House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Tuesday said he is confident that Republicans will “defy” historical trends and recapture the House of Representatives during the upcoming midterm elections.
Speaking to reporters while campaigning in Maine, Johnson said he is “absolutely convinced we’re going to defy the historic trend and keep and grow the House majority for Republicans,” referring to the trend that the party of the sitting president tends to lose seats in Congress during midterm elections.
While citing what he said was the quality of GOP candidates who could flip Democratic-controlled seats, Johnson said that Democrats are in “an open civil war right now” that has pitted more moderate members of the party whom he described as individuals pushing a “Marxist” and “socialist” agenda.
“America is not down for that,” he said, adding that Republicans stand for “common sense.”
Johnson told The Washington Times on Monday that he thinks some of the candidates want to abolish private property.
“The small business owners across America who provide jobs and opportunity for people will be taken over by the government. It’s a dangerous game,” he said.
Democratic socialist figures including Michigan Senate candidate Abdul el Sayed and former Democratic candidate for governor of Wisconsin Francesca Hong made headlines in recent months for comments they made in the past about defunding law enforcement or removing U.S. holidays.
Some progressive and democratic socialist candidates have beaten out more establishment Democratic figures in recent times.
On Sunday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) attempted to distance himself from some Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) agenda items during a “Meet the Press” interview.
“I don’t support the DSA agenda, as has been articulated by the DSA itself. Now, you’re going to have individual members who have been elected in Democratic primaries and, if they are elected in the general in November, will be part of the House Democratic Caucus,” Jeffries told the outlet.
“It’s going to be a broad caucus. There will be progressives. There will be New Dems. There will be Blue Dogs.”
He added that he is “excited about the candidates who are running to flip seats in November, to deliver us a majority that pushes back” against the Trump administration.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump made note of some voters’ frustration with the Republican Party and indicated he believes that the GOP may perform more poorly because he isn’t on the ballot during the midterms.
The most recent Decision Desk HQ polling average, released on Aug. 14, shows that Democrats now lead by about 6 percentage points on the generic ballot for the midterms, 47 percent to 41 percent.
Democrats are favored to win the House, with a 64 percent chance, compared with Republicans’ 36 percent.
However, according to the average, Republicans are favored to retain the Senate, 55 percent to 45 percent.
On Tuesday, Alaska, Florida, and Wyoming are scheduled to hold their primary elections.
The midterm elections will be held on Nov. 3.
