The Republican establishment won big during this year's midterm elections, fending off far-right candidates in primary races who might have threatened the party's bid to retake full control of Congress. 2016 will be tougher. GOP leaders will have to keep an eye on a wide-open presidential primary, along with internal party fights at the House, Senate and gubernatorial levels. That could spread the party thin and leave an opening for conservative activists to pluck off establishment leaders with greater ease, particularly in congressional races as much of the attention shifts to the battle for the White House. Conservatives, smarting from their losses this cycle, are already getting organized for 2016. And they came out of this month's government spending fight furious that congressional Republicans produced no tangible response to President Barack Obama's immigration executive action and convinced that Republicans are still ceding issues to Democrats after the election.
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The Tea Party lost nearly every one of its battles in 2014, but may have a better shot this cycle
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With three levels of primary fights, the establishment's attention and resources will be split
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Establishment groups are already gearing up for another costly and divisive battle
Senate
Though they will hold majorities in both chambers, Republicans face a daunting map in the @placeholder, where they'll defend 24 seats in 2016 -- seven in states that Obama won twice.
Barack Obama
"I think [candidate quality] is very important, especially given the fact that we have the Senate and we'll want to make sure that we maintain it — and we have a map with a lot of Republican senators who are up for reelection in purple or blue states that @placeholder won," he said.
Senate
"There's gonna be a lot of competition for money, a money and time-suck is going to really have an impact on @placeholder and House candidates, especially challengers," he said.
House
White House
"There's gonna be a lot of competition for money, a money and time-suck is going to really have an impact on Senate and @placeholder candidates, especially challengers," he said.