There isn't time for sulking or licking wounds for Republicans after this week's election losses, which saw Democrats win governor's races in New Jersey and Virginia, and Socialist Zohran Mamdani elected New York City Mayor. As the dust clears on the 2025 election, the GOP is already launching its campaign for 2026. This week, the National Republican Congressional Committee released an ad warning about Democrats' embrace of socialism, saying, "Unhinged Democrats want to destroy America. In one year, we stop them."
The NRCC is optimistic about 2026 despite historical midterm trends going against the party in the White House. Next year could be different, with Texas and other red states like Florida and North Carolina redrawing their Congressional maps to add more Republican seats. That, combined with messaging making Mamdani and other radicals the new face of the Democrat party, has Republicans believing they can keep control of the House next year. "We should not rest on our laurels based on what happened one year ago," says GOP strategist Vlad Davidiuk. "The midterms in 2026 are going to be a decisive moment, whether or not we're going to continue moving forward as a nation to make America great again, or if we're going to give up and surrender to people like Mamdani, or AOC, or Gavin Newsom."
Davidiuk believes 2026 is very winnable for Republicans, but they will have to work for it and turn out their base without Trump on the ballot. "If we want America to turn into New York City or Portland, Oregon or Los Angeles, California, that is exactly what's going to happen if we don't step up," he tells KTRH. "So Republicans need to go to every single precinct and district across the country and make that message loud and clear...that that threat is real, it is no longer a pipe dream."