Now, with the election less than two months away and Republicans just five seats from a majority in the House, they hope to repeat their success from decades ago by giving candidates a platform to run against their Democratic rivals and providing the leadership a plan to govern if they regain a majority. And with an improved political environment for Democrats after Roe v. Wade was overturned, most Republicans were eager to shift the conversation away from abortion and talk about other issues like the economy, crime and borders. “The election should be a real showdown,” McCarthy said in an interview. “The country is hungry for people to sit down and say, ‘This is what I’m going to do.’ Tell us what you’re for.” McCarthy and his top lieutenants will formally unveil the agenda Friday at a metallurgical plant outside Pittsburgh — a location deliberately chosen outside of DC. But on Thursday, House Republicans got a preview of the messaging document on Capitol Hill. The plan, revealed in both English and Spanish, is divided into four main sections, though it reads more like policy goals than specific legislative prescriptions. One section focuses on the economy and fighting inflation by reducing government spending and making America energy independent. The second focuses on making the nation safer by securing the border and hiring more police officers to fight crime. The third focuses on empowering parents and taking on Big Tech. and the fourth focuses on holding government accountable and protecting constitutional liberties. The agenda — as well as McCarthy’s inclusive, member-driven approach to assembling it — won high praise from across Congress Thursday, with some lawmakers saying it will give McCarthy a boost in his quest for the speaker’s gavel . “I think it’s good,” said Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota, head of the House GOP’s campaign arm. “You have to run for something, not just against it.” “I’m really excited,” said Representative David Schweikert, R-Ariz., in a competitive race. “It’s easy to understand, it’s really positive and it really works.” “People feel good about it,” said veteran Rep. Tom Cole, a member of the GOP leadership. “It shows the Kevin McCarthy I know: extremely comprehensive.” “I’m very excited,” added Rep. Kat Cammack, a Florida Republican who is vying to lead the conservative Republican study committee next year. “This is a very thoughtful process. Every member has had their input. . . . Trying to fight all of us is definitely a triumph.” And during the closed-door meeting, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green of Georgia — a top Trump ally who has criticized McCarthy in the past — praised the document as “fantastic,” according to sources in the room. Green was selected to join a group of House Republicans traveling to Pittsburgh for the launch — just the latest example of how McCarthy has worked to bring even his most hard-line members into his bid for the majority. and the resolution. “It brings the conference together,” McCarthy said of his plan. “You know, you’re always going to find somebody (who disagrees), but generally, you’ve got the spectrum. And that’s not easy. … Everybody has skin in the game when everybody’s working on it.”
Gingrich and Conway speak at GOP convention
In addition to the “Pledge to America” update, members Thursday also heard from former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, the architect of the original “Contract with America,” as well as Kellyanne Conway, a GOP pollster and former adviser of Trump. Conway told lawmakers in the room that she believes touting their political platform on the campaign trail will be the difference between picking up just a handful of seats or dozens. He also told Republicans that the most important issues this fall will be safety, affordability, justice and education, and dismissed the “single-digit lead that Democrats have on Jan. 6 or climate or abortion in some areas.” . Conway encouraged GOP members to be specific when talking about the issues and advised Republicans, when asked about abortion, to turn Democrats around and ask what restrictions they support. “I encouraged them to finish their sentences, not just say border security, inflation, crime, the economy, Putin and Biden,” Conway told reporters after the meeting. Gingrich — who predicted Republicans would reclaim the majority by winning anywhere from 15 to 70 seats — praised the document as far more “sophisticated” and “sophisticated” than the one he put together in 1994. However, McCarthy’s policy plan is light on concrete proposals and more like a policy wish list, which was largely by design: getting down to the specifics can be much more difficult and divisive. For example, on the issue of abortion, the agenda simply promises that Republicans will “protect the lives of unborn children and their mothers.” MP Scott Perry, leader of the Conservative House Freedom Caucus, called it a “good start” and said most of the conference was behind it, but acknowledged they would need to “put a bit more meat on the bones” . Instead, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell chose not to reveal an official agenda, which could open Republicans to attack. For example, Democrats have already seized on House GOP policy plans, with Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office taking down screenshots of the agenda that were accidentally posted online on Wednesday and calling it the “extreme MAGA agenda.” McCarthy acknowledged the potential downsides to outlining a desired agenda ahead of the midterm elections, but said there’s a far greater reward in offering a platform to the public. “There’s always a risk, but you’re not going to succeed,” McCarthy said. “I think the country will reward someone who is willing to take the risk to say, ‘These are our ideas and this is what we’re going to do.’
