WASHINGTON _ Republicans largely downplayed Tuesday's special election in Pennsylvania, where a Democrat is poised to win in a solidly GOP district. But they acknowledged it's another reminder of the tough midterm election cycle ahead.
The race in Pennsylvania's 18th District had still not been called late Wednesday morning. Democrat Conor Lamb currently leads GOP state Rep. Rick Saccone by 627 votes in a district President Donald Trump carried by 20 points in 2016. Republicans were bracing for a loss in the final days of the race and were already placing blame on Saccone's lackluster fundraising.
Speaker Paul D. Ryan and National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Steve Stivers addressed GOP lawmakers in their regularly scheduled conference meeting Wednesday morning and discussed the election, saying Republicans needed to make sure they were ready for a fight.
"He said it's a bit of a wakeup call," Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said when asked about Ryan's message. "I think you can't deny that and if you do you're lying ... He made the point that I just made that you can't be outspent five to one by your opponent."
According to a source familiar with the message sent to Republicans at the meeting, leaders also encouraged lawmakers to be sure to define themselves, arguing Saccone's experience as an Air Force veteran has worked in counter-terrorism but voters weren't aware of that.
Leaders also cautioned that Lamb's candidacy would be difficult to replicate, something a number of Republicans echoed after the meeting. Lamb was chosen by party delegates at a convention and not in a traditional primary, which can push candidates to party extremes.
"Same as always," GOP Rep. Rodney Davis said when asked about the NRCC's message to leaders. "Raise more money."
The Illinois Republican is one of being targeted by Democrats in 2018, and Trump carried his district by 6 points in 2017. Davis said he was always gearing up for a competitive race, regardless of what happened in Pennsylvania.
"We're always going to be prepared," Davis said. "That's the life of living in a district that's a competitive district."
Rep. Mimi Walters, R-Calif., said Tuesday night's outcome doesn't worry her. "I'm going to be fine," she said.
Walters is also a Democratic target since Hillary Clinton won her district by 6 points.
Rep. Claudia Tenney, one of the more vulnerable GOP incumbents, said her race was not comparable to the Pennsylvania race, since her likely Democratic opponent, Anthony Brindisi, has a record in the state assembly.
Brindisi outraised Tenney in the past two fundraising quarters, but Tenney wasn't worried.
"I've always been outspent and I will be outspent grossly in this race, I'm sure because Nancy Pelosi is doubling down," Tenney said.
GOP Rep. Charlie Dent, who is retiring, said Republicans should be concerned _ especially those in safer seats.
"There's going to be a narrative that the Democrats had their ideal candidate and we didn't have our preferred candidate," Dent said. "Truth is this is a very toxic environment and this is a district that's 95 percent white, Trump won by 20 points."
"I worry about members who've never been in a real fight before," said the Pennsylvania Republican. "They better be ready."
Republicans also continued to say that their tax overhaul is an effective campaign message for Republicans hoping to hang onto the majority. Should Lamb win, Democrats have to flip 23 seats to take back the House.
In the final weeks of the race, Republican outside groups that were previously touting the tax law swapped out that message for ads criticizing Lamb's record as a prosecutor. Democrats argued the move demonstrated Republicans did not believe the tax law was moving votes.
But Republicans still believe it will be an important accomplishment to tout on the campaign trail.
"The challenge is, you had a candidate that frankly hadn't had the opportunity to participate passing it," Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., said about the shift in messaging on the tax bill in Pennsylvania. Cole, a former NRCC chairman, said incumbents will be able to tell constituents they helped pass the legislation.
Still, Cole said Republicans were aware of the difficult cycle ahead. The president's party loses on average 33 seats in the first midterm of his presidency.
"I expect it to go right down to the wire in terms of holding the majority," Cole said. "But I don't think there's any illusions on our side."
