The Republican Party faces a daunting challenge in the new congress, with a single-seat majority and little room for error. The hostile media has declared the GOP will only hold 220 House seats, with the possibility of a one-seat majority until early April. This leaves House Speaker Mike Johnson with President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Johnson expressed concern over the slim majority, stating, “Do the math, we have nothing to spare.” He stressed the need for party unity, saying, “This is a team effort and we’ve got to all row in the same direction.”
But despite the challenges ahead, there is optimism among Republicans. A source familiar with the situation told the Daily Caller News Foundation that with Trump’s influence, the party will stick together and pass their legislative goals. The former president is committed to personally lobbying members and pushing his agenda through Congress.
Republican Texas Rep. Chip Roy echoed this sentiment, saying, “We have to deliver – which means working together ahead of time, defining our guardrails & redlines and executing.” He acknowledged that there will be challenges, but stressed that “things will change” and the party must come together to overcome them.
It’s no surprise that the GOP is facing internal divisions. In the previous congress, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted by eight Republicans, and subsequent nominees were unable to secure the necessary 215 votes. Johnson eventually won the speakership, but even he faced pushback from within the party, with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s failed attempt to vacate his position in May.
Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has set an election date of April 1 to fill Rep. Gaetz’s seat, while a date has yet to be set for Rep. Waltz’s seat. In New York, Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul must call a special election within ten days of Rep. Stefanik’s resignation, with the election to be held between 70 and 80 days after the call is made. This means that if Stefanik resigns on the first day of the new congress, the special election would be held in March.
🚨🚨🚨 #CA13 Update – IT'S OVER. Adam Gray nets 22 votes from Fresno County's update, extending his lead over Republican John Duarte to 187 votes. https://t.co/Un30ztgAid
— Rob Pyers (@rpyers) December 4, 2024
It is clear that the Republican Party is facing challenges, but with President Trump’s support and dedication, they have a strong chance of overcoming them. The media may try to portray the GOP as weak and divided, but the truth is that they are determined and united in their efforts to push through their legislative goals.