Matt Gaetz Says Fewer Republicans Winning May Be 'Good for the Country'

Florida Republican Representative Matt Gaetz recently argued that having fewer GOP candidates elected in the midterms could be "good for the country."

During a recent interview with conservative talk show host Charlie Kirk, Gaetz spoke about the recent Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade, leaving the right to an abortion up to each state. Gaetz said that the decision will "result in a smaller Republican majority in the House of Representatives."

However, Gaetz noted that the political outcomes stemming from the Dobbs decision "may end up being good for the country."

Gaetz's comments come several weeks before the upcoming midterm elections, when Gaetz will face off against Democratic challenger Rebekah Jones.

During his interview with Kirk, Gaetz went on to explain his thinking and said, "I've been a part of big majorities, I've been a part of slim majorities, and slim majorities are able to work more cohesively...fewer of these people who consider themselves the majority makers."

Gaetz then went on to discuss how former President Donald Trump helped many Republican candidates to victory in 2016 "on a bold MAGA agenda" but then questioned how many of the winning candidates arrived to Congress and said "'Oh, well, I'm one of the majority makers so I have to be given a pass on this vote.'"

Gaetz continued, "If we were to have like a six- or seven-seat majority, well then everyone's a majority maker and then kind of in the same way no one is....If you get a larger group, it is more subject to cleavages and factions in the caucus. If you have a very slim majority, it forces you to work as a team."

In August, Gaetz secured a victory in his Republican primary election, after he was endorsed by Trump. His win in the Republican primary set up a matchup against Jones in November.

Earlier this month, Jones criticized Gaetz for a picture he posted on his Facebook page showing supporters at his campaign rally, adjacent to a picture of Jones' campaign, which featured a child at a booth.

Jones, who has a 12-year-old autistic son, said in a TikTok video that "Matt Gaetz apparently had someone take pictures of my 12-year-old autistic son while he was at the booth by himself and posted it, mocking him on Facebook."

"Join me on the debate stage, and we'll see who's really the better candidate for Florida's 1st District, and you can stop creeping on my children and having pictures taken of them and then reposting them online when they're sitting alone in public, and events that aren't even mine," Jones added.

Newsweek reached out to Gaetz's office for further comment.