House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) listens as House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) answers questions during a news conference June 13 in Washington. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)Top House Republicans warned their GOP colleagues Tuesday to watch out and get ready, because a political storm could be coming in 2018. They cited increased grass-roots engagement on the left and robust fundraising for Democratic candidates in recent special elections in urging lawmakers to accelerate their own political efforts in response. From 2009 through 2016, the committee spent about $9.7 million combined on special elections. Multiple members inside the Tuesday morning meeting said the challenge was also presented in historical terms: Parties in power tend to lose ground in the midterm congressional elections.

Source: Washington Post June 13, 2017 17:13 UTC