The House Republican majority has officially been reduced to three members, as the House updated that number after former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy retired.
The House of Representatives held a provisional session on Tuesday to formally update the number of seats held by members of Congress.
McCarthy's resignation from Congress took effect Dec. 31, 2023, but Tuesday's scheduled meeting marked the first gavel since the former speaker's resignation took effect.
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House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) answers questions during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on July 29, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
McCarthy's resignation brings the total number of members of the House of Representatives to 433.
House Republicans currently hold 220 seats, while House Democrats currently control 213 seats.
With two vacancies: McCarthy's resignation and the removal from Congress of disgraced former New York Republican Rep. George Santos, House Republicans are under new leadership from Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana). Walking a tightrope.
Johnson has only a three-seat majority, so if Democrats vote on the bill en masse, they can only include three defectors in their party.
With the resignation of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and the firing of disgraced former New York Republican Rep. George Santos, House Republicans are walking a political tightrope under the new leadership of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Laminated). There is. (Eric Kane/USA Today Network)
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The makeup of the House is likely to change again soon, with New York Democratic Rep. Brian Higgins resigning in February to take a position at Shay's Performing Arts Center in Buffalo, New York.
This will give House Republicans some breathing room, but it may only be a little bit.
A special congressional election to replace Mr. Santos will be held on February 13, 2024 in New York's 3rd Congressional District.
If the seat turns blue, the Republican majority will narrow again.
A special election to replace former Congressman George Santos will be held on February 13th. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc)
McCarthy's resignation came after he was removed from the chair by eight Republicans, led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), and all Democrats in the chamber.
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McCarthy posed for a farewell photo with Gaetz as he headed for the exit, and recently told Fox News' Brian Kilmeade that history will not look back favorably on Gaetz's move.
“History will judge him,” McCarthy said. “And history will judge us all.”
Fox News Digital's Taylor Penley contributed reporting.
