The House of Representatives is back in session after a brief recess, with House Speaker Mike Johnson facing a legislative sprint with one less reliable GOP vote due to Rep. Mike Gallagher’s retirement. Gallagher’s seat will remain vacant until January 2025, further reducing the House GOP’s majority. Johnson is keenly aware of the slim two-seat margin he’s working with and is likely to face even smaller majority in the coming weeks due to special elections.
With the special election to replace retired Rep. Brian Higgins in New York’s 26th Congressional District approaching, the House GOP leaders are anticipated to get some relief in late May as two Republicans compete in a special runoff election to replace ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy. If Higgins’ seat remains in Democratic hands, Johnson may have to navigate the four-week session with just a one-vote majority, which limits his flexibility on party-line votes.
A House GOP aide believes that Johnson has successfully navigated through critical legislation barring the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration, which is expected to pass later this year. The aide dismissed potential concerns over the shrinking majority due to another GOP resignation, attributing any dysfunction to members who refuse to govern and prefer to complain, such as the House Freedom Caucus and their allies who have obstructed the passing of Republican leaders’ legislation.
The House Freedom Caucus has indicated opposition to the funding of the Francis Scott Key Bridge reconstruction in Baltimore, demanding that the funds be offset by spending cuts and solely focus on bridge reconstruction. While it is unclear when a funding bill may materialize, given the strong bipartisan support it is expected to receive, GOP rebels are likely to challenge Johnson if he attempts to pass it through traditional means that rely solely on party-line votes.
As the House session progresses, Johnson will face the challenge of managing legislation with a narrow majority and potential opposition from conservative factions within the GOP. The outcome of upcoming special elections and the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration will further shape Johnson’s leadership and ability to navigate through critical legislation during this current session of the House of Representatives.
