Republican Losers Shift Attention to 2024: 'We Would Have Won'

As Republican hopes for a "red wave" fizzled in the wake of the 2022 midterm elections, some unsuccessful GOP candidates have shrugged off their losses and are already turning their attention to 2024.

Democrats staved off sweeping losses in Tuesday's midterm elections, winning key governors' races and maintaining a narrow path to keeping control of the Senate. Republicans expected that voters' economic anxieties and President Joe Biden's unpopularity would grant them victories up and down the ballot. With dust of the midterms still settling, some losing Republican contenders are preparing for another attempt.

After losing her bid for a North Carolina House seat to Democrat Don Davis, Republican Sandy Smith conceded defeat on Twitter, but suggested she would have prevailed with more resources and hinted at a rematch.

"Though we came up short, I'm certain had we had more funding from outside groups, we would have won," Smith said. "We were outspent 20-1. Congrats to Don Davis. My advice to him is not to get too comfortable."

Republicans' electoral outlook got a boost in June when Mayra Flores flipped a Texas House seat that had long been dominated by Democrats. The south Texas representative reacted with dismay Tuesday night after losing her bid to keep a seat in the redrawn House district to Democrat Vicente Gonzalez, complaining on Twitter about Republicans and independents who sat out the election.

But by the next morning, Flores signaled she was already looking ahead to the next election cycle.

"2024," Flores said in a Tweet that included an emoji of the U.S. flag.

Democrats prevailed in the key state of Michigan, with Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson winning reelection. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel also won against Republican challenger Matthew DePerno, who signaled he'd remain politically active despite losing the race.

"Although I may be conceding to Dana Nessel today, I refuse to concede that Michigan is a blue state," DePerno said on Twitter. "I will continue to fight like hell to restore Michigan to all it can be."

Despite Democrats escaping the political drubbing that previous parties in power have experienced, the party will face a different landscape in 2024.

Notably, voters may make different choices with the presence of Biden, who has indicated that he intends to run for reelection, at the top of the ballot. Former President Donald Trump has also been dropping hints he will soon announce another bid for the Republican nomination.

While votes are still being counted, the GOP is likely to take control of the House, and Republicans have stated they'll launch investigations into the Biden administration that could damage the president politically.

Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who easily won reelection in New York, said in a tweet that she was looking forward to 2024, particularly demographic shifts that could favor Democrats.

"The role of young people in this election cannot be understated. Turnout delivered on many of these races," she said. "By 2024, Millennials & Gen Z voters will outnumber voters who are Baby Boomers and older, 45/25. We are beginning to see the political impacts of that generational shift."

Newsweek reached out to Flores' campaign for comment.