Following the November 3 midterm elections in which Democrats captured control of the House and Senate, House Republicans have entered a period of intense blame‑shifting. New York Rep. Mike Lawler, who lost his 17th District seat to Democrat Cait Conley, told CNN’s Manu Raju that he ran the best campaign possible but “the bottom fell out,” adding that even “Jesus Christ could have run and would have lost.”
Internal GOP criticism
Lawler’s frustration reflects a broader sentiment among GOP members. Rep. Greg Steube of Florida, who retained his seat, criticized congressional leadership for “kneeling down to moderates within their own party and not standing firm to their principles.” Meanwhile, Indiana Rep. Marlin Stutzman, also re‑elected, called for staff changes in the White House, specifically singling out Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller for dismissal.
Trump’s economic stewardship cited
Outgoing Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, whose district turned blue, framed the midterm outcome as a referendum on President Donald Trump’s economic stewardship, suggesting that voters were signaling dissatisfaction with the administration’s policies.
Defense Secretary under fire
The backlash extends to national security, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth facing mounting pressure over his handling of the ongoing war with Iran. Rep. Thomas Massie (R‑KY) announced plans to introduce an impeachment resolution against Hegseth when Congress reconvenes, noting that several GOP colleagues believe the measure could pass.
Party outlook
CNN’s Manu Raju, appearing with Anderson Cooper, described the GOP’s current mood as a “reckoning” and a “blame game of sorts” about what went wrong. As Republicans regroup, the party faces the challenge of reconciling internal disagreements while formulating a strategy to regain legislative control in future elections.
Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.
