Overview
- Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resignation took effect January 5, leaving the House at 219 Republicans and 213 Democrats with three vacancies, according to CNN reporting carried by KRDO.
- House Majority Whip Tom Emmer announced the sudden death of Rep. Doug LaMalfa, and Rep. Jim Baird is hospitalized in stable condition after a car crash, tightening attendance and vote counts.
- With the new absences and vacancies, Johnson can lose only two Republicans on any party-line vote to pass legislation.
- Recent GOP defections on a major tax and spending bill — with Reps. Thomas Massie and Brian Fitzpatrick voting no — highlight the difficulty of holding the conference together.
- A Texas runoff later this month between two Democrats is set to add one Democrat to the House, and an April special election in New Jersey to replace Mikie Sherrill could further reshape the margin.