Kevin McCarthy: Midterm elections ‘won’t be a wave’ for Democrats

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) reportedly isn’t worried about a potential “blue wave” that would carry Democrats to sweeping victories in the upcoming midterm elections.

McCarthy told The Washington Post on Sunday that he isn’t expecting Republicans to lose a significant number of seats in the House, where Democrats need to flip 23 seats to regain control.

“This could be a tornado, but it won’t be a wave,” McCarthy said. “A tornado touches down in spots. A wave crashes over everybody.”

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McCarthy told the newspaper that he sees the upcoming midterms more closely mirroring 1998, when Democrats gained seats while holding the White House, rather than 2010, when Republicans gained 63 seats in the first midterm of former President Obama’s tenure.

McCarthy is expected to run for Speaker, with current Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) retiring at the end of his term. Ryan has backed McCarthy for the post.

Democratic enthusiasm and GOP uneasiness with President Trump has left some Democrats expecting a “blue wave” in which Democrats could win up to 72 seats under the most extreme scenario.