Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters says Republicans can defy the historical trend of midterm losses for the party in power and expand their House majority in 2026.
In an interview with the Washington Reporter, Gruters pointed to favorable electoral matchups, President Donald Trump's involvement in candidate recruitment, and Republican unity as reasons for optimism.
"Go to the Cook Political Report," Gruters said. "They have 18 toss-up seats. They give us the lead at 212 right now, so we need five of the 18 to win. My guess is that we win more like 10 of those. I think we increase the margin."
Gruters said Republican candidates will benefit from campaigning on Trump's agenda and contrasting their positions with those of Democrats.
"We have a great opportunity," he said. "We're going to defy history, and we're going to win the House."
The RNC chairman also highlighted two pending Supreme Court cases he believes could significantly affect future elections.
One case, National Republican Senatorial Committee v. Federal Election Commission, challenges restrictions on coordination between campaigns and party committees.
Gruters called it a potential "game changer" that could allow national party organizations to work more closely with candidates and stretch campaign dollars further.
The second case, Watson v. Republican National Committee, centers on election procedures and the handling of ballots after Election Day.
"Election Day should mean Election Day," Gruters said, arguing that ballots should not be added after polls close.
Gruters said the RNC currently has about 150 active election integrity lawsuits nationwide, which he described as the most in party history.
"We're on fire from an election integrity standpoint," he said. "We're winning a lot of these cases."
Gruters also pointed to recent Republican successes in litigation involving ranked-choice voting and election administration.
Looking ahead to 2026, he argued that issues such as affordability, border security, public safety, and prescription drug costs will favor Republicans.
Gruters credited Trump administration initiatives, including efforts to lower prescription drug prices through Trump Rx, with helping address voter concerns about household finances.
He also expressed confidence in Florida Republicans following recent redistricting changes, predicting the party will hold and expand its advantages in the state.
"I think we increase the margin," said Gruters. "That's only going to happen based on our side coming together, being united, [and] supporting the president and his policies."