NRCC Chairman Steve Stivers: We’re Battle-Tested, We’ll Defy Expectations This Fall

WASHINGTON – NRCC Communications Chairman Steve Stivers sat down with CNBC’s John Harwood to discuss why Republicans feel confident going into November’s midterm elections.

CNBC’s John Harwood: Everyone seems to agree, you’ve got the toughest job in politics right now.

Rep. Steve Stivers: It’s a tough job.

Harwood: Tell me about that.

Stivers: But I feel good. Historically speaking, when the president and the House are of the same party, the House should lose about 30 seats. We have a 23-seat majority. That makes it tough. But the good news is we have our best candidates in our toughest races, 23 of them just last year in 2016 won an election in a district where Hillary Clinton also won.

We had more retirements than I would have liked, we had more special elections than I would have liked. But the special elections allow us to be battle-tested.

Harwood: But you agree that they’re on offense. Their side is more juiced up. Their – you’ve got a challenge…

Stivers: We have known their side is excited since January, since the day after the inauguration last year when we saw a giant protest march in Washington.

Harwood: 3.9% unemployment?

Stivers: But we have a great economy. And I think that’s why we’re going to defy expectations.