Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is donating large sums to House Republican campaigns at the state and national level as he faces the daunting task of maintaining and expanding the House majority — a feat proven difficult for the defending party in recent years.

Johnson donated a total of $11 million to House Republican efforts this week. A transfer of $5 million that went to the National Republican Congressional Committee on Monday, as well as a $4.1 million donation to top swing-district Republicans benefitting from Johnson’s “Grow the Majority” Joint Fundraising Committee. Members involved in the fundraising committee are to receive an average of $139,000, his campaign shared with the Washington Examiner.

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The remaining $1.9 million was directed toward non-incumbent GOP candidates, state parties, and other GOP committees, such as the Republican National Committee.

Johnson said in a statement to the Washington Examiner that the investments will help “make sure our team is ready to defy history and win again in 2026.”

“House Republicans are fired up and on offense to kick off the 2026 cycle,” Johnson said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “While House Democrats have no message, no leader, and no vision, we are working to deliver on our America First agenda and get the resources our members and candidates will need to defend and grow our majority.”

The last five presidents have all had periods where both the House and the Senate were controlled by their party, but most lasted just two years before one of the chambers flipped to the opposition.

The last time Republicans held a trifecta was during President Donald Trump’s first term, from 2017 to 2019. During that time, one of the crowning achievements of his administration was the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and Republicans are moving quickly to try and use the first two years of Trump’s second term to renew the tax cuts and pass more of his agenda before Judgment Day on Nov. 3, 2026.

Republican leaders have acknowledged that the failure of trifectas, including theirs, is waiting until the last two years of an administration to make a significant change. Historically, the House flips to the party opposite the White House in the midterm elections as the party’s high favor with voters begins to fade with each passing week due to contentious legislation, infighting, or executive actions by the president.

Johnson and NRCC Chairman Richard Hudson (R-NC) have been insistent since their wins in the 2024 election that they are “on offense” for 2026, despite Democrats only needing a net gain of three seats to take the majority. Three Republicans — Reps. Mike Lawler (R-NY), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Don Bacon (R-NE) — represent districts that former Vice President Kamala Harris won in 2024, and Republicans are quick to point to the 13 districts won by Trump but represented by a Democrat as proof they are in the driver’s seat.

Eyes will be on the speaker to see whether he can continue to fill the large fundraising shoes of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was a powerhouse when it came to raising money and defending incumbents. With a razor-thin majority, Johnson cannot afford to lose any incumbents to Democratic challengers in 2026.

Johnson, who first became speaker in October 2023 after McCarthy’s historic ouster, quelled concerns about his fundraising prowess in the crucial 2024 cycle. He set quarterly fundraising records while traversing more than 250 cities across 40 states during the 2024 election cycle.

In January, Johnson launched the updated version of the “Grow the Majority” Joint Fundraising Committee. It includes more than 70 Republican entities with a maximum contribution of more than $1 million.

Other Republicans announced donations this week. Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) donated $1.3 million to the NRCC and $2 million for candidates, members, and the NRCC. Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) donated $2 million to candidates and $3 million for the NRCC. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) announced a $500,000 transfer to the NRCC, as well.

The influx of cash comes ahead of the Florida special elections to fill the seats of former Rep. Matt Gaetz and national security adviser Mike Waltz. GOP leaders have raised concerns about Republican candidates being outpaced in fundraising by the millions by their Democratic challengers.

Gaetz’s seat in the 1st Congressional District and Waltz’s seat in the 6th District were both won by the two men by more than 30 percentage points. But Republicans are worried about the 6th District race as polling shows Democrat Josh Weil narrowly trailing Republican Randy Fine.

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Hudson admitted to reporters that the numbers were not looking good for Fine on Monday but insisted the seat would stay in GOP hands.

“He needs to do better,” Hudson said. “But we’re going to win that seat. I would have preferred if our candidate had raised money at a faster rate and gotten on TV quicker. But he’s doing what he needs to do.”