Razor-Thin House Majority Creates Headaches for GOP

Wall Street Journal: “Republicans held on to control of the House of Representatives in November by one of the thinnest margins in the country’s history—even smaller than in the current Congress—a result that will have them walking a tightrope again for the next two years. The drama starts next week when the party tries to elect a new speaker on the first day of the new session, with fresh grumblings about leadership setting the stage for an unpredictable vote.”

“Republicans won 220 seats to Democrats’ 215. One planned vacancy—that of former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who was elected to another term but said he won’t take office—will reduce Republicans to 219 when lawmakers reconvene on Jan. 3. Two resignations of lawmakers set to join the Trump administration—Reps. Elise Stefanik and Mike Waltz—will temporarily reduce GOP numbers to 217 later in January before special elections are held. President-elect Donald Trump starts his second term on Jan. 20.”

“While Republicans will have full control of Congress and the White House, the wafer-thin cushion in the House means any small handful of Republican defectors could trip up the GOP agenda by holding out for their leaders or their own terms.”