WASHINGTON — House Republicans’ campaign chief who exceeded expectations in 2020 is preparing for what he calls an even bigger 2022. 

Rep. Tom Emmer, already bullish on House Republicans chances of winning back the chamber in November, is embracing an even more aggressive midterm strategy. 

“We are going to win a majority, we only need five seats,” Emmer said in an interview with Spectrum News. 

Emmer, the leader of House Republicans’ campaign arm, is solidifying their game plan as the race for control of the U.S. House heats up. Under the leadership of the four-term Minnesota Congressman, Republicans took a big bite out of the Democrats’ large House majority in 2020, defying expectations.

Now, Emmer said he’s ready to build on those gains.

“We've got great candidates, again, this cycle," he said. "And we've already covered 426 of the 435 seats in Congress."

The National Republican Congressional Committee is targeting 72 Democrat-held or newly created seats, including 12 that then-President Donald Trump won in the 2020 elections, by hammering home a specific message. 

“Right now, it's all about inflation in the economy," Emmer said. "It's about crime. It's about our southern border."

As voters head to the polls for upcoming primaries, it will be an early test of Trump’s influence, because he has handed down endorsements in most races. 

Emmer said Trump does so without consulting him.

"The former president is a big voice in the political marketplace and he’s going to continue to be a big voice," he said. "My job is that we are continuing to do what we need to do on the ground with messaging, recruitment and resources."

A common theme in Trump’s endorsements: candidates who support the false claim that he actually won the 2020 election. About 81% of the House candidates Trump is backing believe in the "big lie."

"Look, we need to be talking about the issues today," Emmer said. "The last election was not perfect by any means, but where I’m at, we need to be looking forward."

It’s not all bad news for Democrats, though. The once-in-a-decade redistricting process is almost complete and the resulting new congressional lines give Democrats the belief that they have a shot at holding their majority.

“We’re not finished with the process but I can tell you, when all the dust settles, we are going to have a map that’s better than the one we have now nationally and a map we can win on,” said Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. 

Maloney acknowledged that inflation and gas prices are challenges for many Americans. 

“One hundred percent, it’s a problem, it has a big impact on people," he said in an interview with Spectrum News. "We need to say that loud and clear."

The election season kicks into gear Tuesday with the states of Indiana and Ohio holding primaries. 

"Here’s the point, we’ve got a plan to bring prices down, give you cheaper health care, to give you cheaper gas," Maloney said. "The other guys are trying to exploit these problems for their own political gain.”

As Emmer looks to the future, he said he still supports House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s quest to become the next House Speaker, should Republicans take back the majority. Even after leaked comments McCarthy made in the aftermath of the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, criticizing then-President Trump and some members of his own party. 

“I expect Kevin McCarthy will be the next speaker of the House," he said. "The voters do not care at all about this issue."