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Illustration: A\u00efda Amer\/Axios<\/p>\n
House Republicans' push for major spending cuts could undermine the party's effort to win the Senate.<\/p>\n
The big picture: <\/strong>Several House Republicans are likely to run for competitive Senate seats in 2024. If they vote to cut Medicare, Social Security or some other entitlement programs in the meantime, they could hurt their own chances.<\/p>\n What they're saying: <\/strong>"If history is any guide, candidates who vote to cut Medicare or Social Security will be faced with criticism in an election," said one GOP strategist working on Senate races.<\/p>\n Where it stands:<\/strong> Conservatives made a deal with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to create a budget that balances over the next decade \u2014 which is almost impossible to achieve without touching Medicare or Social Security, though GOP leaders have said they won't touch either program.<\/p>\n Details: <\/strong>Several House members are already plotting campaigns for competitive Senate races.<\/p>\n \u201cWhenever House members run for Senate, <\/strong>their voting records are fair game," said former GOP campaign strategist Alex Conant. "And I think if Republicans make some unpopular votes in the House, that would likely catch up to them on the campaign trail in the Senate."<\/p>\n Yes, but: <\/strong>With a razor-thin majority as is, House GOP leadership also has every incentive to keep their members from taking votes that could come back to haunt them next year.<\/p>\n\n
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