All articles tagged with #majority
Democrats say they have a plausible but narrow path to a Senate majority in 2026, contingent on competitive battleground races, turnout dynamics, and disciplined messaging. With leaders like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer signaling guarded optimism, the party is plotting targeted campaigns in key states where a few seat flips could tilt control, making the outcome highly sensitive to political currents and voter mobilization.
Rep. Mark Green, chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, plans to resign from Congress, which will further weaken the already slim Republican majority in the House. He cited an opportunity in the private sector as the reason for his departure, which is expected to occur after the House votes on the Trump budget bill.
As former President Donald Trump begins to build his team for a potential 2024 presidential run, House Republicans are facing a shrinking majority in the upcoming midterm elections. This development is causing concern among GOP members who had anticipated a stronger position in Congress. The narrowing majority could impact their legislative agenda and influence Trump's political strategy moving forward.
South Africa's president has announced he will not resign despite the African National Congress (ANC) losing its majority for the first time.
Former President Trump is exerting his influence over the House GOP, potentially putting their majority at risk. Trump's involvement in endorsing candidates and his ability to rally his base has led to concerns that he could undermine the party's chances in the upcoming elections.
Former President Trump criticized GOP House members, including Rep. Mike Gallagher and former Rep. Ken Buck, for resigning, further thinning the Republican majority in the House. The departures have left the GOP with just a single-seat majority, making passing party-line votes more challenging. There is speculation that Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries could be named Speaker, as some Republicans are in revolt against Speaker Mike Johnson. Gallagher's resignation timing has drawn criticism, with some calling for his expulsion, but the effort has not gained support. Gallagher attributed his exit to the dysfunction of the GOP and the need for congressional service to be a temporary, rather than a lifelong, career.
The possibility of Democrats taking control of the House of Representatives before the election due to Republican resignations is extremely far-fetched. While the GOP's majority is already narrow, the math suggests that a full flip to Democrats is highly unlikely. Even with the upcoming special elections, the chances of a surprise Democratic majority are deemed "extremely, extremely, extremely unlikely." The best shot for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to become speaker remains winning in November.
Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson faces increasing pressure as the party's majority in the House of Representatives dwindles, with a Colorado congressman's sudden resignation further reducing their slim lead. A special election in New York's 26th congressional district could potentially tip the balance even more in favor of the Democrats, making it increasingly difficult for Johnson to pass legislation. Internal dissent and challenges from moderate Republicans add to Johnson's woes, as the party's direction and support for Donald Trump come under scrutiny.
The Senate GOP successfully recruited Larry Hogan, the former Republican governor of Maryland, after a personal letter from the chief of staff to the chairman of the Senate GOP’s campaign arm led to a dramatic surprise entrance into the race, widening the party's path to a majority in the 2024 Senate landscape.
Mike Johnson, a GOP representative, invoked God in a presentation on maintaining the majority, but it was poorly received.
Democratic school board member Jim Prokopiak is leading in the special election for Pennsylvania’s 140th state House district, indicating that Democrats are likely to maintain their majority in the state’s lower chamber with a 102-100 lead. The district's location in Bucks County, a swing district, has drawn national attention, and the outcome of this election could provide insight into expectations for November's general election. The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee sees Prokopiak's expected win as a promising sign for Democrats and is now focusing on defending the Pennsylvania House and making gains in the Pennsylvania Senate in November.
Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy's decision to leave Congress a year before the end of his term will further shrink the already slim majority of House Republicans, complicating their efforts to fund the government and pass legislation. McCarthy's departure also poses challenges for the GOP's fundraising efforts and could empower the hard-right wing of the party. Additionally, if more House Republicans decide not to seek re-election, it could jeopardize the party's majority before the 2024 election.
House Republicans' narrow majority is set to become even more fragile as Rep. Kevin McCarthy announces his retirement, Rep. George Santos is expelled, and more lawmakers could leave. With three vacancies and the potential for more, the balance of power in the House will be 219-213, leaving Republicans with little room for party-line legislation. Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene expressed frustration, blaming the House Freedom Caucus and Republicans who voted to expel Santos. However, there are also Democratic departures and the likelihood of Republican wins in special elections. Nonetheless, these departures highlight the challenging position of the Republican Party, with some conservatives criticizing their lack of accomplishments in the majority.
Firebrand Rep. Matt Gaetz expressed concern that the expulsion of Rep. George Santos could jeopardize the Republican Party's majority in the House of Representatives. Gaetz warned that other Republicans may follow suit, potentially reducing the majority further. He criticized Santos' expulsion as "tactically stupid" and raised concerns about the age of some party members, suggesting that their potential departure could further weaken the majority. Gaetz himself is facing an ethics investigation. Santos, who was expelled due to allegations of campaign fund theft, is also facing a 23-count indictment for embezzlement and fraud.
Forty-five allies of former U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, largely comprised of centrists, are calling for rule changes to prevent a small faction from ousting the next speaker or blocking party priorities. As Republicans prepare to select a replacement for McCarthy, two lawmakers, Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan, are campaigning for the position. McCarthy was recently ousted as speaker after angering hardline critics by relying on Democratic votes to pass a temporary spending bill.