He has returned to his position as chairman of the House Republican Campaign Committee, and said a convincing White House victory for President-elect Trump in 2024 would be a huge boost for the Republican Party, which aims to protect its slim majority in the 2026 midterm elections. He said it will be a big advantage at home.
“The battleground is really turning in our favor. There are 14 Democrats who won seats that Donald Trump also won. There are only three Republicans who hold seats that Kamala Harris won. So , that means we’re going to go on the offensive,” emphasized Congressman Richard Hudson, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.
Trump won all seven key battleground states and defeated Vice President Harris last month, winning the national popular vote for the first time in three presidential elections.
Vance is likely to be the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2028, but the RNC chairman also likes the party’s “bench.”
President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, Monday, December 16, 2024 (AP/Evan Vucci)
Republicans also wrested control of the Senate from Democrats and lost a net two seats in the 435-member House, but will maintain a fragile 220-215 majority when the new Congress convenes next month.
Eight years ago, when Mr. Trump first won the White House and Republicans maintained a majority in the House, Democrats in the 2018 midterm elections picked up about 20 Republicans in districts that Mr. Trump lost in the 2016 election. targeted.
Democrats succeeded in flipping the House majority in blue wave elections.
Eight years later, it’s a different story, as the Republicans will be defending the friendly seat in the district held by the next president.
“There’s still a lot of opportunity for us to go on the offensive,” said Hudson, who has represented a central North Carolina congressional district for more than a decade.
Senate Republican Campaign Committee Chairman talks about mission in 2026
Hudson also said that House Republicans, who will be targeted again by Democrats in the next election cycle, “have a really tough fight. I mean, they’re people who have been through fire before. They have some “I have overcome the trials,” he said. Now millions of dollars are being spent on them, making the cycle worse. ”
“The reason they’ve been successful is because they work hard in the district. You know, they’ve built a very strong brand and they know how to get things done and how to contribute to the community. ”, he emphasized. “Republicans are our best candidates because they hold tough seats.”
The three House Republicans whose district Harris won last month are Don Bacon of Nebraska, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, and Mike Lawler of New York.
President-elect greets Congressman Richard Hudson of North Carolina, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, July 18, 2024. President Donald Trump (photo taken on July 18, 2024). (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
But 2026 will make a big difference. Mr. Trump, who helped draw low-propensity voters to the polls this year, likely won’t vote in the 2026 midterm elections.
“I certainly would like to have him on the ballot because he’s going to get voters who wouldn’t vote for any other candidate,” Hudson acknowledged.
But he said: “If you look at how this campaign has played out, we campaigned on a set of important issues that we promised to deliver on. If we deliver on those things… We wish Donald Trump would campaign with us.” , we believe we can displace these voters at a higher rate than in past midterm elections. ”
Hudson said Trump has been a “great partner” for House Republicans this year and will rejoin them next election cycle.
”[Trump] He is very interested in winning a House majority because he understands that a Democratic majority would mean a complete halt to his policies. So he’s been very engaged and been a very good partner for us in this last election and we expect that to continue. ”
Congressman Richard Hudson of North Carolina, Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, is interviewed on FOX News Digital in Washington, DC on December 11, 2024 (Fox News – Paul Steinhauser)
Hudson, who is returning as NRCC chairman for a second consecutive term, said recruiting candidates and raising funds are at the top of the commission’s to-do list.
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“So, first of all, we have to recruit candidates. You know, the quality of candidates is important. Then we have to raise money. And then I go on the road and go there. ‘But I’m looking forward to it,’ he stressed.
FOX News’ Emma Woodhead contributed to this report
Editor’s note: Fox News Digital also interviewed Congresswoman Susan DelBene, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in Washington. That report is expected to be published Friday.
Paul Steinhauser is a political reporter based in New Hampshire.
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