House Intelligence Committee loses three Republicans in midterm defeats

Fitzpatrick, Perry and Wagner lose as GOP conference is set for a major brain drain of intelligence and defense hawks; one race still too close to call

By LineZotpaper

Published6 November 2026

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Three Republican members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence lost their seats in Tuesday's midterm elections, and the Washington Examiner said the House GOP conference is set to see a major brain drain of intelligence and defense hawks.

Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Scott Perry (R-PA) and Ann Wagner (R-MO) were all defeated, with Wagner's loss coming as a shock given national Democrats did not invest in her district.

The Washington Examiner described the 2026 midterm elections as a staggering defeat for the House Republican conference. One further race remained too close to call.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

The House Intelligence Committee is the chamber's principal oversight body for US intelligence agencies, and its roster now shifts heading into the next Congress.
The three defeats remove experienced GOP national security voices from the committee at once.
One race is still uncalled, so the final extent of the losses is not yet known.

Background

The 2026 midterm elections delivered a major defeat to House Republicans. The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence oversees the US intelligence community, and its membership is set according to the party balance in the House.

What to Watch

The outcome of the race still too close to call, which will determine whether the committee loses a fourth member.
The final partisan composition of the House Intelligence Committee when the new Congress convenes.

Sources

House intelligence and national security hawks suffer major losses in midterm elections · Washington Examiner