Speaker Mike Johnson’s small majority just got even smaller.
On Tuesday night, the final House race was called after Representative John Duarte of California, a freshman Republican, conceded to Adam Gray, a Democrat, cementing a 220-215 majority for Republicans in a margin even slimmer than they have now, at 220-213.
Those margins will erode even further in January, when Representatives Elise Stefanik of New York and Mike Waltz of Florida resign to take jobs in the Trump administration. Former Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida has also given notice that he will not return.
Republicans will then be down to a 217-215 majority, on par with the narrowest controlling margin in House history. If all Democrats are present and united in opposition to a measure, Mr. Johnson won’t be able to afford a single defection on the House floor until those vacancies are filled later this spring. Even then, no more than three Republicans can break ranks without dooming a bill’s passage.
Mr. Johnson sounded unfazed at the prospect on Wednesday, telling reporters on Capitol Hill: “We know how to work with a small majority. That’s our custom.”
He added: “We have nothing to spare. But all of our members know that. We talked about that today, as we do constantly — that this is a team effort, that we’ve got to all row in the same direction.”
What he did not mention is that much of his success in navigating a tiny majority over the last year has involved partnering with Democrats to push through must-pass legislation that his own party refused to support, an option that is unlikely to be available to him in the next Congress with President-elect Donald J. Trump in the White House.
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