GOP Strategist Warns Trump: Time to Stop Hoarding Cash and Start Fighting

Clear Facts

• Republican strategist Liz Mair warns GOP faces significant challenges in 2026 midterms with less than three months until Election Day
• Trump administration could take immediate executive actions to curb inflation on gas and groceries but many conflict with President’s core policy positions
• Mair suggests Trump deploy campaign war chest to vulnerable Republicans rather than stockpiling funds in final term

With the 2026 midterm elections approaching rapidly, a leading Republican strategist is sounding the alarm about the party’s prospects and calling on President Trump to take decisive action.

The GOP faces traditional midterm headwinds as the party controlling the White House typically experiences voter backlash. While Trump proved he can win presidential elections in both 2016 and 2024, polling suggests some voters who supported him have soured on his administration once in office.

What’s particularly concerning for conservatives is the GOP’s declining approval ratings on economic issues, with voters increasingly trusting Democrats on what should be Republican territory. This shift threatens to hand control of the House, and potentially the Senate, to a Democratic Party increasingly influenced by Democratic Socialists of America.

According to Mair, there are concrete steps the Trump administration could take immediately to reverse course, though many will require the President to set aside long-held policy preferences.

The easiest action would be redirecting Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission investigations away from Big Tech companies offering free or low-cost products and toward corporations genuinely driving up consumer prices. Big meat conglomerates like Brazilian giant JBS have been accused of inflating beef prices.

Major hospital systems including New York-Presbyterian and OhioHealth face allegations of anticompetitive practices that drive up healthcare costs and insurance premiums. Real estate players like Zillow have similarly been accused of pushing property prices higher through market manipulation.

Federal investigations into several of these entities are already underway, but Mair argues Trump should use his bully pulpit more aggressively. His Queens-born instincts for tough negotiation could force price decreases or limit future hikes, even if opponents criticize the tactics as heavy-handed.

More difficult for the President would be rolling back tariffs that have demonstrably driven up prices, particularly for groceries. While this conflicts with Trump’s trade philosophy, the evidence shows tariffs have hit American consumers hard in their wallets.

Another challenging policy shift would involve Vice President JD Vance’s foreign policy approach, particularly military action targeting Iran. While unpopular with major GOP donors and many Republican voters, reconsidering this stance could help lower gas prices, which in turn affect grocery costs through transportation expenses.

A third option that might anger farm country involves reducing EPA-imposed ethanol blending requirements, currently adding between 20 cents to one dollar per gallon of gas while reducing fuel efficiency. For limited-government conservatives, this policy change would be welcome regardless of political calculations.

Accelerating wind power projects presents another opportunity, despite Trump’s well-known opposition to wind turbines. With gas turbine manufacturers effectively sold out and new gas plants requiring five years minimum to deliver power, wind projects can come online within 12 to 18 months to meet surging electricity demand in key states like Texas, Iowa, Ohio, and Michigan.

Beyond policy, Republicans need effective political strategy. If Democrats make the election about cost of living, Republicans must shift the conversation elsewhere, and some are finding success with this approach.

In Maine, Senator Susan Collins remains competitive partly due to aggressive opposition research targeting Democrat Graham Platner, which has weakened Democrats statewide. In Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton is highlighting Democrat James Talarico’s far-left positions on abortion and transgender issues, though success remains uncertain given economic concerns dominating voter attention.

Exposing Democratic candidates’ vulnerabilities, including alleged criminal conduct and extreme social positions, could help on the margins. This might prevent a Democratic-controlled Senate and limit the size of a potential House majority, which could prove crucial if Democrats attempt another Trump impeachment.

Highlighting the Democratic Socialists of America’s growing influence and alleged antisemitism may also benefit Republicans in select races. Representative Mike Lawler’s improving political fortunes even as the national GOP environment worsens suggests this approach has merit in certain districts.

Perhaps most importantly, Trump should deploy the substantial funds warehoused in his various campaign committees to aid vulnerable Republicans. In previous midterm cycles, the President faced criticism for being stingy with campaign spending.

Now in his final term and facing potential impeachment proceedings if Democrats control the Senate, hoarding campaign cash serves no purpose. Strategic deployment of these resources could secure victories currently appearing out of reach.

While Mair acknowledges November’s results may already be largely determined, she argues these changes matter beyond electoral politics. Implementing better policy now improves Americans’ lives immediately and potentially facilitates superior policy outcomes in the future.

That fundamental purpose, serving the American people through better governance, should motivate politicians across all ideologies. The coming months will reveal whether the Trump administration and congressional Republicans can prioritize this mission over political calculations and ideological purity.

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