Exclusive | Tom Emmer lays out game plan for GOP to hold the House in November: Very close

DALLAS — The road to Republicans defying history and holding onto the House for another two years comes down to select districts in Arizona, Maine, Washington, and elsewhere, the chamber’s No.3 Republican told The Post.House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) also touted gains that Republicans will pick up from President Trump’s redistricting push that will net more red seats in Texas and Florida.

A Supreme Court decision on the Voting Rights Act also gave way to southern states redrawing lines to the GOP’s benefit in Louisiana and Alabama. “I like where we’re at,” Emmer told The Post on the sidelines of the Republicans’ midterm convention in Dallas.Republicans now have a narrow 218-seat majority.Democrats would have to net just three new seats in November to take back the House. Emmer shrugged off the bleak polls for Republicans and contended that the mechanics of the election indicate the GOP has a “very close” but doable map to victory.“The first order of business is to protect our incumbents.

The cheapest seat to win is one you already hold…these people are in a race every two years,” Emmer said.“They are battle-tested already.”Emmer pointed to three races as key pickup opportunities in particular: Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, Washington’s 3rd District, and Arizona’s 1st District.He also touted the redistricting war with Democrats as an underrated advantage for the GOP this cycle.“We’re getting a seat in Alabama.

We’re getting a seat in Louisiana.We’re getting a seat in Tennessee, right? We’re getting a seat in Missouri if this latest court case holds up.

So there’s four.Worst case, you’re losing four in California, and you’re losing one in Nevada.”“But we haven’t even talked about Texas or Florida, and there are other places,” he added.

“Even in the most conservative reading, we should stay in the majority as long as we’re doing our work district by district.”Another potential trump ...