May 14 (Bloomberg) -- Some House Republicans criticized the party's agenda and leadership in the wake of a third special election loss, and one former leader warned that they might lose 20 House seats and six in the Senate in the November elections.

Representative Tom Davis of Virginia, who earlier served as chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, wrote in a memo to his Republican colleagues today that the party's message is ``stale'' and the ``congressional GOP brand tied to George Bush is struggling.''

``The political atmosphere facing House Republicans this November is the worst since Watergate and is far more toxic than the fall of 2006 when we lost 30 seats (and our majority) and came within a couple of percentage points of losing another 15 seats,'' Davis wrote.

The concern was sparked by Democrat Travis Childers's victory yesterday in the race for a Mississippi House seat that Republicans had held for more than 13 years, the third time since March that a Democrat won a Republican-held seat in a special election.

``There is a lot of heartburn and anxiety,'' said Representative Ray LaHood of Illinois. ``People are very concerned.''

House Republican Leader John Boehner said party leaders are discussing the impact of the Mississippi result and are beginning to roll out an election-year agenda. In response to a question, he said changes at the National Republican Congressional Committee, the party's candidate recruitment and fundraising arm, are under discussion.

`Discuss Changes'

``I expect we'll discuss changes that may be necessary to address the atmosphere we're facing,'' Boehner said. He called the election result a ``wake-up call,'' and said the problem is that voters don't see the Republican Party as a force for change.

Childers got 54 percent of the vote to 46 percent for Republican Greg Davis in the race to replace Republican Roger Wicker in northern Mississippi's 1st District. Wicker was appointed to the Senate last year.

The Democratic victory extends the party's majority in Congress to 37 seats. House Democrats hold a more than 6-to-1 cash advantage over Republicans, who have 26 lawmakers retiring. Both parties poured money into the Mississippi race, and Vice President Dick Cheney traveled to the state to campaign for Davis.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, told reporters today that the Mississippi race is ``a harbinger of things to come.''

His Strategy

NRCC Chairman Tom Cole in a conference call to reporters defended his strategy of working to link two Democratic special election candidates with Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama and the party's congressional leaders.

Still, he said, it is clear Republicans must rethink their strategy and agenda, because ``a large portion of the American people'' has lost faith in Republicans to address rising gas prices, a slowing economy and other issues.

Asked earlier this morning whether lawmakers are suggesting he resign his party post, he said, ``Nobody's talking to me about anything like that, yet. But I said yet.''

Arizona Representative Jeff Flake said that while Republicans are alarmed over their re-election prospects it's unlikely there will be a leadership ``coup'' before the elections.

``I think they realize, and everybody recognizes, that if there's a bloodbath in November, then nobody is safe,'' he said.

Vulnerable

Earlier this week, party leaders distributed a memo to Republicans that said Democrats are vulnerable this year because they have failed to lower gas prices and curb taxes for middle- class families.

Boehner is beginning to unveil elements of an election-year agenda that focuses on national security, boosting the economy through extended tax cuts, balancing the budget by 2012 and improving domestic oil production.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report estimates that Democrats will pick up five to 10 House seats in the November elections. The House editor of the report, Dave Wasserman, said there are no immediate plans to change that estimate in the wake of the Mississippi election.

Davis told reporters today the party's position is ``underneath the floor,'' as he stamped his foot. He also said Republicans failed to rethink their approaches even after losing the House in 2006, and the party is like ``an airplane flying into a mountain.''

He said party leaders have fought Democrats on some of the wrong issues, including last year's decision to side with President George W. Bush against an expansion of the children's health-care program and a measure designed to help homeowners avert foreclosure.

``The caucus is going to have to look at itself and decide if they want to be a national party, or if they want to continue to contract,'' Davis said.

To contact the reporters on this story: Laura Litvan in Washington at llitvan@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: May 14, 2008 17:06 EDT