Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Wednesday downplayed the earlier night time’s election outcomes, saying they are not indicative of how the 2026 midterms will unfold.
Democratic candidates received large within the first main elections of President Trump’s second time period, rising victorious within the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races, in addition to the New York Metropolis mayoral race, amid a authorities shutdown. And Democrats are already arguing the outcomes are a very good signal of what is to come back within the 2026 midterms, which is able to decide whether or not Republicans retain their majorities within the Home and Senate.
However Johnson stated “there were no surprises” Tuesday night time.
“What happened last night was blue states and blue cities voted blue,” Johnson stated at a Wednesday press briefing. “We all saw that coming, and no one should read too much into last night’s election results. Off-year elections are not indicative of what’s to come. That’s what history teaches us.”
Johnson added he didn’t assume the loss “was any reflection about Republicans at all.”
“I think people are frustrated and angry as we are. I am. The president is, and we express that in different ways,” Johnson stated. “But we’re looking forward to a great election running on our record, and we’re going to get all of our incumbents reelected and we’re going to add to the number here.”
President Trump additionally acknowledged the election outcomes Wednesday, saying the shutdown was partly accountable for Republicans’ losses.
The shutdown reached a record-breaking thirty sixth day Wednesday,. The Senate on Tuesday failed for the 14th time to advance a Republican stopgap measure to reopen the federal government.
Johnson argued that Democrats, who’ve opposed the measure, are accountable for the shutdown.
“It’s very clear who’s responsible for this. And I think that when we go into next year, in the midterms, we’re very bullish about the outcome,” he stated. “We have an extraordinary record to run on.”
