Republicans will have a narrow majority in the House next year, with Democrats flipping one final seat in California, giving them a 220-215 lead. This slim majority means Republicans can only afford to lose two votes on legislation in the House. The recent elections resulted in a net gain of one seat for Democrats in the House, with pickups in California, New York, Oregon, Alabama, and Louisiana. Republicans gained seats in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Alaska, Colorado, and Michigan. The House races in 2024 were highly competitive, bolstered by extensive ad spending and taking into account the impact of redistricting. Although Democrats lost the House, they outperformed Vice President Kamala Harris in key races. Republicans are planning to use the budget reconciliation process to advance major policy priorities next year, including renewing tax cuts and potentially passing border security legislation. Speaker Mike Johnson and Republicans face challenges due to their fragile majority, with the upcoming resignations of Reps. Elise Stefanik and Mike Waltz further complicating the situation. A special election will be held to replace Rep. Matt Gaetz following his resignation. The narrow Republican majority in the House will present obstacles in passing legislation and advancing Trump’s agenda in the next Congress.
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