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Mike Johnson is facing a challenging situation with the smallest House majority in history. As the Republican speaker, he maintained control of the House but will now have to manage an even smaller majority. This comes at a critical time when President-elect Donald J. Trump will rely on his support to push through important agenda items.
Written by Catie Edmondson
Coverage from the Capitol
The margin of Speaker Mike Johnson’s majority has decreased.
The last House race was decided on Tuesday night when Representative John Duarte of California, a new Republican member, accepted defeat to Democrat Adam Gray. This solidified a 220-215 majority for Republicans, which is only slightly wider than their current 220-213 majority.
In January, the margins will decrease as Representatives Elise Stefanik from New York and Mike Waltz from Florida leave their positions to work in the Trump administration. Additionally, former Representative Matt Gaetz from Florida has indicated he will not be coming back.
Following the resignations, Republicans will have a slim majority of 217-215 in the House, which is one of the smallest margins in history. If all Democrats vote together against a proposal, Mr. Johnson cannot afford any Republicans to vote against it until the vacant seats are filled. Even after the seats are filled, only three Republicans can go against party lines before a bill fails to pass.
On Wednesday, Mr. Johnson seemed unconcerned about the situation, mentioning to reporters at Capitol Hill that they are accustomed to working with a small majority and have experience in doing so.
He stated that there is no extra resources available, but all members are aware of this. They discussed the importance of teamwork and unity, emphasizing the need for everyone to work together towards a common goal.
He achieved success in managing a small majority by working with Democrats to pass necessary legislation that his own party did not support. However, this strategy may not be as effective in the next Congress with President-elect Donald J. Trump in office.
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