With Kevin McCarthy’s departure, the House now has 433 members.
The House Republican majority has been reduced to three members with the retirement of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
On Tuesday, the House met in pro forma session to update the number of seats held by members of Congress.
McCarthy resigned from Congress on December 31, 2023, but Tuesday’s pro-forma session was the first since the former speaker’s resignation took effect.
McCarthy’s departure reduces the House to 433 members in total.
House Republicans presently control 220 members in the lower chamber, while House Democrats control 213 seats.
Under the new leadership of Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., House Republicans are walking a political tightrope due to two vacancies: McCarthy’s departure and the dismissal of disgraced former New York GOP Rep. George Santos from Congress.
With a three-seat majority, Johnson can only have three defectors in his party if Democrats vote en masse on a bill.
With the resignation of New York Democrat Rep. Brian Higgins in February to assume a post at Buffalo’s Shea’s Performing Arts Center, the House composition is expected to alter again shortly.
This will allow House Republicans some breathing room, but only for a short time.
The special election to replace Santos in Congress will be held in New York’s Third Congressional District on February 13, 2024.
If the seat turns blue, the GOP majority would be reduced once more.
McCarthy resigned as speaker after being removed by eight Republicans led by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and every Democrat present in the chamber.
McCarthy has fired parting blows at Gaetz as he heads for the exit door, telling Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade recently that history would not be kind to Gaetz’s decision.
“History will judge him,” McCarthy said. “And history will judge all of us.”
