Home Republican management is hanging on by a thread, struggling to take care of management as members both resign or settle for positions in President Donald Trump’s Cupboard. With their already slim majority dwindling, passing Trump’s high priorities is changing into more and more difficult.
Proper now, the GOP holds a razor-thin five-seat majority within the Home—218 Republicans to 213 Democrats—with 4 vacancies, making each vote essential. The state of affairs has develop into so precarious that Rep. Elise Stefanik, Republican of New York, has misplaced her nomination to Trump’s Cupboard.
CBS Information reported Thursday that Stefanik’s nomination for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations was pulled following strain from her get together to say no the function. With margins this tight, Republicans are hesitant to lose one other seat, main get together leaders to withdraw her nomination altogether.
Republican Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho shared the information with reporters on Wednesday.
However what he failed to say is that Stefanik is the final word loser on this debacle. By having her stick round in Congress as a substitute of taking the U.N. ambassadorship, she’s now been relegated to the sidelines—simply one other backbencher with no actual affect. She gave up a possible management function and nonetheless hasn’t been assigned to any subcommittees.
For somebody who spent years climbing the GOP ranks, this can be a humiliating fall from grace. As a substitute of elevating her standing on the world stage, Stefanik is now caught in a Congress the place she has no energy, no platform, and—due to Republican infighting—no clear path ahead.
Earlier than the information broke, The Hill reported earlier this month that Stefanik’s affirmation might be postponed till a minimum of April. Home Speaker Mike Johnson was reportedly answerable for the delay—which his workplace has disputed—and believes that Stefanik is much extra beneficial in Congress than in Trump’s administration.
In response to CBS Information, Johnson was nicely conscious of the inner battle surrounding Stefanik’s nomination. Notably, in contrast to a few of her former colleagues, she didn’t preemptively resign from Congress forward of the Senate affirmation course of.
In some instances, Republicans are even delaying particular elections in sturdy Democratic districts, seemingly to keep away from additional weakening their majority.
For instance, The Texas Tribune reported Wednesday that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has but to name a particular election to exchange the late Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner, who handed away greater than three weeks in the past.
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries referred to as consideration to Abbott’s delay on Tuesday.
“Congressman Sylvester Turner sadly passed away on Wednesday, March 5. Why hasn’t the Texas Governor called a special election to fill this vacant seat?” he wrote on X.
With the present vacancies, Republicans can solely afford to lose two votes whereas nonetheless sustaining their majority on the Home ground. And contemplating their rising inside divisions, their energy could also be much more tenuous than it appears.
Republicans seem like relying on two Florida particular elections to bolster their numbers. The April 1 races will decide who replaces former GOP Reps. Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz—the latter of whom is at present serving as Trump’s nationwide safety adviser (and making a large number of it).
Whereas each seats lean Republican, Democratic challengers are placing up a powerful battle. Within the contest to exchange Waltz, Democrat Josh Weil has already raised an spectacular $10 million in comparison with his opponent’s $1 million.
The truth that Republicans withdrew Stefanik’s nomination alerts desperation and displays a celebration in full-blown panic mode. It reveals that they’re terrified they will’t advance Trump’s agenda in Congress with out resorting to questionable techniques, and it suggests a good deeper concern: one other Democratic upset.
On Tuesday, Democrats flipped a Pennsylvania state Senate seat in a deeply purple district that had beforehand by no means elected a Democrat, and that Trump carried by 15 factors within the 2024 election.
If Florida’s particular elections come all the way down to the wire, as some Republicans apprehend, the GOP may begin worrying about Stefanik’s district subsequent.
Whereas the Florida seats are anticipated to remain purple, Stefanik’s seat isn’t assured for the GOP. Positive, she received reelection by 24 factors in November, however Democrats have held the district earlier than, with Invoice Owens within the seat from 2009 to 2015. If subsequent week’s particular elections are shut, Republicans might want to fear that her district might be the following to flip.
And Democrats sense the chance. Earlier than information of Stefanik’s nomination withdrawal, they’d deliberate to focus on her seat—simply as they’re in Florida. Seemingly frightened of what may occur if more and more dissatisfied voters have a say, Republicans clearly didn’t need to threat it.
The irony is nearly too wealthy. Republicans, as soon as so assured about their grip on energy, at the moment are scrambling to rig the sport simply to maintain their fragile majority intact.
