Republican lawmakers are weighing in on devastating election losses, with one noting that even a spiritual intervention would have failed.
During a Wednesday CNN report on the midterm fallout for the GOP, which handed a resounding sweep of both chambers of Congress to the Democrats, the network’s chief congressional correspondent Manu Raju shared what lawmakers have been telling him.
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), who lost his reelection bid in New York’s 17th Congressional District, told the reporter that he “ran as good a campaign as he possibly could” but that “the bottom fell out.”
Rep. Mike Lawler to me on his race, citing the brutal environment for the GOP: “Jesus Christ could have run and would have lost.” https://t.co/7FyXtrZrxl
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) November 5, 2026
“And when I asked him more about that, he said, ‘Jesus Christ could have run and would have lost,’” Raju told CNN host Anderson Cooper as he recalled the Republican’s loss to Democrat Cait Conley, “one of the three Republicans running in a district that Kamala Harris actually carried in 2024.”
“On the Republican side, it’s a reckoning. It’s a blame game of sorts about what exactly went wrong,” Raju said in his report.
He noted how Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) won reelection but blamed Republican leaders for “kneeling down to moderates within their own party and not standing firm to their principles.”
Raju reported that despite his reelection victory, Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.), said that “someone at the White House should be fired,” specifically pointing to White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.
“Others have pointed the finger at Pete Hegseth,” Raju added.
Lawler, a two-term congressman, conceded to Conley on Tuesday, telling supporters, “When all of the votes are counted tomorrow in Westchester, it’s going to be pretty clear that we will be short.”
“I called my opponent, Cait Conley, and offered my congratulations to her,” Lawler said. “And it’s something that I have never been afforded in any of my elections a concession on election night, and I fundamentally believe it’s the right thing to do. And so I congratulate Cait on her win and wish her well as our next member of Congress.”
The closely watched House race was fought over New York’s 17th Congressional District, which WABC described as a “diverse one.”
“It’s home to one of the largest Jewish populations of any congressional district in the country, along with villages that have among the highest per capita Haitian American and Hispanic populations in New York State. It includes communities popular with Wall Street bankers, police officers and firefighters.,” the outlet noted. “Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton live in the district.”
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
- DeSantis explains why ‘screaming socialism’ doesn’t work for GOP - November 7, 2026
- Trump says do nothing GOP-led Senate ‘is killing our country’ - November 7, 2026
- Miller pledges ‘absolute loyalty’ in first remarks as chief of staff, says Trump ‘saved America’ - November 7, 2026
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.