Republicans see GOP dysfunction as major liability ahead of midterms

Source: The Hill

05/04/26 6:00 AM ET


Senate Republicans say the dysfunction in the House is becoming a liability for the broader GOP brand ahead of this year’s midterm elections, warning that if Congress can’t break through legislative gridlock, the party’s candidates will pay a severe political price in November.

Republican senators were dumbfounded by their House counterparts’ refusal to pass a Homeland Security appropriations bill passed by the Senate to fund critical agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration, even after President Trump signed off on the deal. The House finally did pass the bill funding most of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last week.

Now GOP senators are bracing for another protracted standoff between Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) over a long-term extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act’s (FISA) enhanced surveillance authorities and the farm bill — two must-pass items on the GOP agenda.

Republican senators across the political spectrum say they fear the Speaker has lost control of his conference and that it will be incredibly difficult to pass legislation before the midterm elections, even though many GOP senators believe it’s important to rack up more accomplishments before Election Day.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5860118-senate-republicans-house-infighting-gridlock/