Could the Republicans’ Slim House Majority Slip Away Before November?
The House GOP is facing a potential crisis as several key Republicans have announced their early departures, sparking tensions within the party. Historically, House control has never flipped during a Congress, but the slim one-vote majority held by Republicans is now at risk.
“There’s no excuse for this,” said Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., expressing his concern over the possibility of Democrats gaining control. “The country’s at stake. To put the Democrats in control of what might happen is inexcusable.”
The departures of Reps. Mike Gallagher, R–Wis., and Ken Buck, R-Colo., have added to the frustration of House Republicans, who began the 118th Congress with a single-digit majority. The expulsion of Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., has further diminished their numbers.
The announcement of Rep. Gallagher’s departure on April 19, following Rep. Buck’s earlier announcement, has raised eyebrows. Critics argue that their planned departure dates strategically avoid special elections, leaving their seats vacant until 2024.
Some Republicans, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., have called for Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to expel Gallagher earlier so that a special election can be held. They argue that leaving the majority in such a delicate state is unacceptable.
The departure of Rep. Gallagher will leave the House GOP with a one-vote majority until June, when a special election for ex-Rep. Bill Johnson’s Ohio seat is expected to expand the Republican majority. However, this still leaves the party vulnerable.
Rep. Ralph Norman highlighted the potential risks the House GOP faces with their slim majority. “What if somebody has a heart attack? Or what if a tragedy strikes any number of us?” he questioned.
While some blame hardline conservatives for fueling dysfunction within the House, leading to these departures, others argue that the toxic political environment is driving people away from politics altogether. The current state of civic discourse is causing disillusionment among millions of Americans, which could lead to more departures in the future.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., warned of further gridlock in the wake of Gallagher and Buck’s departures. She criticized the intentional departures that prevent primaries from happening, stating that they are doing a disservice to the American people and the Republican Party.
The House GOP must now navigate the challenges of maintaining their slim majority, with the possibility of losing control to Democrats. The outcome of the upcoming elections and the unity within the party will play a crucial role in determining the future of Republican leadership in the House.
