Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said the Republican-led House must pass the current funding deal and avoid a government shutdown to bolster the party's chances in the November elections.
Johnson, appearing Wednesday on the Hugh Hewitt Show, discussed the top-line spending agreement he made over the weekend with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
Johnson seemed to be confident of passage despite House conservatives having expressed displeasure with the deal.
"We have to demonstrate that we can govern, and this is our effort to do that," Johnson told Hewitt. "I think we will, Hugh, I think we'll pass this. The vast majority of the conference understands this is a good deal under the given circumstances that we have. And it moves the ball forward. That's what we're about. We have to have incremental gains.
"With a one-vote majority, one vote margin, we can't throw a Hail Mary pass on every play, right? It's three yards and a cloud of dust. And that's what we're doing, yard by yard, first down by first down, to stay in this game."
Republicans currently hold a 220-213 edge in the House. The party hopes to build on that advantage and reclaim control of the Senate in November.
"I believe that if we can demonstrate we govern well, we are going to grow and expand this majority in the upcoming election cycle," Johnson told Hewitt. "I also think we're going to win the Senate back for the Republican Party, and the White House as well.
"So, we'll be in a total different ballgame next January, a year from now. But right now, we've got to keep advancing the ball up the field, and that's what this deal does."
Rep. Greg Pence, R-Ind., on Tuesday became the latest GOP member to announce his retirement from the House. As of Wednesday morning, 17 Republicans and 22 Democrats had announced they will retire or seek other office. Four other GOP seats were vacated due to immediate resignation, death or expulsion; three other Democrat seats were vacated for similar reasons.
Hewitt asked Johnson how the recruitment of new GOP candidates and fundraising were progressing.
"Exceptional," Johnson said. "It's a great question. Right out of the blocks, we've been setting records with new numbers of donors coming in. We should get some official numbers here shortly, but I know that it's tens of millions of dollars that we've raised in the last 75 days. Billions, that's what it's going to be, Hugh.
"I need to raise about $330 million by next fall, between all the efforts. ... We've got an extraordinary stable of candidates that we've recruited. People who are workhorses, not show ponies, that have great life stories, business acumen, veterans, women, minorities. It's an extraordinary field. I think it's the best field of candidates that we've had in the seats we're challenging in a long, long time."
Charlie McCarthy ✉
Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.
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