In a strategic pivot aimed at boosting their slim majority, House Republicans are setting their sights on key Democratic representatives in New York and New Jersey as they gear up for the 2026 midterm elections. On March 17, 2025, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) announced that it will be targeting New York Representatives Tom Suozzi, Laura Gillen, and Josh Riley, along with New Jersey Congresswoman Nellie Pou, all of whom had successfully flipped GOP-held seats within the previous year.
The NRCC’s list comprises 26 Democratic seats seen as vulnerable in an effort to expand the Republican majority, which currently stands at a tenuous 218-213 after the latest election cycle. This limited margin has prompted NRCC Chairman Richard Hudson (R-NC) to assert, “House Republicans are in the majority and on offense.” He emphasized that Democrats are “painfully out of touch with hardworking Americans” and vowed that Republicans would take the battle directly to these representatives within their districts, looking to unseat them come fall of 2026.
This ambitious plan faces historical precedents where the party in power often suffers significant losses in their first midterm election following a presidential victory. For instance, in the 2018 elections, Republicans lost 21 seats amid a Democratic surge. Similarly, while Democrats managed to outperform expectations in 2022, they still lost five seats to Republican challengers. With 2026 looming, the NRCC hopes to dismantle this trend by focusing on the 13 Democrats who won in districts carried by President Trump in the 2024 elections. Notably, only three House Republicans represent areas that went for former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Additionally, the targeting efforts aren’t limited to New York and New Jersey. The NRCC's list encompasses various Democratic-led districts across the country, identifying representatives such as Josh Harder, Adam Gray, and several others from California, Florida, Indiana, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, and Ohio as key targets. “These Democrats, many of whom are moderates, are in districts where Republicans have gained traction in recent elections,” Hudson noted.
In contrast, House Democrats, represented by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and its spokesperson Viet Shelton, are pushing back against the NRCC's narrative. Shelton argued that Democrats were resilient candidates who prevailed despite the hurdles presented by the NRCC and that the GOP is displaying fear rather than confidence as they shy away from direct public engagements like town halls. “The truth is House Republicans are running scared and refusing to hold town halls because they don’t want to get yelled at,” Shelton added.
When examining the political landscape, it appears that the Republicans hope to capitalize on shifting dynamics. Between the previous election cycles of 2020 and 2024, red districts have expanded, with over 419 congressional districts becoming more Republican-leaning. Many of these districts have shown dramatic shifts, with more than 60 swinging toward Republican candidates by significant margins.
Looking ahead, 2026 will also pose challenges for Senate Republicans, who must defend 22 of the 35 seats at stake while Democrats will only need to safeguard 13. With at least three incumbent Democratic retirements, the landscape is shaping up to be contentious across both chambers of Congress.
As the midterm elections approach, the NRCC's targeting strategy, focusing on vulnerable districts and shifting demographics, will be key in determining the fate of both Republican and Democratic candidates in the 2026 elections. “Republicans are taking the fight straight to these House Democrats in their districts, and we will unseat them next fall,” Hudson declared, signaling a fierce contest ahead as both parties prepare for an increasingly polarized electorate.
