Speaker Johnson Discusses the Midterms: "We Will Defy History"
March 16, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Speaker Mike Johnson recently discussed the 2026 midterms from Doral, Florida, laying out the case for why House Republicans will defy history to defend and grow the majority in November. The Speaker's efforts were supported by President Donald Trump, who also joined the Speaker last week for a record-breaking fundraiser.
From a fundraising advantage to strong candidates, read coverage of Speaker Johnson's fight to win in 2026 - in case you missed it:
Daily Wire: Mike Johnson Is ‘Absolutely Convinced We Are Going To Win The Midterms’
"House Speaker Mike Johnson defied the naysayers on Thursday, telling Daily Wire host Michael Knowles that Republicans will expand their majority in the 2026 midterm elections.
"'I’m very bullish about the midterms,' Johnson said during the interview. 'I’m absolutely convinced we are going to win the midterms and grow the majority. It will defy historic trend.'
"Johnson acknowledged that such a result would break a longstanding pattern. 'It’s only twice in the last 90 years that a sitting president has picked up seats in that first two-year cycle,' he said. Still, Johnson argued the political landscape favors Republicans, pointing to fundraising advantages and Democratic struggles to define a clear agenda.
"'We have a fundraising advantage right now because the stakes are so high — Republicans over Democrats for the first time in 10 years,' Johnson said. 'Democrats are at historic lows in approval ratings. They have no leadership, no message, no vision for where they’re going.'
"'Their whole platform is they hate Donald Trump,' he added. 'Well, good luck with that. That’s not exactly something to sell to constituents.'"
"House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., signaled Tuesday that Republicans will continue to closely align themselves with President Donald Trump as the November midterms creep closer.
"'The American people are going to understand he is on the ballot, at least in a metaphorical sense, because if we were to lose the midterms, everybody knows the chaos that would ensue,' the leader of the House of Representatives told NBC News reporter Scott Wong.
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"Political history dictates that the party holding all levers of power in Washington at the beginning of a presidential term — in this case, Republicans — generally lose control of one or both houses of Congress in the following election cycle.
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"But Johnson has been and continues to be optimistic about Republicans' chances of bucking that trend in November.
"'I think there's so many factors in our favor. I think the energy and excitement is going to be on our side,' Johnson said. 'I can't wait for the midterm convention that we're going to have before early voting starts in the fall, where we parade all of our stars across the stage, and we talk about all the great things we've done for the American people. This is a midterm like none other. So, I'm telling you, do not bet against the House Republicans.'"
Washington Examiner: Trump donates $1 million to Mike Johnson for record-breaking fundraiser
"President Donald Trump donated $1 million to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), bringing the speaker’s total amount to $20 million for a fundraiser he had on Monday.
"The donation added to an already steep $19 million raised by the speaker’s fundraiser that Trump attended in Florida before joining the House Republican retreat. It is the highest amount raised by the speaker for a single roundtable fundraiser, according to Johnson’s office."
"House Speaker Mike Johnson says the November election will give Americans a choice between 'common sense and crazy,' hinting at a midterm strategy that House Republicans are hammering out at their annual retreat this week in Doral, Florida.
"'This is a contrast election... We’re really excited about that because the contrast is as stark as it has ever been. There is a wide chasm between these two political parties.
"'This is not your father’s Democrat Party, as we say all the time. This party is run by Marxists, open socialists, the far-left insurgent politicians and the activist base, and they’re pushing the party all the way over the edge, and they’ve left America behind.
"'When we say a contrast election, we say it very simply, as the President said it so well and so clearly at the State of the Union, this is a contest between normal and crazy, between common sense and crazy. And we have lots of examples.'
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"'The question that we ask to every voter in every district around America is: do you want to elect a party that will secure the borders or reopen the borders wide…? Do you want to cut your taxes … or do you want to elect the party that will raise your taxes, as they vow to do? … Do you want to vote for the party that is going to secure the cities of this country and towns, or the party that stands for policies that increase crime?'
"'Do you want to vote for the party that will secure elections, or the party that will undermine our system? Do you want to vote for the party that will protect women and girls’ sports, or the party that wants to bring men back into those arenas? Do you want to vote for the party that will protect children, or the party that wants to return to transgender mutilation surgery for children?'
"'These are the choices. There’s a contrast election, again, between common sense [that] the Republicans have demonstrated and work for every day, or, frankly, crazy. I think we know where the American people are.'"
Voz: Mike Johnson: Republicans 'will win the midterms and grow the majority'
"Mike Johnson was optimistic ahead of the midterm elections and spoke of 'bucking the historical trend.'
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"For several decades now, it has been customary for the party in the White House to lose one or both houses of Congress in midterm elections. From 1950 to 2022, only two presidents managed to win House seats: Bill Clinton in 1998 and George W. Bush in 2002.
"Despite this dark trend for the president's party, Johnson was very confident heading into Nov. 3: 'I’m very bullish about the midterms. I’m absolutely convinced we are going to win the midterms and grow the majority. It will defy the historic trend.'
"'We have a fundraising advantage right now because the stakes are so high—Republicans over Democrats for the first time in 10 years. Democrats are at historic lows in approval ratings. They have no leadership, no message, no vision for where they’re going. Their whole platform is that they hate Donald Trump. Well, good luck with that. That’s not exactly something to sell to constituents," he added."