Kevin McCarthy has no hope left of Republicans maintaining control of the House.
In an interview with Bloomberg TV on Thursday, the former House Speaker said Democrats would likely win the chamber, pointing to historical midterm trends and criticizing Speaker Mike Johnson for keeping lawmakers in Washington for too few legislative days.
'It's not that the Democrats are going to win this election,' McCarthy said. 'Republicans are going to lose it.'
He also challenged Republicans to explain what they would do if they retained control, saying, 'What are the three things Republicans will do if they win the majority? I can't tell you what that is.'
McCarthy, who helped Republicans win the House in 2022 before being ousted as speaker less than a year later, predicted Democrats would struggle to govern if they took power, arguing they had failed to lay out a clear agenda of their own.
His pessimistic assessment comes as other Republicans have privately conceded that holding the House is becoming increasingly difficult, with party officials shifting their focus toward limiting losses rather than expanding their majority.
In a Politico report last week, five senior Republican lawmakers have expressed doubts about the party's chances, with one saying the goal was now to 'save as many Republican seats as we can.'
The growing concern has also sparked questions about Johnson's future if Republicans lose their majority.
'It's not that the Democrats are going to win this election,' Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said on Bloomberg TV. 'Republicans are going to lose it'
Earlier this month, Johnson joked about the possibility of defeat, tellung Fox News he was unsure what his 'next chapter of life' would be if Republicans lost the chamber, even joking that he could return to his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana, and start a lawn-care business
Republicans have begun discussing who could replace Johnson in a potential leadership shake-up, with Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan among the names floated as possible contenders
Earlier this month, Johnson appeared to acknowledge the possibility of defeat when he told Fox News he was unsure what his 'next chapter of life' would be if Republicans lost the chamber, even joking that he could return to his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana, and start a lawn-care business.
He later sought to squash speculation about his future, telling CBS News he expected Republicans to ask him to continue leading the conference even if they fell into the minority.
Behind the scenes, Republicans have also begun discussing who could replace Johnson in a potential leadership shake-up, with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan among the names floated as possible contenders, according to The Washington Post.
Scalise, however, has pushed back against talk of defeat, arguing that Republicans still have opportunities to win competitive races and urging his colleagues to focus on the campaign rather than a potential leadership contest, according to Axios.
McCarthy's comments underscore the divisions within the GOP as Election Day approaches, with some Republicans publicly maintaining confidence while others are already preparing for the possibility of losing their grip on the chamber.
Even if Democrats take control, McCarthy warned, they will face their own challenges in governing, arguing that they have yet to offer voters a clear agenda for what they would do with power.
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