House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) pushed back against speculation that Democrats could take the House in November, warning that Republicans are poised to defy the odds and keep the majority.
Appearing on Fox News Channel’s “The Sunday Briefing” with Peter Doocy, Johnson responded to a New York Times report that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law, met privately as midterm attacks intensify. Doocy pressed Johnson on whether the White House might be positioning to work with Democrats if the GOP loses control.
“I heard about it the first time this morning,” Johnson said. “I know Jared is a smart guy, and he hedges bets. But I’m telling you what, you better not bet against the House Republicans.”
Johnson dismissed the significance of the Kushner-Jeffries meeting, noting that Kushner is “not really directly involved in the admin, at least in the day-to-day in the White House.” He added that Kushner “has interests in lots of other things going on,” and said he didn’t know what the meeting was about.
Johnson used the moment to tout his party’s chances, describing the coming election as a “contrast election, a contrast between common sense and crazy.” He claimed the GOP base is energized and that “we’re going to hold the House Republicans.”
‘19 seats that will decide the fate of the Republic’
The Speaker cited the Cook Political Report’s latest projections, which he said show Republicans expected to win 211 seats and Democrats 205, leaving 19 races in the middle. “We know what those 19 seats are,” Johnson said, adding that Republicans have been “working on this for a year and a half.”
“I love our candidates, I love our message, I love our fundraising advantage,” he said. “I’m telling you, we’re going to defy history and hold us to court.”
Johnson’s remarks come as he embarks on what he called a “30-day non-stop campaign fundraising tour,” with stops in districts where races are tight. He acknowledged the tour was a “pit stop” before returning to the campaign trail.
The Speaker’s optimism stands in contrast to the political environment, with Democrats needing a net gain of just a few seats to flip the House. The Cook Political Report’s ratings suggest the race for the majority is highly competitive, with both parties eyeing the same battleground districts.
The New York Times story that prompted Doocy’s question highlighted the unusual meeting between Jeffries, the likely next Speaker if Democrats win the majority, and Kushner, who remains a close adviser to Trump. The meeting has fueled speculation about how the White House might navigate a potential Democratic House, though Johnson sought to downplay its importance.
“I know Jared is a smart guy, and he hedges bets,” Johnson said, repeating a line that seemed to acknowledge the possibility of a Democratic win while insisting Republicans would prevail.
Johnson’s comments reflect a broader Republican strategy to frame the midterms as a choice between the GOP’s agenda and what he calls “crazy” Democratic policies, even as Democrats hammer Republicans on issues like abortion, gun safety, and alleged threats to democracy.
As the November 3 election approaches, both parties are pouring resources into the handful of districts that will determine control of the House. Johnson’s confidence, however, may be tested as Democrats point to polling that shows a competitive national environment.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/08/23/house-speaker-johnson-on-midterms-you-better-not-bet-against-the-house-republicans/