Republicans have a 105-75 edge in the chamber, and Democrats are circling 15 seats where GOP incumbents struggled. Republicans plan to go on the offensive, too, to take aim at Democrats representing districts that Donald Trump won.

At the meeting, Ralston also pleaded for GOP unity going into the 2020 election – and came armed with two quotes from Georgians to help make his case.

The first he recited was attributed to University of Georgia coach Kirby Smart: “Bad decisions have bad consequences.”

The second, a paraphrase from the late Gov. Zell Miller, was even more striking, and suggested Ralston may take a more combative approach to dissidents next year.

“If there’s a snake in your house, kill it.”