Iran war and Trump's election overhaul bill.
Republicans are growing frustrated with Mr. Johnson’s approach to governing with a razor-thin majority, saying that he promises more than he can achieve, frustrating the disparate groups in his caucus.
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Values show the Democratic gain needed in every district to reach 218 seats. Alabama's attempted redistricting remains on appeal. Data: Axios analysis of data from The Downballot, MIT Election Lab and Dave's Redistricting App ; Chart: Andrew Pantazi/Axios Republican-led states have redrawn enough congressional districts to force Democrats to outperform their 2024 national results by nearly 5 percentage points if they want to retake the majority in the 2026 midterms. Why it matters: Control of the House will shape whether President Trump will be allowed to govern largely unchecked during his final two years, or left facing a chamber armed with subpoenas and oversight . - Democrats need to flip three seats to win the House, assuming…
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee sparked a rare and heated bout of public infighting between House Democrats on Monday by endorsing multiple candidates who are still locked in contested primaries. Why it matters: The blowup is dredging up an intense, long-standing debate about whether Democratic leadership is acting un-democratically to boost the candidates they view as more electable. - "Voters, not the DCCC, should pick Democratic nominees," leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC said in a statement first reported by Axios. - Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.), chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus' BOLD PAC, fumed about several Latino candidates being passed over for endorsements, saying: "Latino voters…
The seat representing the heavily Democratic Houston-based district has been vacant for nearly a year.
After Menefee is sworn in, Democrats will have 214 House seats. Republicans currently hold 218, giving House Speaker Mike Johnson a razor-thin majority.
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