Senior Republicans are raising doubts about their party’s chances of keeping control of the US House of Representatives in the midterm elections. Some lawmakers now believe the party may lose the chamber. They are turning their focus to limiting losses and protecting the Republican majority in the Senate.
Five senior Republican lawmakers shared their concerns in private talks. They spoke without giving their names so they could discuss the party’s position openly. All five described a difficult path for Republicans in the House race.
One senior House Republican said the party’s main goal was now to save as many seats as possible. The lawmaker also said President Donald Trump was making the task harder by putting himself at the center of the campaign.
“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 advertising showed that Democrats were gaining ground. The lawmaker predicted that Democrats could win about 10 additional seats. That would be enough to take control of the House.
Republicans are also facing tight races in states where they hoped new voting maps would help them. Florida and Texas have redrawn congressional districts, but some Republican candidates are still struggling to hold their seats.
The growing concern has led party leaders to review how they spend campaign funds. Republican groups have already reduced support for several House races they once hoped to win.
Among the districts facing trouble are those held by Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa and Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey. Trump won both districts in the 2024 presidential election, yet Republicans now see them as hard to defend.
The party also stopped spending 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. They want to move money to races where campaign ads may have a greater effect.
Republican groups have already stepped back from several contests where they had hoped to defeat Democratic lawmakers. The move shows how the party is changing its plans as the midterms approach.
The pressure is not limited to the House. Republicans are also spending heavily to defend Senate seats in Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas. These states have often backed Trump and his political movement in recent elections.
Keeping control of the Senate has become a major goal for Republican leaders. If the party loses the House but keeps the Senate, it would still hold power in one chamber of Congress.
Losing both chambers would make it harder for Trump to pass his plans. The House has a key role in writing and approving spending bills. It also holds hearings and investigates the work of the federal government.
The Senate reviews legislation and votes on many senior government appointments and federal judges. Control of both chambers can shape how easily a president moves an agenda through Congress.
Bacon said there was little mystery behind the party’s political troubles. His comments came as Republicans debate how much the president’s role and the party’s campaign choices may affect their candidates.
The pressure on individual lawmakers is also growing. Candidates in close races must defend their own records while dealing with national issues and views of the president.
Party leaders now face hard choices about which races deserve more money and staff. Campaign funds are limited, so spending more in one district can mean less support for another.
Democrats need to gain only a limited number of seats to take control of the House. But the final result will depend on races across the country, where local issues and voter turnout may shape the outcome.
The private warnings from Republican lawmakers do not decide the election. Campaigns can still change, and voters will make the final choice when they cast their ballots.
For now, Republican leaders are focused on reducing House losses and protecting their Senate majority. The midterm results will determine whether they can keep control of one or both chambers of Congress.
