Democrats acquired some nice information on Tuesday evening, when their candidate took the lead in California’s thirteenth District, a seat Republicans presently maintain.
As of Wednesday morning, Democrat Adam Grey now leads Republican incumbent John Duarte by 182 votes.
If the lead holds—and in the event that they decide up the opposite uncalled seat the place they presently lead—it might give Democrats 215 Home seats, a web achieve from the earlier Congress. And it might make Home Speaker Mike Johnson’s life much more depressing than it already was slated to be, since he’d have one fewer vote to attempt to move Donald Trump’s harmful agenda.
For not less than the primary few months of the brand new Congress, Republicans would have only a 217-215 majority in the event that they win the uncalled seat the place they presently lead. That’s as a result of Trump nominated Reps. Elise Stefanik of New York and Mike Waltz of Florida to his administration. Now-former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz—who resigned to attempt to bury what’s believed to be a damning Home Ethics Committee investigation into whether or not he sex-trafficked a minor in an effort to attempt to save his now-defunct quest to be lawyer common—may even not be taking his seat within the 119th Congress.
Meaning Johnson would wish to have each single Republican vote to move payments, with only one defection or absence inflicting a vote to fail. That can be an especially tough process for Johnson, who presides over a fractious convention crammed with right-wing lunatics who vote “no” on even must-pass authorities funding laws over their demand for ideological purity.
“My goodness gracious: the GOP’s House Majority looks to be the smallest after any election since 1930 with current results,” CNN’s Harry Enten wrote in a Wednesday put up on X. “With resignations (e.g. Gaetz), it may be the smallest majority during a House session in 100+ yrs. Just 1 GOP defection + All Dems could sink a bill.”
After all, the race hasn’t been referred to as but. There are nonetheless a couple of votes to rely within the district—a sprawling seat situated within the San Joaquin Valley.
However it appears to be like just like the ballots from the Republican strongholds within the district are exhausted, which might make it tough for Duarte to win. Election consultants say Grey is now favored to win right here. The seat was a serious pickup alternative for Democrats provided that Joe Biden gained within the district by 11 proportion factors in 2020.
Republicans are so incensed that Duarte might lose his seat after only one time period that they’re baselessly claiming fraud—their go-to excuse when Republicans lose.
“Congressman John Duarte was winning but after 22 days of counting ballots he is now losing by 105 votes. Democrats are stealing another House seat!” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia wrote in a put up on X. “Elections nationwide should be one day, paper ballots, and require proof of citizenship with ID!!”
There may be clearly zero proof that Democrats stole Duarte’s Home seats.
Certain, it’s absurd how lengthy it’s taking for California to rely ballots. However simply because it’s taking perpetually doesn’t imply there’s something untoward happening.
It’s additionally fascinating that Greene thinks Democrats would steal a random Home seat however not rig it for Vice President Kamala Harris. However frequent sense is clearly too tough for Greene to course of in her cobweb-filled cranium.
