Key GOP senator privately says party is in “fight for our lives” in midterms, but sees path to holding onto Senate

Updated on: September 23, 2026 / 10:53 PM EDT / CBS News

In a closed-door meeting with lawmakers, the chair of the Senate GOP's campaign arm made the case that the party can still outrun a difficult political environment and hold on to the Senate in the November midterms, multiple people in the room confirmed to CBS News.

"We're in the fight for our lives with a record number of toss-up races," Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), told his colleagues during Wednesday's meeting, CBS News has learned.

With just under six weeks until the midterms, Scott said the group will focus its future spending on a handful of tight races where it is either defending GOP-held seats or attempting to flip Democratic seats, the people said.

Scott pointed to Maine, Texas, Ohio, Iowa and Alaska as among the seats the party is defending. As for opportunities to go on offense, he named New Hampshire and Michigan.

Semafor was first to report on Scott's comments.

The meeting came as Republicans aim to defend their narrow majorities in the House and Senate — and prepare to face down political headwinds wrought by President…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/