House GOP leaders use convention speeches to take aim at ‘crazy communists’

House Republican leaders are sharpening their attacks on Democratic progressives and socialists as the party looks to hold its narrow majority, using the GOP midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, to frame the 2026 midterms as an existential fight for the country.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) said Wednesday in remarks to the crowd at the convention that “this is not your father’s Democrat party.”

“The Democrat Party has been completely taken over by crazy communists. I call it the Bolshevik Revolution in the Democrat Party. And if they get back the gavel, let me tell you what they will do. You know what they will do. The first thing they do is impeach President Trump and his cabinet. … They will repeal no tax on overtime, no tax on tips. They said they’ll raise taxes on every hardworking American,” Scalise said.

He added that the midterms are a contrast between “common sense versus crazy communists” and urged Republicans to turn up in November.

“Show up and vote Republican up and down the ballot. President Trump’s America First agenda is at stake,” he said.

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) echoed similar sentiments, accusing Democrats of having “no leader” and “no message.”

“The only thing they can agree on is their disgusting hatred of America and our great president. These people are sick …There is absolutely nothing democratic about socialism. By the way, these people aren’t even socialists. They’re communists and they’re anarchists and they hate our country,” Emmer said.

Their remarks come as Democratic progressives and socialists have scored a string of primary victories in the past few months, giving Republicans fresh fodder for their midterm message. GOP leaders have argued that recent victories by candidates they describe as “insurgent” could pull the country too far to the left.

They have also warned that their political opponents would back tax hikes and massive reparations, seize private property and businesses, and lead the country to communism — at a time when many Americans are already struggling to make ends meet.

“To the American people listening, I say, if all you want out of life is what little these communists are offering, I guess that’s your right. Or you can join Donald J. Trump and Republicans, and have the opportunity to realize your greatest dreams, to achieve your greatest potential, to live free in the greatest country the world has ever known,” Emmer said.

Decision Desk HQ forecast in July that Democrats are favored to win back the House, while the Senate is on track to hold a 50-50 partisan split.