While pundits talk about a post-impeachment civil war within the Republican Party, the truth is that the GOP is more unified than ever in taking back control of Congress in 2022.
History is also on the Right’s side, with Democrats in charge of both chambers and President Biden pushing a leftist, go-at-it-alone agenda. Put simply, Democrats are helping to unify the Republican Party.
Historically, the party not in the White House expands its majorities in midterm elections, with the greatest example being 1994. That year, Democrats were burned after President Bill Clinton made unpopular pushes to overhaul healthcare. The legislative overreach cost Democrats. Republicans regained control of both houses of Congress for the first time in more than 40 years, widening their lead in the Senate to a 53 to 47 advantage and 230 to 214 in the House.
Could Biden and Democratic Leaders see a repeat performance 28 years later?
The answer lies in how bruising our Republican primaries could be and on the question as to whether former President Donald Trump, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy can agree on the candidates they will back in the primaries. Failure to unify will risk Republicans taking back Congress, but also Trump’s four years of legislative accomplishments.
But how to win?
To regain control, Republicans should focus on consensus issues that speak to our core principles, much like Newt Gingrich’s 1994 Contract with America. These should be guiding principles that play well to both the “Trumpers” and centrists in the GOP, as well as to independent and even conservative Democratic voters. Here are five to start with.
Strengthening the defense of our homeland and securing our southern border. Getting us out of a COVID suppressed economy by highlighting how Democratic governors and mayors have crushed jobs, schools and failed our nation’s seniors. Discussing socialism and why people like myself risked oppressive regimes to come to the United States legally and work hard to achieve the American dream. Keeping the U.S. energy independent. Lowering drug and healthcare costs and taking further action to confront burdensome out-of-pocket costs under Obamacare.
One easy way for Republicans to hurt themselves, especially after the events of Jan. 6, is by discounting those who still believe the presidency was stolen from Trump. Remember, it’s not just the 75% of Republicans who believe Biden did not win the election legitimately. According to a January 2021 CNN poll, 36% of Independent voters also believe this to be true. The best way to address their concerns is to make the first order of business in a Republican-controlled Congress an election integrity bill. Such legislation would outright ban the 2020 election expansions that widened the scope of mail-in voting and ballot harvesting, which allows a third-party individual to go from house-to-house collecting ballots with no requirement for voter identification or chain of custody.
Having served as a lawyer in both the House and Senate, I would highlight the following: Should Republicans succeed in flipping both the House and Senate, Biden’s take-it-or-leave-it legislative agenda will surely be dead on arrival. Lastly, let’s not forget what President Ronald Reagan said, “Somebody who agrees with you 80% of the time is a friend and ally, not a 20% traitor.”
Friends, let’s endeavor to pursue victory rather than fall into the Left’s trap of a damaging internecine war.
Amanda Makki was a 2020 Republican candidate in Florida’s 13th Congressional District. She is a lawyer who worked in Congress for a decade as a healthcare policy adviser and at the Pentagon just weeks after 9/11. She is a native Farsi speaker and lives in St. Petersburg, Florida.
