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Mike Johnson is facing a new challenge as the Republican speaker with the smallest House majority in history. Despite retaining control of the House, he will have to manage an even smaller majority while President-elect Donald J. Trump seeks his support to push forward major agenda items.
Authored by Catie Edmondson
Covering news from the Capitol
The margin of victory for Speaker Mike Johnson has decreased even further.
The final House race was decided on Tuesday night when Representative John Duarte of California, a new Republican, accepted defeat to Democrat Adam Gray. This solidified a 220-215 advantage for Republicans, which is even narrower than their current 220-213 lead.
The margins will decrease even more in January because Representatives Elise Stefanik from New York and Mike Waltz from Florida are leaving their positions to work in the Trump administration. Additionally, former Representative Matt Gaetz from Florida has indicated that he will not be coming back.
After these vacancies are filled later this spring, the Republicans will have a slim majority of 217-215 in the House, which is one of the smallest margins in history. If all Democrats are present and united against a proposal, Mr. Johnson cannot afford any Republicans to defect on the House floor. Even after the vacancies are filled, only three Republicans can go against the party without causing a bill to fail.
On Wednesday, Mr. Johnson appeared unconcerned about the possibility and reassured reporters on Capitol Hill that they are experienced in working with a small majority and it is something they are accustomed to.
He mentioned that they don’t have any extra resources to offer, but everyone in their group is aware of that. They had a discussion about it today, as they frequently do, emphasizing the importance of working together as a team and moving forward in unity.
He didn’t say that a big part of how he managed to work with a small majority over the past year was by teaming up with Democrats to pass important laws that his own party didn’t back. This strategy may not work for him in the next Congress with President-elect Donald J. Trump as the new president.
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