NRCC Chairman Steve Stivers On FOX News: We’re Prepared To Go On Offense

The National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Steve Stivers today appeared on FOX News’ The Daily Briefing With Dana Perino to discuss Nancy Pelosi’s failed leadership and the onslaught of Democratic retirements in competitive seats.

FOX NEWS’ DANA PERINO: Congressman Steve Stivers joins me now. He is the Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee and I appreciate you being here, sir.

NRCC CHARIMAN REP. STIVERS: Thanks Dana.

 PERINO: I know that in a lot of races like the special that was held in Georgia, last year, Nancy Pelosi was actually one of the biggest draws for Republicans to come out and vote for the Republican and against the Democrat. Do you think Nancy Pelosi is going anywhere?

REP. STIVERS: I don’t think Nancy Pelosi is going anywhere, but it’s no surprise that her own colleagues have caught on to what voters have known for years, and that’s that Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic Party are out-of-touch. They’d love to whitewash this and put a new face on it, but the Democratic Party of 2017 is uber-liberal and not competitive in most of America, Dana.

PERINO: Are you finding that, so you’re the Chairman of the NRCC, so that means you’re looking across and your responsibility is for the 2018 midterms. That’s no small task. And so, as you look across, do you think that the Republicans have the advantage still? I saw Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia thinks the Republicans do both in the House and Senate. What is your take?

REP. STIVERS: Well, it’s going to be a competitive election. We need to be ready. But just today, Dana, another member of the Democratic House decided not to run for re-election in a district that Donald Trump carried, and that’s Carol Shea-Porter. So far, we have Carol Shea-Porter, Tim Walz, Kyrsten Sinema, as well as Jacky Rosen. Four of their incumbents in competitive districts have decided not to run for re-election. And we’re going to be on offense to go after those seats. We’re still going to have some defense to do, but we’re going to be on offense. And today’s announcement by Carol Shea-Porter also shows that there’s probably no Democratic wave, because if it was coming why would somebody, who just got re-elected to congress and has only been there a year and a half, be announcing she’s not running for congress again.