McCarthy says GOP ‘playing defense’ this election cycle: ‘That’s a problem’

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said in an interview on Tuesday that while he doesn’t think Republicans will lose the House in November, he believes the GOP is “playing defense” against what he views as a Democratic money advantage this election cycle.

“The problem being there, with the asterisk there, it’s easier to win seats in this cycle than last cycle, Democrats have more money,” McCarthy said in an interview on CNBC.

“Republicans are playing defense. That’s a problem,” he added.

Although Republicans are outspending Democrats in House races according to CNN, Democrats are raising and spending more in the presidential race and Senate contests.

CNN reported that Harris’s political operation raised $361 million in August, which is almost three times more than how much former President Trump raised. Harris, according to CNN, has consistently raised more than the former president.

CNN also found that, overall, Democrats have outspent Republicans in the Senate by more than $150 million this cycle.

When asked if McCarthy thought Republicans would lose the House in November, he said, “I don’t think so.”

“Republicans start by getting three more seats in North Carolina. They’ll pick up Alaska. We’ll win one in Colorado. We’ve got two in Michigan, a slot in there we can pick up,” McCarthy said.

Last week, NOTUS reported that McCarthy planned to disburse $14 million to help GOP candidates win their elections in the House and Senate, as well as former President Trump in the presidential race. The money will come from a super PAC that he supports called America Fund.

Of the $14 million, $6 million will go toward Senate races, $4 million for House races, $3 million for the Congressional Leadership Fund and $1 million for MAGA Inc., NOTUS reported. It also reported that McCarthy gave $4 million from his joint fundraising committee, Protect the House, to “vulnerable Republicans and the National Republican Congressional Committee” (NRCC) last month.

His disbursements for the cycle totaled $40.5 million to candidates, members, the NRCC and state parties, NOTUS said.