Senior Republicans are growing worried about their chances of keeping control of the US House of Representatives in the midterm elections. Some party leaders now believe the House may be out of reach. They are shifting their focus to saving seats and protecting the Republican majority in the Senate.
Five senior Republican lawmakers shared their concerns in private talks. They spoke on the condition that their names would not be published. All five said the party faced a serious challenge in the House race.
One senior House Republican said the party now wanted to save as many seats as possible. The lawmaker also blamed President Donald Trump for making the election too focused on his own role.
“President Trump has made this election all about himself,” the lawmaker said. “Now we have to survive that political storm.”
Another Republican member said campaign ads showed that Democrats had gained ground. The lawmaker expects Democrats to win about 10 more House seats. That would be enough to take control of the chamber, where every seat is up for election this year.
The member also warned that Republicans were facing close races in states where they had hoped to gain an edge. Even in Florida and Texas, where new district maps may help the GOP, some Republican candidates are struggling to hold their seats.
The concerns come as party leaders review where they spend campaign money. Republican groups have already pulled back from several House races they once hoped to win.
Among the districts now seen as difficult are those held by Republican Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa and Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey. Trump won both districts in the 2024 presidential election.
The party also gave up its effort to defend an Omaha-area seat held by retiring Representative Don Bacon last week. Bacon has often disagreed with Trump and the White House.
Trump officials and senior Republican campaign staff may cut support for more candidates in the coming days. The aim would be to move money into races where ads and other campaign work could have a greater effect.
Republican groups have already stopped spending in several contests where they had hoped to defeat Democratic lawmakers. The shift shows how party leaders are changing their plans as the election draws closer.
The party is also under pressure in the Midwest. Republicans are spending large sums to protect Senate seats in Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas. These states have often backed Trump and his political movement in recent elections.
The fight for the Senate has become a key concern for party leaders. Even if Republicans lose the House, keeping control of the Senate would allow them to retain power in one chamber of Congress.
A loss of both chambers would create a much harder path for the president’s plans. The House plays a key role in passing laws, approving spending, and overseeing the federal government. The Senate also votes on bills and confirms many senior government officials and judges.
Bacon said his party’s problems were not hard to explain. He has often taken positions that differ from those of the White House, and his comments point to wider divisions within the Republican Party.
The current debate also shows the pressure facing candidates in close districts. They must defend their own records while dealing with national issues and the president’s public image.
Republican leaders are now weighing which races deserve more support and which may be too difficult to save. Campaign money is limited, so party groups must choose where to place their ads and staff.
Democrats, meanwhile, need to gain only a small number of seats to take control of the House. The exact result will depend on races across the country, including districts where both parties are working to win over voters.
The private concerns voiced by Republican lawmakers do not settle the outcome. Elections can change as campaigns continue, and the fight for Congress remains open until voters cast their ballots.
For now, the Republican strategy is focused on limiting House losses and protecting the Senate. The coming weeks will show whether the party can hold enough seats to keep its control of Congress or whether Democrats can change the balance of power.
