House GOP whip: Limit spending to districts with "biggest return"

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) is adjusting his expectations and focusing on a more selective campaign strategy as Republicans' chances of maintaining their majority appear less certain. Emmer, a former National Republican Congressional Committee chair who helped the GOP gain seats in 2020, believes his party can still succeed in November, but he acknowledges tough decisions are needed about where to allocate resources.

He likened the situation to managing a business's balance sheet, emphasizing the need to invest in areas with the highest potential return. Emmer, who will visit 56 districts between September and Election Day, said Republicans made the mistake of spreading themselves too thin in 2022, when they failed to focus their efforts effectively.

The current national environment, with an unpopular president and concerns over living costs and the war in Iran, further complicates the GOP's prospects. Emmer suggested that Republicans should identify districts they cannot salvage and realign their efforts elsewhere. While he supported the NRCC's decision to back embattled Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) in the Senate race, he cautioned that Miller's path to victory was narrow.

Emmer also warned against political missteps, such as Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar's (R-Fla.) ad criticizing Trump's immigration policies, which he deemed a "huge mistake."