New roadblock to keeping GOP House control is headed Mike Johnson's way: report

Democrats who are hoping to snatch control of the House away from Republicans and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) in 2026 are going to get a major boost from former Republicans who want to see Donald Trump neutered for the last two years he is in office.

According to a report from Politico’s Andrew Howard, the Save America Movement PAC has launched a new initiative labeled “Save America Seats,” with plans to raise and spend $100 million in support of Democratic challengers targeting GOP-held seats.

The report notes that disaffected former GOP campaign consultant Steve Schmidt is behind the initiative, which will be the PAC’s first foray into candidate-focused attacks.

According to co-founder Mary Corcoran, “The Save America Movement was started with the express mission of defeating MAGA, but the electoral side, particularly the 2026 elections, are absolutely critical to that mission.”

The report notes they have “big plans” and hope to raise the big money needed to make a dent in the GOP caucus and they feel the timing is right.

"The timing of the launch comes just a week after progressive Tennessee state Rep. Aftyn Behn made a double-digit cut into the GOP’s margin in a deep-red House seat but still came up 9 points shy of victory. That performance followed Democrats making sweeping gains in November’s off-year races, ranging from gubernatorial wins in New Jersey and Virginia to two flips on a statewide utility board in Georgia,” Politico is reporting, with adviser Brandon Hall admitting, “We can’t truly break the MAGA movement until these Republican members of Congress are more afraid of their own voters than they are of Donald Trump.”

Corcoran detailed their strategy, explaining, “Republicans have always been really good about speaking to voters early. We need to fill that gap and ensure by the time the candidates are actually campaigning, the voters already have a perspective in their minds about how they’re going to vote.”

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