by Riley Beggin and Sudiksha Kochi
November 14, 2024
Introduction:
Read more here: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/po ... 306065007(USA Today) WASHINGTON – President-elect Donald Trump has found a favorite spot to shop for Cabinet nominees: The U.S. House.
Its setting off a scramble in the chamber, where Republicans are likely to have an extremely narrow majority in 2025. At the moment, Republicans have won 218 seats – the bare minimum needed to take control of the chamber – with only a handful of races left to be called.
Trump's selection of Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., to be ambassador to the United Nations, Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., as national security adviser and Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. to be attorney general leaves a three-seat gap that could compromise that GOP majority.
"It's a great problem to have, we have an embarrassment of riches in the House Republican conference. Lots of talented people," House Speaker Mike Johnson told Fox News Thursday. "But I've told President Trump 'enough already, you've got to give me some relief. I've got to maintain this majority.' And he understands that."
Johnson added that he is speaking almost hourly with the president-elect and that he wasn't concerned about Trump's nominations leading to a Democratic take-over of one branch of Congress. "I think we're going to be settled... we will have the majority," he said.
caltrek’s comment: To some extent, this likely to only be a short-term problem for Republicans as appointees appointed from the House are likely to be replaced in the House by other Republicans soon enough. Even after that happens, Johnson will still have a relatively slim majority to work with. A majority that includes some extreme bat-shit crazy right wingers that may force a vote to replace him at the drop of a hat.
