As the Republican Party prepares for the next national election cycle, Republican National Committee Co-Chair KC Crosbie says the party’s top priority is ensuring that President Donald Trump’s agenda can continue uninterrupted through the remainder of his term.
Crosbie outlined the Republican National Committee’s early preparations for the upcoming midterm elections, emphasizing that planning began immediately after Trump returned to office.
“Our priority at the Republican National Committee is very simple,” Crosbie said. “We want to make sure President Trump is a four-year president and that his policies are seen through for a full four years.”
Crosbie said the RNC and the White House are working in close coordination as they build a strategy for the 2026 midterm elections, a political test that historically presents challenges for the party controlling the presidency.
According to Crosbie, the party has already identified 23 states where it expects to be actively engaged in key races. She noted that the list of targeted states could shift as polling and political conditions evolve.
“We are very data-driven in how we approach these races,” Crosbie said. “We are constantly monitoring where resources need to go, where opportunities exist for pickups, and where we need to defend seats.”
Midterm elections traditionally result in losses for the party occupying the White House, but Crosbie said Republicans believe they have a strong message heading into the cycle.
She pointed to several policy accomplishments the party plans to highlight with voters, including tax changes, border policy, and economic issues.
“President Trump has kept the promises he made on the campaign trail,” Crosbie said. “That gives us a very strong message to take to voters.”
Crosbie also emphasized that the party’s organizational structure is stronger than it has been in previous election cycles. She said the Republican National Committee is focusing on three key components of campaign success: messaging, operations, and fundraising.
Operationally, Crosbie said the RNC is working closely with state parties to strengthen voter turnout operations and expand party infrastructure across the country.
The organization also invests directly in state-level efforts to help Republican candidates compete in areas where the party hopes to gain ground.
“We work with each state party to build a plan that fits the political landscape in that state,” Crosbie said. “Every state is different, and we help them set realistic targets and build toward long-term success.”
Crosbie pointed to her home state of Kentucky as an example of how long-term planning can gradually shift political outcomes.
She said Republican leaders in Kentucky once faced a difficult political environment but built momentum over several election cycles by focusing resources on winnable races and expanding voter engagement.
“We started flipping seats one at a time,” Crosbie said. “Once people began to see success, they started to buy into the strategy.”
Another key part of the Republican strategy, she said, is expanding the party’s coalition of voters.
Crosbie noted that recent election results showed growth among several demographic groups, including Latino voters, Black voters, and younger voters.
She credited much of that growth to Trump’s campaign messaging and his focus on policy issues such as economic opportunity, public safety, and border security.
“President Trump grew support across every demographic group,” Crosbie said. “That doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when voters see someone follow through on the promises they made.”
The RNC is now working with state parties to continue building relationships with those communities, Crosbie said, while also expanding grassroots organizing and voter outreach efforts.
Despite the early planning, Crosbie acknowledged that midterm elections remain politically significant because they determine whether a president can advance legislation through Congress.
“If we don’t win these midterms, we know exactly what the Democrats have said they will do,” Crosbie said. “We’ll see investigations and impeachment efforts instead of policy progress.”
For that reason, she said Republican leaders view the 2026 elections as critical to maintaining momentum behind the administration’s agenda.
Beyond the immediate election cycle, Crosbie said the party is also thinking about its long-term future and how to sustain the political coalition that formed around the “America First” platform.
The Republican Party, she said, is focused on policy priorities outlined in its most recent national platform while continuing to build a broader base of voters.
“We are always looking ahead,” Crosbie said. “What we do today impacts the party for years to come.”
While Crosbie said her own role remains focused on helping other candidates succeed, she emphasized that her passion remains working behind the scenes to build strong campaigns and support Republican victories nationwide.
“At heart, I’m an operative,” Crosbie said. “I love helping good candidates get elected and seeing the policies they believe in actually become reality.”
As Republicans prepare for the next national election cycle, Crosbie said the party’s approach remains straightforward: expand the coalition, strengthen state-level operations, and deliver a message centered on policy results.
“Our mission right now is simple,” she said. “Win elections and make sure the policies voters supported have the time to work.”