Republicans are one broken promise away from losing the House of Representatives this November. If this happens, Americans can wave goodbye to the dream of “draining the swamp.” If the conservative base loses faith in a Congress led by Republicans, what few legislative victories Republicans managed to achieve will end. The bold agenda undertaken by President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE will get bogged down by obstructionism from House Democrats. Divided government will once again rear its ugly head.

To avert defeat on Election Day, the Republican Party must focus on national issues. Former Speaker of the House, Tip O’Neill, coined the phrase “all politics is local.” While this may be true for Democrats, history tells us the opposite is true for Republicans, whose candidates win when they run on national issues rooted in principles of liberty.

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Newt Gingrich and the “Republican Revolution” of 1994 are a case study in what happens when Republicans stick to big ideas. The “Contract with America” addressed major national issues like the budget and deficit, and stood in stark contrast to the lack of an appealing and coherent policy agenda by the Democrats. It also gave Republican candidates a national issue platform to focus on during the 1994 midterms. With this strong policy agenda as a rallying cry, the Republicans were able to retake the House and wield significant influence over the Clinton administration.

The Republicans running for office in 2018 should take a page from the 1994 Republican Party playbook. To paraphrase Congressman Thomas Massie Thomas Harold MassieGOP lawmaker praises Kyle Rittenhouse's 'restraint' for not emptying magazine during shooting Rep. Dan Meuser tests positive for COVID-19 Liz Cheney wins Wyoming GOP primary in reelection bid MORE, there is a major difference between partisans and ideologues. Partisans have a narrow vision of what is good for the party. They deal in small scale legislative wins for political gain in the short term. Ideologues play the long game by taking a principled and measured approach to governing that pays dividends for the party down the road.

Republican leadership in Congress should take note. The “Republican Revolution” was successful in the long term because Republican ideologues governed on the promises made in the “Contract with America.” They stood on principle and took action. They kept their pledge to the American people, and voters rewarded them at the ballot box.

Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy Kevin Owen McCarthyMcCarthy says there will be a peaceful transition if Biden wins GOP lawmakers distance themselves from Trump comments on transfer of power McCarthy claims protests in Louisville, other cities are 'planned, orchestrated events' MORE and his small scale and localized politics lack vision for the long term prosperity of America. His leadership strategy abandons all efforts to achieve substantive change in Congress and fixates instead on messaging bills that serve only partisan purposes.

This hollow approach to leadership is not going to cut it anymore. The Republican base does not want any more “balanced budget” show votes, “ObamaCare lite” health care proposals, or bloated omnibus spending bills written in secret. They want to see action on the small government campaign promises made repeatedly by Republicans.

The broken budget process is a glaring example of short game partisanship that frustrates voters. Every year, the leadership in Congress decides on a budget busting omnibus spending bill behind closed doors, and every year the national debt increases. All this happens with Republicans at the helm. Is this the party of fiscal responsibility?

During his tenure as Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan Paul Davis RyanKenosha will be a good bellwether in 2020 At indoor rally, Pence says election runs through Wisconsin Juan Williams: Breaking down the debates MORE became the poster boy for Republican Party reluctance to govern how it campaigns. If McCarthy takes over in the leadership, this will signal to voters that the majority is signing up for more of the same. The idea of more broken promises is not exactly motivation for voters to get to the polls.

To save the majority, Republicans need to rally around a principled ideologue with a strong national vision for change, like Congressman Jim Jordan James (Jim) Daniel JordanHouse panel pulls Powell into partisan battles over pandemic Sunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election House passes resolution condemning anti-Asian discrimination relating to coronavirus MORE. He would govern how he campaigns on the trail, and that is on national issues that excite the conservative base. He is committed to restoring faith of Americans in the legislative branch. To put it simply, Jordan is ready stand for what voters what to see and #DoWhatWeSaid.

Like Gingrich did with the “Contract with America,” Jordan is running on a platform of national issues rooted in the Republican principles of fiscal responsibility. Like the 1994 party revolutionaries, Jordan is recognized by his colleagues as a fighter who makes the tough floor votes to cut spending and to limit the scope of the federal government.

These ideological principles drive Republican voter turnout at the polls. They did so in 1994, and they still do today. If Republicans can bridge the gap between how they campaign and how they govern, they will energize the base and pave the road to victory in November. If Republicans elect Jordan as Speaker and embrace his agenda of spending cuts, welfare reform, border security, and ObamaCare repeal, they will keep the House and lay the foundation for sweeping majorities in 2020 and beyond.

Adam Brandon is the president of FreedomWorks.