Johnson warns of DSA 'hostage' House as polls open across the Southeast

Polls are open in the Southeast on Election Day, with voters in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi deciding the balance of power in Congress. In Georgia and South Carolina, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., while North Carolina polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. Alabama and Mississippi polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tennessee polling hours vary by county.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, has spent the final days of the campaign warning voters that a Democratic House would be held hostage by the Democratic Socialists of America, or DSA. In an op-ed published in USA Today on October 30, Johnson wrote that even a narrow Democratic victory would result in a chamber controlled by the party's far-left wing. He noted that old-school Democratic strategist James Carville admitted he would prefer Republicans keep the House rather than Democrats winning by a slim margin because of this influence.

Johnson pointed to France as a preview of what could happen in the United States. He described the violent riots in the country, including the smashing of buildings and cars, as a dark harbinger of the chaos that could unfold here if Democrats take control. The Speaker argued that the crisis in France is the result of decades of misguided policy choices, including lax immigration and border enforcement, which have allowed far-left radicals to take over. He suggested that similar dynamics are at play in the American political landscape.

During a recent interview on The Ingraham Angle, Johnson predicted that a Democratic Congress would bring chaos every day for two years. He stated that angry Democrats would seek retribution against President Trump and his administration, attempting to open the borders wide and repeal the Working Families Tax Cut. The Speaker emphasized that in 2024, ten House races were decided by 6,000 votes or less, making every single vote in the current election critical for the outcome.

Johnson also discussed the DSA platform, which calls for eradicating borders and prisons and granting mass amnesty to illegal immigrants. He noted that the DSA aims to abolish the Senate and replace the presidency and Supreme Court with institutions handpicked by a DSA-run Congress. The Speaker argued that party leaders are welcoming these candidates into their big tent, ceding unprecedented power to a growing socialist cadre that seeks to remake the party and end the free market system.

In contrast to this vision of chaos, Johnson highlighted the record of the current Republican majority. He stated that House Republicans delivered $4.6 trillion in lower taxes, which he described as the largest middle-class and working-class tax cut in history. He also cited a $1.6 trillion reduction in wasteful government spending and the securing of the border. These achievements were accomplished despite Democrats forcing three government shutdowns, including the longest in U.S. history.

Johnson said he has been traveling nonstop to more than 40 districts across 22 states to share this record. He described the election as a choice between common sense and crazy, urging voters to consider which set of policies is better for their families. He noted that the American people understand this is a contrast election and that they do not want to go back to the policies of the past. He expressed confidence that the polls are underestimating Republican enthusiasm around the country.

Voters in the Southeast are weighing these arguments as they head to the polls. The Associated Press describes the election as a referendum on President Trump's second term, with voters struggling with high prices and anger over an unpopular war with Iran. The AP-NORC poll shows that 35% of U.S. adults approve of Trump's job performance, while about seven in 10 say the country is heading in the wrong direction. More than 57 million people had already voted as of Monday, surpassing the early vote of four years ago in many closely watched states.

Republicans are bracing for the possibility of losing the House but are fighting to hold the Senate. The AP notes that one or two seats could tip either chamber. Democrats were described as cautiously optimistic, with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries outlining a 100-day agenda on the cost of living and oversight. A strong Democratic night would boost potential 2028 candidates and could complicate the path of Vice President JD Vance, while a Republican hold would allow the current majority to continue its work.

The results of today's vote will determine who controls Congress for the final two years of President Trump's term. Winners of Senate races will begin their six-year terms on January 3, 2027. The outcome will also shape the legislative agenda, including whether the promised $5,000 Trump Dividend can be advanced through Congress, a proposal that Johnson said requires congressional approval despite the President's initial claims that it might not.