National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Sen. Tim Scott is projecting confidence ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections, telling Republican voters that maintaining the Senate majority requires nothing more than strong turnout at the polls.
The South Carolina Republican laid out his party’s electoral math in an appearance on Breitbart News Saturday, emphasizing that Republicans don’t need an upset victory or unexpected breakthrough to hold their 53-47 Senate advantage.
“The most important thing for us to hold the majority is to trust the president when he says he’s on the ballot,” Scott told host Matthew Boyle. “This midterm election is in fact about protecting the America we love. And that means if Republican voters vote, we win.”
No Miracle Needed, Just Turnout
Scott’s message to the Republican base was direct: match the enthusiasm that voters typically bring when President Donald Trump himself appears on the ballot. The NRSC chairman cited a specific turnout metric that Trump has referenced in recent weeks.
“We just need Republican voters to do what we do when President Trump is on the ballot,” Scott said. “He says there’s a 49.2% increase in vote turnout. If we do our part, we win. We don’t need a miracle. We’re not looking for the Hail Mary.”
The senator framed voting as a collective responsibility rather than an individual act, urging Republicans to bring others with them to polling locations.
“Your neighbors, your friends, your ugly relatives should go with you to vote,” Scott said, calling voting “a team sport this cycle.” He predicted that if Republicans turn out in force, “we will wake up Wednesday morning and, hallelujah, and thank you Jesus, because we will be in the majority.”
Republicans Eye Democratic-Held Seats
Beyond defending Republican-held seats, Scott identified Michigan, New Hampshire, and Minnesota as potential pickup opportunities for the GOP. All three states currently have Democratic senators and were among ten contests Scott designated as toss-ups at the end of September.
The NRSC chairman’s targeting of these three states signals Republican optimism that the electoral map extends beyond simply playing defense. Taking any of those seats would provide additional cushion for the party’s existing majority and complicate Democrats’ path to flipping the chamber.
Democrats face a steep climb to capture Senate control, needing to flip four Republican-held seats while holding every seat they currently occupy. Scott’s comments suggest Republicans believe they’re playing offense in states Democrats hoped to protect.
Questioning the Polls in Ohio
Scott also cast doubt on polling accuracy in key battleground states, pointing specifically to Ohio, where Republican Sen. Jon Husted is seeking reelection. According to Scott, Husted has encountered numerous voters who refuse to participate in polls at all.
“So how do you actually poll people who don’t respond to pollsters? The answer is simple. You don’t. And therefore, I think the polls are off,” Scott said. “I think President Trump is right.”
The suggestion that polls may be missing a segment of the electorate has become a recurring theme among Republican strategists who believe traditional surveys undercount GOP-leaning voters, particularly those energized by Trump’s political movement.
Warning Signs in Texas
Even as Scott expressed confidence about the national landscape, Republicans received a reminder that no seat should be taken for granted. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, in remarks on Saturday, cautioned against treating his state as automatically safe for the GOP.
According to Breitbart, Paxton described his Senate campaign as the toughest of the 20 races he has run throughout his political career. The warning underscores that even in traditionally Republican strongholds, candidates must work to drive turnout and cannot rely solely on partisan lean.
The Stakes on Tuesday
Scott repeatedly emphasized that Tuesday’s elections carry presidential-level significance, even though Trump himself is not on the ballot. He urged Republican voters to approach the midterms with the same urgency they would bring to a presidential election year.
“Because America is on the ballot, patriots all across this country, including in Ohio, must come out and vote,” Scott said.
The framing represents a calculated strategy by Republican leaders to motivate their base despite the absence of Trump’s name at the top of the ticket. Historically, the president’s party tends to lose seats in midterm elections, making turnout operations critical for Republicans hoping to buck that trend.
With Republicans holding a 53-47 advantage, the party has some room to maneuver but cannot afford to lose more than three seats if they want to maintain control. Scott’s public confidence suggests internal Republican polling and ground operation data point to a favorable environment, at least in the states needed to preserve their majority.
The NRSC chairman’s comments came during an appearance on Breitbart News Saturday, which airs on SiriusXM Patriot 125. His message in the final days before the election focused less on specific policy contrasts and more on the fundamental task of voter mobilization.
As Tuesday approaches, both parties are making their closing arguments to voters. For Republicans, that pitch centers on framing the midterms as a referendum on the direction of the country and the Trump agenda, hoping that message will drive their voters to the polls in numbers sufficient to hold the Senate and potentially expand their majority.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/10/31/exclusive-tim-scott-says-republicans-hold-senate-if-gop-voters-turn-out/