Speaker Mike Johnson’s small majority simply received even smaller.
On Tuesday evening, the ultimate Home race was known as after Consultant John Duarte of California, a freshman Republican, conceded to Adam Grey, a Democrat, cementing a 220-215 majority for Republicans in a margin even slimmer than they’ve now, at 220-213.
These margins will erode even additional in January, when Representatives Elise Stefanik of New York and Mike Waltz of Florida resign to take jobs within the Trump administration. Former Consultant Matt Gaetz of Florida has additionally given discover that he is not going to return.
Republicans will then be all the way down to a 217-215 majority, on par with the narrowest controlling margin in Home historical past. If all Democrats are current and united in opposition to a measure, Mr. Johnson received’t have the ability to afford a single defection on the Home flooring till these vacancies are crammed later this spring. Even then, not more than three Republicans can break ranks with out dooming a invoice’s passage.
Mr. Johnson sounded unfazed on the prospect on Wednesday, telling reporters on the Capitol on Wednesday: “We know how to work with a small majority. That’s our custom.”
He added: “We have nothing to spare. But all of our members know that. We talked about that today, as we do constantly — that this is a team effort, that we’ve got to all row in the same direction.”
What he didn’t point out is that a lot of his success in navigating a tiny majority during the last 12 months has concerned partnering with Democrats to push by way of must-pass laws that his personal get together refused to assist, an possibility that’s unlikely to be obtainable to him within the subsequent Congress with President-elect Donald J. Trump within the White Home.
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