Home Republican management is hanging on by a thread, struggling to keep up 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 grow to be 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 stress from her get together to say no the position. 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 last word loser on this debacle. By having her stick round in Congress as an alternative 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 position and nonetheless hasn’t been assigned to any subcommittees.
For somebody who spent years climbing the GOP ranks, it is a humiliating fall from grace. As an alternative of elevating her standing on the world stage, Stefanik is now caught in a Congress the place she has no energy, no platform, and—because of Republican infighting—no clear path ahead.
Earlier than the information broke, The Hill reported earlier this month that Stefanik’s affirmation may very well be postponed till no less than April. Home Speaker Mike Johnson was reportedly chargeable for the delay—which his workplace has disputed—and believes that Stefanik is much extra precious in Congress than in Trump’s administration.
In accordance with CBS Information, Johnson was properly conscious of the interior 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 switch 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 look 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 the moment 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 struggle. Within the contest to switch 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 exhibits that they’re terrified they’ll’t advance Trump’s agenda in Congress with out resorting to questionable ways, and it suggests a fair 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 right 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. Certain, 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 may very well be the subsequent to flip.
And Democrats sense the chance. Earlier than information of Stefanik’s nomination withdrawal, that they had deliberate to focus on her seat—simply as they’re in Florida. Seemingly petrified of what may occur if more and more dissatisfied voters have a say, Republicans clearly didn’t wish to danger it.
The irony is nearly too wealthy. Republicans, as soon as so assured about their grip on energy, are actually scrambling to rig the sport simply to maintain their fragile majority intact.
