George Santos calls GOP midterm losses a disaster after key defeats

Former Representative George Santos characterized the 2026 midterm elections as a "full disaster" for the Republican Party, according to The Hill. He cited key losses in states traditionally considered Republican strongholds, including Iowa and Texas.

Santos specifically referenced the defeat of Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson in Iowa's competitive Senate election by Democrat Josh Turek. This loss, along with the GOP's defeat in Iowa's gubernatorial race, shifted the state toward the Democratic Party, The Hill reported.

In Texas, Democrat James Talarico won a Senate seat, defeating Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton. This marked a significant shift as Talarico became the first Democrat to win a Texas Senate seat in decades. Meanwhile, Republicans held some seats in Florida, but Democrats gained others in Michigan and Kansas.

Following the election results, Santos withdrew his bid to become the next White House press secretary, stating that the night was a bad one and expressing concern about the future. He also advised incoming congressional members to "lawyer up," echoing a comment from Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia, who will chair the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

The Hill reported that Santos described the election results as a "s‑‑‑ show" and said the outcomes "absolutely scare" him about what happens next.