The former Speaker appeared on the Fox Business show \u201cKudlow,\u201d where he told host Larry Kudlow on Thursday that \u201cthere\u2019s a lot at stake\u201d in 2026 if majority Republicans don\u2019t quickly pass the Trump economic agenda of tax cuts and other incentives.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlmost guarantee losing the Republican House next year and ruining the last two years of President Trump\u2019s term with Hakeem Jeffries playing the Nancy Pelosi role, investigations, blocking programs, potential impeachments,\u201d the former Speaker said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, there\u2019s a lot at stake here, and it frankly mystifies me as to how House and Senate Republicans can\u2019t understand you\u2019ve got to plan back from victory,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He said that by June, Republicans must have legislative victories on issues like tax cuts, deregulation, and energy affordability.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe victory here is winning in November of 2026. That requires a very strong economy. That requires a very strong tax cut deregulation, a pro energy affordability bill, certainly no later than May or June. And I cannot understand these guys, you know, I lived through it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Gingrich also warned of the lessons from history that happen to administrations during midterm elections.<\/p>\n
\u201cReagan lost 26 seats in the first off-year election because his tax cuts didn\u2019t go into effect until 1983. Trump lost 42 seats in his first-off year election because the tax bill didn\u2019t pass until October,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen I hear senators saying cavalierly, \u2018Oh, we\u2019ll pass the easy bill early, and we\u2019ll get around to the other bill by October.\u2019 They\u2019re talking about killing the chances of keeping the House Republican.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said a key part of the midterm strategy was to pass the legislation quickly and then have Trump visit areas where Republicans can take House seats away from Democrats.<\/p>\n
They need to get the bill clear, make sure that we know what\u2019s in it, and then for about 10 weeks, we need President Trump back on the road. There are 13 districts that have Democrats that he carried. There are another 21 districts that have Democrats where he came within 5%. If he goes in those 34 districts and says, \u2018A no vote is a vote for a tax increase on your family,\u2019 I think you\u2019ll see at least half those Democrats decide to vote with the Republicans,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
South Carolina Republican Sen. Tim Scott, meanwhile, has developed a plan to increase his party\u2019s advantage in the Senate from 53 to 55 seats, targeting the defense of current Republican seats in Maine, North Carolina, and Ohio, while also looking to grab Democratic seats in Michigan and Georgia.<\/p>\n
Minnesota could also be up for grabs now that Democrat Sen. Tina Smith announced that she would not be seeking reelection. Republicans could face a familiar foe for that seat in Gov. Tim Walz, who was former Vice President Kamala Harris\u2019 choice to be her vice president during her doomed 2024 presidential campaign, according to reports this week.<\/p>\n
That said, some Democrats are already lining up to run for the seat, while other familiar names are considering it.<\/p>\n
Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan\u00a0has already announced her candidacy on Instagram where she said, \u201cI love Minnesota and my intention is to run for United States Senate and continue to serve the people of this state. I\u2019ll make a formal announcement later this month.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rep. Ilhan Omar has not ruled out a bid as a spokesperson for the \u201cSquad\u201d member told Politico<\/a>, \u201cCongresswoman Omar will be talking with Minnesotans about the future of the Senate seat and DFL party in Minnesota.\u201d<\/p>\n Smith announced her retirement in a video this week.<\/p>\n In it, she said, \u201cAfter 20 years of hard and rewarding work in the public sector, I\u2019m ready to spend more time with my family.\u201d<\/p>\n