Trump loyalist turns on Mike Johnson

By VICTORIA CHURCHILL, US POLITICAL REPORTER

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A top ally of President Donald Trump is the highest-ranking Republican to sound alarm bells in Washington after Tuesday's special election in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District. Elise Stefanik, a New York Republican who served as chair of the House Republican Conference from 2021 to 2025, called out House Republican Speaker Mike Johnson for being 'a political novice' in an i nterview with the Wall Street Journal. Stefanik also described Tuesday's results as 'House Republicans underperforming for the first time in the Trump era.'

A top ally of President Donald Trump is the highest-ranking Republican to sound alarm bells in Washington after Tuesday's special election in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District. Elise Stefanik, a New York Republican who served as chair of the House Republican Conference from 2021 to 2025, called out House Republican Speaker Mike Johnson for being 'a political novice' in an i nterview with the Wall Street Journal. Stefanik also described Tuesday's results as 'House Republicans underperforming for the first time in the Trump era.'

Republican victory Tuesday night in Tennessee offered a brief sigh of relief - but did nothing to alleviate the panic pulsating through the party about next year's midterm elections. Matt Van Epps' 9-point win is much lower than President Donald Trump's 22-point margin of victory in the Tennessee district in 2024. Former Republican congressman Mark Green, who resigned from Congress creating a vacancy for his seat this summer, also won by 22 points in 2022. The 13-point swing within the course of a year could prove to be disastrous for Republicans if Democrats maintain this margin in the 2026 midterms.

Republican victory Tuesday night in Tennessee offered a brief sigh of relief - but did nothing to alleviate the panic pulsating through the party about next year's midterm elections. Matt Van Epps' 9-point win is much lower than President Donald Trump's 22-point margin of victory in the Tennessee district in 2024. Former Republican congressman Mark Green, who resigned from Congress creating a vacancy for his seat this summer, also won by 22 points in 2022. The 13-point swing within the course of a year could prove to be disastrous for Republicans if Democrats maintain this margin in the 2026 midterms.

A total of 35 members of the Republican conference won their seats by 13 points or fewer in 2024. These include big names like Wisconsin Republican Derrick Van Orden, Florida Republican Anna Paulina Luna, and even Republican Colorado Representative Lauren Boebert. The electoral swing was classed as a 'flashing red light warning' by former GOP communications staffer Matt Whitlock, who is now at the strategy firm CRC Advisors.

A total of 35 members of the Republican conference won their seats by 13 points or fewer in 2024. These include big names like Wisconsin Republican Derrick Van Orden, Florida Republican Anna Paulina Luna, and even Republican Colorado Representative Lauren Boebert. The electoral swing was classed as a 'flashing red light warning' by former GOP communications staffer Matt Whitlock, who is now at the strategy firm CRC Advisors.

'If every House district in the country shifted left by this same amount — about 15 points — we would be looking at a blue wave far worse than 2018,' Whitlock also noted. Conservative commentator and radio host Erick Erickson noted on X that every time the 'GOP wins a special election ... the base insists it means everything is fine.' 'But the underlying data says otherwise, the political operatives know it, and something has to be done,' Erickson added. Democrats cut the Republican margin of victory by 15 percentage points.

'If every House district in the country shifted left by this same amount — about 15 points — we would be looking at a blue wave far worse than 2018,' Whitlock also noted. Conservative commentator and radio host Erick Erickson noted on X that every time the 'GOP wins a special election ... the base insists it means everything is fine.' 'But the underlying data says otherwise, the political operatives know it, and something has to be done,' Erickson added. Democrats cut the Republican margin of victory by 15 percentage points.

The clock is ticking for Republicans to turn this around, with the midterms now 11 months away. And as PBS NewsHour's Lisa Desjardins lays out in t his useful X thread, a whopping 35 House Republicans would be vulnerable to the sort of 15 percentage point swing we saw last night. That's a lot of nervous faces at Johnson's weekly conference lunch today. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis commented on Tuesday results by highlighting the fact that 2024's results include a sizable number 'of Trump-specific voters' who won't turn out without Trump's name on the ballot. The Republican Party nationalized the special election race, unleashing more than $3 million in advertising to carry their nominee over the finish line.

The clock is ticking for Republicans to turn this around, with the midterms now 11 months away. And as PBS NewsHour's Lisa Desjardins lays out in t his useful X thread, a whopping 35 House Republicans would be vulnerable to the sort of 15 percentage point swing we saw last night. That's a lot of nervous faces at Johnson's weekly conference lunch today. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis commented on Tuesday results by highlighting the fact that 2024's results include a sizable number 'of Trump-specific voters' who won't turn out without Trump's name on the ballot. The Republican Party nationalized the special election race, unleashing more than $3 million in advertising to carry their nominee over the finish line.

In his victory speech, Van Epps (pictured) doubled down on his support of the president, noting that 'running from Trump is how you lose,' before adding that 'running with Trump is how you win.' 'Politicians who run from the president or abandon the common-sense policies that the American people gave us a resounding mandate on do so at their own peril,' Van Epps said at his victory party. 'No matter what the DC insiders or liberal media say, this is President Trump's party. I'm proud to be a part of it and can't wait to get to work.'

In his victory speech, Van Epps (pictured) doubled down on his support of the president, noting that 'running from Trump is how you lose,' before adding that 'running with Trump is how you win.' 'Politicians who run from the president or abandon the common-sense policies that the American people gave us a resounding mandate on do so at their own peril,' Van Epps said at his victory party. 'No matter what the DC insiders or liberal media say, this is President Trump's party. I'm proud to be a part of it and can't wait to get to work.'

While the win is a relief for the party in power, it also carries warning signs for Republicans' midterm election hopes. If Democrats came this close in ruby red Tennessee, it means a batch of other seats are likely to be vulnerable next year. Van Epps defeated Aftyn Behn, a Democratic Tennessee state representative who campaigned on affordability in the deep-red district, promoting Medicaid protections, infrastructure improvements, and free school meals for children.

While the win is a relief for the party in power, it also carries warning signs for Republicans' midterm election hopes. If Democrats came this close in ruby red Tennessee, it means a batch of other seats are likely to be vulnerable next year. Van Epps defeated Aftyn Behn, a Democratic Tennessee state representative who campaigned on affordability in the deep-red district, promoting Medicaid protections, infrastructure improvements, and free school meals for children.

Trump claimed Van Epps' results as 'another great victory for the Republican Party' after 'Democrats threw everything at him, including Millions of Dollars' in a post on Truth Social Tuesday night. Johnson's majority is still on thin ice with the imminent departure of Georgia GOP Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who will resign her seat in January. Republicans will hold 220 seats in the House chamber to Democrats' 213 after Van Epps in sworn in. Two seats previously held by Democrats are still vacant.

Trump claimed Van Epps' results as 'another great victory for the Republican Party' after 'Democrats threw everything at him, including Millions of Dollars' in a post on Truth Social Tuesday night. Johnson's majority is still on thin ice with the imminent departure of Georgia GOP Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who will resign her seat in January. Republicans will hold 220 seats in the House chamber to Democrats' 213 after Van Epps in sworn in. Two seats previously held by Democrats are still vacant.

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