LAREDO—Speaker Mike Johnson told South Texas Republicans that President Trump’s agenda is effectively on the ballot this November as the party works to preserve its recent gains along the border.
Johnson spent Thursday campaigning with several high-profile Republican congressional candidates in Texas, including Eric Flores, U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, and Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina.
The candidates are running in districts redrawn by the Texas Legislature last year to favor Republicans. Their campaigns will test whether the GOP can maintain the enthusiasm Trump generated in South Texas without the president himself appearing on the ballot.
Trump won 12 of Texas’ 14 border counties in 2024, a dramatic Republican shift in a region long dominated by Democrats.
Speaking at a campaign event for Tijerina in Laredo, Johnson described the newly drawn 28th Congressional District as one of the most important House races in the country.
“Your district is in the top three battles in America,” Johnson told supporters.
Johnson cited projections showing 19 congressional seats as competitive and said Republicans must win districts like the 28th to protect their narrow House majority.
“This district and this battle matters more than almost any other around the country,” he said.
Tijerina is challenging Democrat U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, who narrowly defeated Republican Jay Furman by six percentage points in 2024.
“If you don’t think that this is possible, let me tell you something: Check yourselves,” said Tijerina. “All I’m asking you all to do is make sure that every single one of you multiply yourselves and get out the vote.”
Johnson said the election will require Republicans to convince Trump voters to return to the polls even though the president’s name will not appear on their ballots.
He pointed to the Republican National Committee’s first-ever midterm convention, scheduled for September 9 and 10 in Dallas, as a central part of that effort.
“The president’s going to look right into the camera, and he’s going to say, ‘I am on the ballot,’” Johnson said. “Because even though his name isn’t in the midterm, his legacy is, the America First priorities and principles are, his administration is.”
Trump is also scheduled to travel to Houston Thursday evening for an RNC fundraiser.
Johnson characterized the midterms as a “bridge election,” arguing that Republicans must maintain their majority until a more favorable presidential election environment in 2028 and congressional reapportionment following the 2030 census.
“If we defy history and we hold the line and we get Tano elected and Eric and Monica De La Cruz, we get all these guys elected and we hold the majority, no matter how large, we just got to bridge it,” he said.
Only twice in the past 90 years has the president’s party gained House seats during his first midterm election. Johnson predicted Republicans would buck that trend by emphasizing the Trump administration’s record and recruiting strong candidates in newly competitive districts.
“We got to have them, and we’re going to win this thing,” Johnson said.
