The GOP lost the House when John McCain torpedoed Obamacare repeal. At that point the GOP Congress owned healthcare. Exit polls show it was the number one issue for voters. After the failure of repeal the GOP Congress ignored it while prices continued to escalate and the quality of care continued to decline. Dems picked up on this issue and quietly used it to their advantage.
The GOP also lost the House because it did not deliver on immigration. Paul Ryan wouldn’t allow the wall to be funded in the annual appropriations bill or be fully funded in a special appropriation.
Third they failed to explain how the tax cuts were driving economic prosperity.
Ultimately the GOP Congress was perceived by voters as doing nothing on the issues that most mattered. It did nothing to excite the base and it was perceived as ineffective by independents and Democrats. Then an abnormal number of GOP members decided to retire. The power of incumbency was lost in those districts and many flipped.
How could the House have been saved? This was the year to bring back Newt Gingrich’s Contract for America. Instead the leadership decided to run a defensive game with no message. It left the president it would’t support carrying the ball by himself.
Thanks ryan...you putz.