Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) said on Sunday that the Republican Party is "losing the future" by turning off millennials.

"I look at Alabama and I say people are not happy with us being small, angry and narrow," Kasich said on NBC News's "Meet the Press," referring to last week's special Senate election. "They're starting to say no. That means that most of us who believe in a positive party are beginning to win, but we have a long way to go."

The Ohio governor also cited stances on various issues, such as immigration, health care and trade, that he said could hinder the GOP in the future.

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"Instead of losing the future, which is what we're doing today by turning off millennials," Kasich said.

"We're beginning to see more of a tug of war pulling people toward a better position on the party. That's my sense, so I'm kind of optimistic with some of the things," he said.

Kasich's comments come as the GOP looks to defend Republican strongholds in the House and Senate, as well as in statehouses across the country, in 2018.

The anti-establishment wing of the GOP suffered a blow last week when Doug Jones became the first Democrat elected to represent Alabama in the Senate in 25 years.

While establishment Republicans such as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellFEC flags McConnell campaign over suspected accounting errors Poll: 59 percent think president elected in November should name next Supreme Court justice Mark Kelly: Arizona Senate race winner should be sworn in 'promptly' MORE (R-Ky.) supported Moore's primary opponent, Sen. Luther Strange Luther Johnson StrangeSessions hits back at Trump days ahead of Alabama Senate runoff The biggest political upsets of the decade State 'certificate of need' laws need to go MORE (R-Ala.), President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE and his former chief strategist, Stephen Bannon, rallied around Republican Roy Moore Roy Stewart MooreVulnerable Senate Democrat urges unity: 'Not about what side of the aisle we're on' Sessions hits back at Trump days ahead of Alabama Senate runoff Judge allows Roy Moore lawsuit over Sacha Baron Cohen prank to proceed MORE, who was plagued by sexual misconduct allegations.

Kasich, who has proven to be a thorn in the Trump administration's side, has been mentioned as possible 2020 presidential contender. He ran an unsuccessful bid in 2016.