Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich cautioned that failing to retain control of the House in the 2026 midterm elections could lead to major legislative roadblocks for President Donald Trump’s second term.
Speaking with Fox Business host Larry Kudlow on Thursday, Gingrich warned that a Democrat-led House would bring endless investigations, policy obstruction, and even potential impeachment efforts under House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, similar to Nancy Pelosi’s tenure during Trump’s first term.
“Almost guarantee losing the Republican House next year and ruining the last two years of President Trump’s term with Hakeem Jeffries playing the Nancy Pelosi role—investigations, blocking programs, potential impeachments,” Gingrich said. “I mean, there’s a lot at stake here, and it frankly mystifies me as to how House and Senate Republicans can’t understand you’ve got to plan back from victory.”
Gingrich emphasized the need for a strong economy and a well-defined legislative agenda focused on tax cuts, deregulation, and energy affordability measures, stressing that these policies must be enacted no later than mid-2025 to help shape a winning narrative for Republicans.
“The victory here is winning in November of 2026. That requires a very strong economy. That requires a very strong tax cut deregulation, a pro-energy affordability bill, certainly no later than May or June,” he said.
Reflecting on past elections, Gingrich pointed out that timing matters. He noted that President Ronald Reagan lost 26 House seats in 1982 because his tax cuts did not take effect until 1983, and that Trump’s loss of 42 seats in 2018 was due in part to tax legislation being delayed until late 2017.
“When I hear senators saying cavalierly, ‘Oh, we’ll pass the easy bill early, and we’ll get around to the other bill by October,’ they’re talking about killing the chances of keeping the House Republican,” he warned.
Gingrich also advocated for an aggressive campaign strategy, urging Trump to hit the road in key districts where he previously performed well.
“There are 13 districts that have Democrats that he carried. There are another 21 districts that have Democrats where he came within 5%,” Gingrich said. “If he goes in those 34 districts and says, ‘A no vote is a vote for a tax increase on your family,’ I think you’ll see at least half those Democrats decide to vote with the Republicans.”
Meanwhile, Senate Republicans, led by Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), are laying the groundwork to expand their majority from 53 to 55 seats. Their strategy focuses on defending GOP seats in Maine, North Carolina, and Ohio while targeting Democratic strongholds in Michigan and Georgia—both of which Trump won in 2024. The GOP also sees potential gains in Virginia, New Mexico, and Minnesota, which could give them their largest Senate majority since George W. Bush’s second term.
Gingrich stressed that while Republicans have momentum, they must act decisively to capitalize on it. Without a clear legislative agenda and an early start on economic policies, he warned that the party risks repeating past mistakes that cost them control of Congress.
