Exclusive: Mike Johnson to travel to 22 states in final midterm sprint

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is launching a six-week campaign blitz that will take him to more than 40 congressional districts across 22 states through Election Day, Axios has learned. Why it matters: Johnson is going all-in on defending Republicans' House majority at a moment when the political terrain is shifting toward Democrats. The Cook Political Report moved 15 House races toward Democrats on Friday and said Republicans would need to win a majority of the remaining toss-up races to keep control of the chamber. Driving the news: Johnson's campaign swing will be split evenly between Republican-held seats the party is fighting to defend and Democratic-held districts the GOP hopes to pick up, according to details shared first with Axios. The speaker begins his travel this week in Louisiana and New York. He'll also campaign in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. The six-week sprint builds on Johnson's August road show, when he traveled across 18 states for 75 events in 52 cities. What they're saying: "With less than 40 days until the most consequential midterm election in modern history, Republicans are not slowing down as we give voters a clear choice between common sense and Democrats' crazy," Johnson told Axios in a statement. "From coast to coast, I am leaving it all on the field to defend our House majority because the stakes have never been higher. Democrats have embraced socialism and communism and nominated the most radical candidates to ever run for Congress," the speaker continued. Zoom out: Johnson has also broken fundraising records, raising more through the second quarter than any Republican speaker or leader in a midterm cycle. Earlier this month, Johnson announced another $13 million transfer to GOP incumbents, challengers and the NRCC. The NRCC enters the final stretch with $13 million more cash on hand than the DCCC, the largest lead the committee has ever held at this point in the election cycle.

Read it at Axios ↗

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