The National Republican Congressional Committee added eight candidates to its MAGA Majority program on Monday, signaling confidence in expanding the Republican House majority during the 2026 midterms.

NRCC Chairman Richard Hudson announced the slate, which brings the total number of MAGA Majority recruits to 17. "House Republicans are on offense, and this latest round of MAGA Majority candidates proves we're not slowing down," Hudson said. "These are battle-tested leaders who reflect their districts and are ready to take the fight to vulnerable Democrats. With the right candidates in place early, we're expanding the map and putting more seats firmly in play for 2026."

The new additions are Jim Desmond in California's 48th District, Aaron Flint in Montana's 1st, Brinker Harding in Nebraska's 2nd, Greg Cunningham in New Mexico's 2nd, Carrie Buck in Nevada's 1st, Marty O'Donnell in Nevada's 3rd, Eric Conroy in Ohio's 1st, and John Braun in Washington's 3rd.

Three of the races are open seats where Republican incumbents are retiring: Darrell Issa in CA-48, Ryan Zinke in MT-01, and Don Bacon in NE-02. The others pit Republican challengers against Democratic incumbents, including Reps. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), Dina Titus (NV-01), Susie Lee (NV-03), Greg Landsman (OH-01), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03).

Several districts went for Donald Trump in 2024, including NM-02, NV-03, WA-03, and MT-01. Redistricting has made others competitive: CA-48 shifted toward Democrats, while OH-01 moved toward Republicans.

The candidates bring strong resumes. Desmond is a San Diego County supervisor, U.S. Navy veteran, former mayor, and small business owner. President Trump endorsed him earlier this month. Flint is a fifth-generation Montanan, a combat veteran with over 20 years of military service, and a conservative radio host. Harding serves as an Omaha city councilman and business leader. Cunningham is a Marine Corps combat veteran and former Albuquerque police officer. Buck is a Nevada state senator, educator, and former school principal. O'Donnell is a small business owner and composer known for work on Halo and Destiny video games. Conroy is an Air Force veteran and former CIA officer. Braun is a manufacturing business owner, Washington state Senate minority leader, and a 31-year veteran.

MAGA Majority, a rebranding of the NRCC's longtime Young Guns program, provides early financial support, strategic resources, and visibility to top recruits aligned with Trump's agenda on border security, costs, energy, and American workers. The program launched in March with nine candidates and now covers battlegrounds nationwide.

Republicans hold a narrow House majority and recently reported $78.2 million cash on hand, topping the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's roughly $70 million. Over a dozen Democrats represent Trump-won districts, giving the GOP a favorable map despite midterm headwinds for the president's party.

Democrats countered with their Red to Blue list of 12 candidates targeting GOP seats. Both parties eye redistricting battles, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis calling a special session and a Virginia referendum that could cost Republicans seats.