Shaky GOP House Majority Faces Challenges Ahead of 2026 Midterms

This is your RNC News podcast.

The Republican Party faces significant challenges as it navigates the 2026 midterm elections with a razor-thin House majority that continues to shrivel due to resignations and health issues. Former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene resigned, late Representative Doug LaMalfa passed away, and various GOP members have dealt with medical emergencies and absences, leaving leadership scrambling to maintain votes on critical legislation.

On Capitol Hill, House Republicans are pushing hard to pass a substantial spending package before the month-end deadline to avoid another government shutdown. The chamber must approve four challenging appropriations bills today to fund Defense, HHS, Labor, HUD, Transportation, Education, and Homeland Security, then bundle them with previously passed measures. The Senate will have just one week to act on all six bills before sending them to President Trump's desk. However, attendance problems threaten to derail even this tight timeline, with House Freedom Caucus members scrutinizing earmarks in the funding package and fiscal conservatives questioning provisions related to healthcare legislation, particularly measures targeting pharmacy benefit managers.

The most contentious item appears to be the Homeland Security bill, which House Democrats oppose due to provisions allowing DHS to detain and deport individuals without certain protections. Leadership is allowing a separate passage vote on this measure, signaling its divisiveness even within Republican ranks.

Looking ahead to November, Republicans are optimistic about the Senate landscape. The 2026 Senate map heavily favors the GOP, with Democrats defending thirteen seats while Republicans defend twenty-two. Only two Republican-held seats are considered highly competitive, positioning Republicans to solidly retain their Senate majority. Meanwhile, the House faces an uphill battle given the current narrow margin.

House conservatives are also pushing for a reconciliation bill focused on affordability, with the Republican Study Committee unveiling a framework called "Make the American Dream Affordable Again" aimed at reducing housing and healthcare costs. However, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise acknowledged there is no consensus yet within the conference on what such a bill would contain, and Senate Republicans remain divided on timing and approach.

In California, Reform California launched its "26 in 2026" campaign targeting twenty-six legislative seats and pushing for voter ID passage. The effort aims to mobilize seven hundred thousand low-propensity conservative voters in targeted districts.

Additionally, the RNC reportedly experienced setbacks in recent legal challenges, though specifics remain limited in available reporting. As Republicans prepare for critical votes this week, party leadership is keenly aware that delivering legislative victories will be essential for midterm messaging, even as internal divisions threaten to complicate even routine parliamentary procedures.

Thank you for tuning in. Please subscribe for more updates on the 2026 elections and Republican Party developments. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease.ai

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