Republican Duarte's defeat in California leaves House with narrowest majority in 90 years
The mail-in votes received after Election Day in California allows Democrats to flip two seats and leave the balance of power at 220-215. After the departure of Donald Trump's nominees it would remain at 217-215.
Hakeem Jeffries speaks with Mike Johnson in the House Speaker's chair
Mike Johnson will lead the narrowest majority in the House of Representatives in 90 years following a November election. The defeat of Republican Rep. John Duarte in California's 13th District, due to vote-by-mail ballots counted after Election Day, leaves the balance of power at 220-215. This margin is expected to narrow further to 217-215 after the departure of Donald Trump appointees.
The Golden State has been key to making up for the Democratic defeat in last month's elections, and the fact that two conservative representatives have lost their seats as a result of the mail-in vote received up to seven days after 5-N has raised suspicions and protests. In fact, the Republican National Committee took the matter to court and demanded -along with other notable Republicans, such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis-, a change in the Californian electoral system.
Nearly a month for Gray to proclaim victory
And is that the Democrat Adam Gray has had to wait nearly a month to be able to declare himself the winner of his race against Duarte. The conservative Gray conceded victory to his rival last Tuesday, December 3, at which time the Democrat uploaded a post to his social networks celebrating the victory.
Republicans, with no margin for error to move forward with their legislative projects
With this result, the Republicans, hostages during the last legislature of the different currents that won seats in the House, can hardly allow themselves any license to get their laws through. It is enough that three GOP legislators vote with the 215 Democrats to block any bill.
Something that will be even worse when the elected representatives nominated by Trump to serve in his new term, Elise Stefanik and Mike Waltz take office. Coupled with the resignation of Matt Gaetz to retake his seat after declining the president-elect's nomination to be the next attorney general, Republicans will barely have a one-vote advantage over Democrats (217-215). If a single conservative lawmaker joins the Blue Party congressmen it would result in a tie at 216.
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