House Majority Leader Steve Scalisi stated on Thursday that despite facing significant headwinds ahead of the pivotal November elections, the Republican Party still has an opportunity to secure a majority in the House of Representatives during the 2026 midterm elections.

Recent polling indicates that voter dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans has intensified just before the election, primarily driven by discontent with the state of the economy.

However, Democrats face a steeper challenge in capturing the Senate, as they must overcome an unfavorable map of contested seats during this election cycle.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalisi, a Republican representative from Louisiana, asserted on Thursday that his party maintains a pathway to win a House majority in 2026, even as it confronts strong political headwinds preceding the crucial November vote.

Polls show that voter frustration with President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers has heightened shortly before the election, largely due to economic grievances. A recent survey from the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research revealed that Trump's approval rating on economic issues has fallen to 30%, with a significant 70% of voters disapproving of his performance.

The outcome of this election is critically important, as it will directly shape Trump's political standing in 2027: he could either face a Congress controlled by Democrats, rendering him a "lame duck" president, or continue to work with a Republican majority for the remainder of his term.

Speaking in an interview on CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Thursday, Scalisi expressed confidence that Republicans can navigate the current challenges—some of which stem from price surges linked to the conflict with Iran.

He outlined the party's strategy, stating, "Our path to victory hinges fundamentally on boosting voter turnout and delivering on our promises to genuinely reverse the chaotic situation we inherited a year and a half ago."

The Iran conflict has driven gasoline prices higher, with no signs of relief as the summer travel season approaches. During early trading on Thursday, U.S. crude oil prices hovered near $105 per barrel. According to data from the American Automobile Association (AAA), the national average price for gasoline has reached $4.30 per gallon. Voters have repeatedly criticized Trump and Republicans over the cost of living, while Democrats have capitalized on a "lower cost of living" message to achieve significant victories in various off-year elections during 2025.

Scalisi also criticized Democrats for blocking funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), suggesting that Republicans, who gained traction on immigration issues in 2024, can leverage this same advantage again in 2026.

He commented, "Midterm elections are historically difficult for the party in power, but today's Democratic Party is not what it once was. Democrats in Washington consistently vote against measures on various issues and are now even obstructing the entire operation of the Department of Homeland Security. Ultimately, this does not benefit them... They will have to answer for this in the November election."

Democrats have refused to fund the DHS following Trump's implementation of a stringent immigration policy in Minnesota that resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens. The Associated Press-NORC poll also indicated a decline in Trump's approval rating on immigration, with only 40% of voters expressing support.

Current polling generally favors Democrats to win the House in November: the RealClearPolitics average of generic ballot polls shows Democrats leading by approximately 5.2 percentage points. Republicans currently hold a narrow 5-seat majority in the House, which expanded from a 3-seat margin following the resignation and passing of some Democratic members.

However, securing control of the Senate presents a greater challenge for Democrats, who must navigate an unfavorable electoral map this cycle. To shift the balance of power in the Senate, Democrats would need to flip seats in at least four states while successfully defending all of their current seats.

A recent report from Wolfe Research obtained by CNBC highlighted the difficulty of this objective, noting, "This goal is exceptionally challenging, particularly given that Republicans currently hold a significant fundraising advantage. We project that Democrats will fall just short, resulting in a Senate composition of 49-50 seats. Our baseline forecast is that Republicans will narrowly retain control of the Senate."