Staff Reports
House Republicans are suddenly feeling the heat after President-elect Donald Trump decided to put his Cabinet together by swiping a few members from their ranks. It turns out that the Republican majority, which had already been as thin as a piece of paper, is now at risk of becoming as non-existent as the Left’s grip on reality. With Trump tapping Reps. Elise Stefanik from New York, Mike Waltz from Florida, and the always entertaining Matt Gaetz from Florida for his new administration, the seat count for Republicans could plummet faster than Biden’s approval ratings.
Currently projected to hold a fragile 221 seats, the GOP majority dwindles down to 218 with Gaetz already announcing his intent to resign in order to start his new gig as attorney general. It’s a precarious position for Speaker Mike Johnson and the rest of the party, who find themselves sweating bullets as they await final results from eight House races that could either bolster their numbers or send them straight to the minority corner for another two years of doing the Democrat Cha-Cha—where they lead and Republicans follow to the beat of endless infighting.
Republicans won a House majority, giving the party full control of Congress when President-elect Donald Trump takes office. https://t.co/0aiy7SJ45R pic.twitter.com/NU1zyk6Wl6
— The New York Times (@nytimes) November 14, 2024
Among the eight undecided races, it looks like four might still fall into Republican hands, mostly in California, a state that would do well to remember the lessons of their own government. Meanwhile, the Democrats are practically giddy as they watch Republicans manage to cut their own legs out from under them while planning their next big moves. It’s enough to make even the most steadfast of conservatives raise an eyebrow and wonder whether they’re better off wearing their “Make America Great Again” hats as doorstops.
The issue of Gaetz leaving has complicated matters even more for a Republican majority that can’t afford to lose many more members. Currently holding a razor-thin margin with 220 to 213, there are two vacancies that could quickly change the landscape. Any additional departures—brought on by a hefty Trump administration reshuffling—would only serve to tip the scales in favor of the Democrats who are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to turn the GOP’s precarious situation into a feeding frenzy.
While some Republicans can’t help but express their displeasure with Trump’s latest talent acquisition strategy, others still believe the party can make do with what they have. After all, as Rep. Lauren Boebert points out, Republicans have pulled through with a single-seat majority before—though it’s questionable whether that was truly an achievement or simply a stopgap until more conservatives could gather their wits. However, amid the turmoil, optimism persists, with many believing that the party remains solidly behind Trump’s vision, whatever that happens to be at the moment.
Faced with a crumbling majority and the fear of their party’s future, the current GOP leadership must act fast to fill vacant seats and maintain their relevance. With special elections looming, there’s a glimmer of hope that the fallout from Trump’s picks can be managed and perhaps turned into a strategy of empowerment down the line. One thing is certain: watching House Republicans juggle their roles as both lawmakers and would-be appointees certainly provides a level of entertainment that no soap opera could compete with.
