WASHINGTON — The official House Republican campaign arm has added eight seats to its 2026 midterm target list in a display of confidence that the party can not just hold, but expand its narrow majority in the lower house of Congress.
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) rolled out its “MAGA Majority” program Monday, adding House districts in the Midwest and Far West to their inventory of defendable and flippable seats.
GOP candidates promoted by the NRCC include Jim Desmond (Calif.-48), Aaron Flint (Mont.-1), Brinker Harder (Neb.-2), Greg Cunningham (NM-2), Carrie Buck (Nev.-1), Marty O’Donnell (Nev.-3), Eric Conroy (Ohio-1), and John Braun (Wash.-3).
“House Republicans are on offense, and this latest round of MAGA Majority candidates proves we’re not slowing down,” NRCC Chairman Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) told The Post.
“These are battle-tested leaders who reflect their districts and are ready to take the fight to vulnerable Democrats,” Hudson added. “With the right candidates in place early, we’re expanding the map and putting more seats firmly in play for 2026.”
The “MAGA Majority” program is targeting 17 House seats in total to hold or flip, while the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), is promoting 12 candidates on its “Red to Blue” list as the party hopes to regain the House majority after four years out of power.
While the DCCC is focusing exclusively on Republican-held seats, the updated NRCC list includes three districts represented by retiring GOP lawmakers — California’s 48th District (Darrell Issa), Montana’s First District (Ryan Zinke) and Nebraska’s Second District (Don Bacon).
The other five seats have long been coveted by House Republican campaigners, particularly Washington state’s Third District, repped by moderate Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez since January 2023.
Both the NRCC and DCCC have separate lists of vulnerable incumbents they intend to defend in November.
Since 1938, the party in control of the White House has lost House seats in all but two midterm election cycles — 1998 and 2002.
Republican hopes of keeping the House were dealt a major blow last week when Virginia voters approved a redistricting referendum that could cost the GOP up to four seats.
In response, Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis has called a special legislative session this week to consider redrawing the Sunshine State’s congressional map to boost Republicans.
One major silver lining for the NRCC is its fundraising advantage, with $78.2 million cash on hand compared to the DCCC’s roughly $70 million, per the most recent filings.
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