Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Thursday that Democrats are likely to win control of the House in the midterm elections, blaming Republicans’ handling of their narrow majority rather than a strong Democratic campaign. “In the last 100 years, all off-year elections, whoever is the party in power, has the White House, has lost seats,” McCarthy said in a Bloomberg TV interview. He predicted Democrats would win a majority, though he was unsure how large it would be. “It’s not that the Democrats are going to win this election,” McCarthy said. “Republicans are going to lose it.” McCarthy criticized Speaker Mike Johnson and other GOP leaders for a sparse House schedule, saying the party had wasted its limited time in control of the chamber. Scheduled session days have been canceled amid internal Republican disputes that have tested Johnson’s hold on the razor-thin majority. “You’re only given 24 months in a majority to manage it,” McCarthy said. He argued Republicans had allowed Democrats to set the terms of debate and challenged the party to explain what it would do if voters returned it to power. “What are the three things Republicans will do if they win the majority? I can’t tell you what that is.” McCarthy’s prediction comes as Republicans face the historical headwind of midterm elections, which often cost the party holding the White House seats in Congress. He helped Republicans win the House in 2022, but served as speaker for less than a year before fellow Republicans removed him from the post. He also cautioned against assuming Democrats would be ready to govern effectively if they take control. McCarthy said the party was unpopular and had not laid out an agenda, adding that Democrats could face serious difficulties in the next Congress. The House outcome will determine which party controls the chamber and its ability to set the legislative agenda and oversee the administration. McCarthy’s remarks amounted to a sharp rebuke of his own party’s leadership, even as he questioned whether Democrats have made a persuasive case to voters.