With Election Day just around the corner, Chris Vance, Lynn Schmidt, Merrill Matthews, and Our Republican Legacy Florida State Chair Jake Walsh examine the rapidly changing midterm landscape. Could Republicans face a historic electoral defeat? The panel takes a closer look at increasingly competitive races in Florida, Texas, and the Midwest, the impact of immigration enforcement and affordability on voters, and what younger Republicans are looking for in political leadership. The conversation also explores continued Republican support for Ukraine, the growing national debt, and whether the party can return to its traditional conservative principles as the 2028 presidential race approaches.
Then, Chris and Lynn welcome former California Congresswoman Mimi Walters, one of Our Republican Legacy’s 34 founding members. Walters reflects on her career in public service, her commitment to Ronald Reagan’s conservative philosophy, and the challenges facing Republicans in California. She discusses free enterprise, tariffs, fiscal responsibility, the importance of rebuilding the party from the grassroots, and California’s competitive political environment. The conversation turns to 2028, including Gavin Newsom’s presidential ambitions, Congressman Don Bacon’s potential candidacy, and what it will take to rebuild a Republican Party focused on enduring conservative principles.
00:00 – Welcome & Election Night Preview
01:44 – The Midterm Outlook: How Big Could the Wave Be?
04:44 – Florida, Texas & the Expanding Battleground
09:18 – Affordability & the Next Generation of Republicans
12:49 – Ukraine, Russia & Republican Foreign Policy
16:39 – The National Debt & Fiscal Responsibility
19:59 – What Should Republicans Look for in 2028?
26:42 – Final Midterm Predictions & the Presidential Race
29:58 – Former Congresswoman Mimi Walters Joins the Podcast
32:23 – Lessons from Public Service
34:49 – Free Enterprise, Tariffs & the National Debt
37:59 – The Future of California Republicans
43:43 – Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris & 2028
45:26 – Don Bacon’s Potential Presidential Run
47:16 – Rebuilding the Republican Party After Trump
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