GOP Pollster Says Republicans ‘Are Gonna Get Punished Next Year If They Don’t Get Their Act Together’

Republican pollster and strategist Frank Luntz said House Republicans are enduring “embarrassment” over the ongoing speakership chaos and warned they’ll get their butts kicked in next year’s elections if this continues.

Last week, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was removed as speaker after Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) filed a motion to vacate the chair, which prompted a vote of the House on whether to oust him. The measure succeeded after eight Republicans joined 208 Democrats. This week, the Republican conference nominated Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) for the job, but it turned out he lacked the requisite broad Republican support to win a majority of the full House. On Friday, The conference nominated Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), but he is about 50 votes short.

In other words, it’s going great for House Republicans.

Luntz appeared on Friday’s CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip to discuss.

“What are you hearing from them about all of this mess, frankly?”

“Embarrassment, disappointment, and a frustration that, when we need Congress to function – more so now than ever – it’s dysfunctional more so now than ever,” he answered. “And frankly, what I hear from the voters is that they’re gonna get punished next year if they don’t get their act together.”

Phillip wondered about the possibility that GOP ineptitude could lead to a deal with Democrats.

“At what point do they start looking for alternative paths to just getting leadership in place, maybe working with Democrats, perhaps?” she asked.

“It needs to happen, but you have to have Democrats to work with,” Luntz replied “The problem is you have to have people who, not only say that you put people above politics, but actually do it. And we are so divided in Washington. And frankly, it’s just a reflection of America. And the public is saying in a single word, ‘Enough. Stop!'”

Watch above via CNN.