With five weeks until the midterms, the GOP is pivoting resources toward defending seats in states like Texas as confidence fades in Georgia and North Carolina.

Republicans are shifting their campaign focus as prospects for winning Senate seats in Georgia and North Carolina decline. With five weeks remaining before the midterm elections, the party is increasingly prioritizing the defense of seats in reliably Republican states, including Texas and Ohio. Senate leadership is reallocating resources as internal concerns grow regarding candidate performance and voter enthusiasm.

Challenges in Georgia and North Carolina

In Georgia, Republican businessman Mike Collins faces significant fundraising and advertising gaps against incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff. AdImpact data shows Ossoff has spent $57 million on advertising with $13 million more reserved, while Collins' campaign currently has no reserved airtime. Local party leaders have expressed pessimism about the race, citing the difficulty of unseating an incumbent during a challenging midterm cycle. In North Carolina, Republican candidate Michael Whatley faces a competitive race against former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper. Retiring Senator Thom Tillis has suggested the party must prioritize candidates who are within striking distance, noting that the GOP has only 36 days left to adjust its strategy. Strategists point to dampened enthusiasm among working-class voters due to economic concerns and high energy prices.

Shifting Resources to Texas and Ohio

The Senate Leadership Fund is now spending more in Texas than in any other state it initially targeted for defense. The group has committed over $100 million to support Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is facing Democratic state Representative James Talarico in a race now considered highly competitive. This spending was not part of the original midterm budget. Meanwhile, President Trump is scheduled to campaign in Ohio this Saturday for incumbent Senator Jon Husted, who is facing a challenge from former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown. Republicans are grappling with the political impact of high fuel prices, which many party members attribute to the ongoing war in Iran.