Republicans push Trump to endorse in key House races

President Donald Trump campaigned hard for Tim Scott in South Carolina last week, but now Republican insiders say it's time for the White House to step up in races that will decide which party controls Congress after the 2024 election.

The push comes as Democrats hold a narrow three-seat majority in the House and Republicans need just a handful of seats to flip it. Trump's endorsement power helped Scott win South Carolina's Senate primary, but the former president's backing hasn't been enough in competitive House districts where Republicans are struggling. Some GOP strategists privately call this "put up or shut up time" for Trump and other party leaders to deliver in races that will shape the next two years of American politics.

The frustration is most visible in battleground states like California, New York, and Ohio, where Republicans have struggled to recruit strong candidates or get Trump's backing behind them. In California's 41st District, for example, Rep. Ken Calvert is facing a tough primary challenge from a Trump-aligned candidate who has struggled to gain traction. Meanwhile, in New York's 17th District, the National Republican Congressional Committee has been slow to invest in the race, leaving Democrats with an early advantage. The NRCC has raised concerns about Trump's ability to transfer his endorsement power into actual votes in these races.

What happens next could determine whether Republicans can turn their narrow polling leads into a real wave in November. The party's campaign arm has started funneling more money into key races, but strategists say they need Trump and other leaders to use their influence to help candidates win primaries first. If Republicans can't close the gap in these races, they risk losing control of the House before the general election even begins. The clock is ticking, and the pressure is on for Trump to deliver where it matters most.