GOP prospects narrow in House as Democrats overperform in early contests

Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said the special-election results should be a “wake-up call” to Republicans who have overestimated the party’s chances. In an interview, he urged lawmakers in safe seats to put more money toward the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) and other candidates.

“Our people ought to take a look at this and look in the mirror,” he said, “and if you haven’t done everything you’re supposed to do — to not only help yourself, but help the team — then you’ve got to do more.”

Cole, a former NRCC chairman, was optimistic the GOP still has the resources to “play very deep” into Democratic territory, and the GOP has set its sights on districts that Biden once won handily.

But another ex-chairman of the NRCC, Tom Davis, said Republicans may want to pull resources back from their most ambitious pickup prospects to focus more on swing districts.

“If you’re Democrats, there are some signs of life out there,” Davis said. “And for Republicans whose expectation is this is going to be a cakewalk, they’ve got a lot of work to do between now and November.”