Mike Johnson asks Trump for more cash as GOP scrambles to defend vulnerable House seats: Report
WASHINGTON, DC: House Speaker Mike Johnson has asked President Donald Trump for additional campaign money as Republicans scramble to protect their narrow House majority ahead of the November midterm elections, according to people familiar with the discussions cited in a CNN report.
Within days of Johnson’s request, Trump’s political operation directed nearly $30 million toward dozens of House races in a late push to support Republican candidates. The funding shift came as GOP operatives raised concerns about vulnerable incumbents in districts previously considered safe, forcing the party to scale back efforts to unseat Democrats. Meanwhile, Democrats have grown increasingly optimistic about winning enough seats to take control of the chamber.
Republicans shift campaign money to defend vulnerable House seats
Johnson was not the only Republican seeking additional support, as lawmakers and donors also pressed Trump’s political circle for more resources, according to the report. The party has increasingly focused on defending incumbents in traditionally Republican areas, including districts in Arizona, Ohio, Florida and Wisconsin.
Republican operatives have expressed concern that some incumbents are struggling to secure majority support in internal polling, with undecided voters potentially determining the outcomes of close races.
“This is just a 'batten down the hatches' situation,” one GOP operative involved in House races told CNN, adding that recent internal polling had not shown an incumbent in a competitive district crossing the 50% threshold.
The concerns extend to open seats, where no incumbent is running, in states including Kentucky, Montana, Iowa and Arizona. Republicans are also directing money toward races in Michigan, South Carolina, Texas and Florida, where open seats and changing political conditions have increased uncertainty.
Florida has emerged as a particular source of concern for Republican operatives, who say party groups are spending heavily to protect incumbents in districts that were redrawn to favor Republicans. Some have privately blamed Governor Ron DeSantis for the redistricting strategy, arguing that the changes have forced the party to divert resources into seats it expected to hold comfortably.
“There needs to be backlash against DeSantis over his dummy-mander,” one Florida Republican operative told CNN.
GOP retreats from Democratic targets as leaders defend House majority
The Republican funding shift has forced campaign groups to reduce spending in several districts they had hoped to flip. The Congressional Leadership Fund, the party’s leading super PAC, has withdrawn advertising from some Democratic-held seats, including New York’s 3rd Congressional District and Texas’ 28th District.
The group also pulled out of races involving Republican Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks in Iowa and Tom Kean in New Jersey after previously investing millions of dollars. In Texas’ 28th District, where Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar faces Republican challenger Tano Tijerina, the group canceled $2 million in planned advertising and had less than $100,000 booked for the final two weeks, according to the report.
Trump’s political operation remains a major source of funding for Republicans. His campaign war chest exceeded $400 million entering September, while two super PACs backed by his operation have spent more than $150 million on House races since the start of that month.
Despite the defensive spending, Johnson and his campaign operation maintain that Republicans can retain the House majority. A senior member of Johnson’s team said the speaker remained confident after campaigning nationwide and raising substantial funds.
“The fact is, as evidenced by crisscrossing the country on behalf of candidates and raising over a half billion dollars, the Speaker fervently believes Republicans can and will hold the House majority,” the official said.
