With Democratic victories in Texas over the weekend, the House Republican majority shrank to a dangerously slim margin of just one vote.
On Monday night, Louisiana House Speaker Mike Johnson swore in new Rep. Christian Menefee, a Texas Democrat, bringing the overall House advantage to 218 Republicans and 214 Democrats.
This means that if a bill does not have Democratic support and the full House is present, losing more than one Republican vote would result in a 216-216 tie, meaning the bill would not pass.
Fears of Democratic takeover soar as House Republicans hold on to fragile majority
Louisiana House Speaker Mike Johnson walks out of the chamber to talk to reporters after the final vote to end the longest government shutdown in history, November 12, 2025, at the Capitol in Washington.
(AP Photo)
Johnson is no stranger to dealing with slim margins, scoring major victories for Republicans while handling majorities between two and three seats.
But it’s been a particularly difficult week for House Republican leaders who are working to end the ongoing partial government shutdown.
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The House is expected to vote sometime Tuesday on a funding compromise agreed upon by Senate Democrats and the White House, and Republicans will need nearly everyone to be in lockstep for the legislation to survive a “rules vote” across the chamber.
Rules voting is a procedural hurdle that has traditionally been divided along party lines.
Reporter’s Notes: More than 40 members of the House of Representatives quit, threatening Johnson’s control of power
Harris County Prosecutor Christian Menifee is endorsed by the Congressional Progressive Caucus Political Action Committee.
Menifee, a former attorney for Harris County in Houston, won a special congressional election in a left-leaning district in texas It has been vacant for nearly a year.
He will succeed the late Texas Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner, who died in office in March 2025.
Menifee defeated former Houston City Council member and fellow Democrat Amanda Edwards in Saturday’s runoff to fill the seat left vacant by Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner’s death last March, the Associated Press reported.
Sylvester is a longtime state lawmaker who served two terms as Houston mayor before winning congressional election in 2024 to fill the seat of the late, longtime Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee.
The U.S. Capitol Building seen at sunset on January 30, 2025.
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Texas redraws congressional maps for 2026 midterm elections as part of high-stakes redistricting battle between presidents Donald Trump Special elections between Republicans and Democrats used the state’s current district lines.
Another lawmaker joining the ranks of House Democrats would create further headaches for Republican leadership in the chamber.
House Republican leaders are painfully aware of the political dilemma they find themselves in.
“They better be here,” Johnson said of his fellow Republican members last month. “I’m not joking when I tell you, don’t do adventure sports, don’t take risks, take your vitamins. Stay healthy and stay here.”
Original source of the article: House Republican majority shrinks to just one vote as Johnson swears in new House Democrats