House Edge Disappears After Latest Special Election Win by Democrats
Republicans started off this term with a razor-thin majority, having only a handful of votes to spare.
Thanks to an expulsion and numerous early retirements, that advantage is now down to exactly one vote after the latest Democrat was sworn in.
With Rep. Tim Kennedy (D-N.Y.) taking his seat this week, Speaker Johnson (R-LA) has a single vote margin for partisan legislation.
It’s Gone
This all got started after yet another bad election cycle in 2022.
While the GOP won the House, they barely took it in an election where they should have dominated Democrats.
Leadership in the party failed voters again, winning the House by the slimmest of margins, largely on the strength of seats in New York, most of which have been flipped back to Democrats.
The seat won by Kennedy was already in Democrats' hands, having been vacated by former Rep. Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.).
After being sworn in, Kennedy stated, “I stand before you humbled by the opportunity God has given us to be together in this moment.
“This awesome and magnificent responsibility that’s been granted to me by the people of western New York.”
Republicans now hold 217 seats, with Democrats holding 213.
That single margin will hold until later this month when Kevin McCarthy’s seat is filled via special election on May 21.
That seat is expected to remain red, so the margin will then expand to two votes.
Republicans are going to have to make some big moves before election day if they expect to hold the House after the 2024 cycle concludes.
This entire term has been overshadowed by dysfunction, with the only meaningful legislation being passed benefiting the Democrat agenda more than the Republican agenda.
In addition, Johnson is about to face a motion to vacate by Rep. Greene (R-GA), but Democrats have stepped up to say they will save Johnson, which will only drive more voters away from House Republicans.
If Trump wins and the Dems take the House, this will be a repeat of Trump’s first term, with Democrats waiting to pounce as soon as an opportunity for impeachment surfaces.
And if Trump follows through on his promise to pardon J6 defendants as soon as he takes office, Democrats just might get their wish on Day One of the second Trump administration.
If Trump pardons anyone who has been convicted of sedition, Dems will say he is lending aid and comfort to an insurrectionist, then activate the 14th Amendment against Trump to remove him from office.
