{"id":2230145,"date":"2024-04-25T14:41:02","date_gmt":"2024-04-25T18:41:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/where-the-house-balance-of-power-stands-after-dem-suddenly-dies-and-another-gop-member-resigns\/"},"modified":"2024-04-25T14:43:55","modified_gmt":"2024-04-25T18:43:55","slug":"where-the-house-balance-of-power-stands-after-dem-suddenly-dies-and-another-gop-member-resigns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/where-the-house-balance-of-power-stands-after-dem-suddenly-dies-and-another-gop-member-resigns\/","title":{"rendered":"Current Balance of Power in House Shifts Due to Unexpected Democratic Death and GOP Member Resignation"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhere-the-house-balance-of-power-stands-after-dem-suddenly-dies-and-another-gop-member-resigns%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2230145&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The recent events, \u2063including the passing of Rep. Donald \u2064Payne Jr. (D-NJ) and the resignation of Rep. Mike\u2062 Gallagher (R-WI), have shifted the balance in the GOP-led\u200b House. With 217 \u2063Republicans and 212 Democrats, the dynamics of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ocasio-cortez-requests-earmarks-for-two-hospitals-that-perform-abortions\/\" title=\"Ocasio-Cortez Requests Earmarks For Two Hospitals That Perform Abortions\">party-line votes<\/a> \u2063have\u200d changed. Stay tuned for the upcoming special\u2064 election in New York,\u200b which may further impact the\u200b House&#8217;s composition. The recent \u200ddevelopments, such \u2062as the passing of Rep.\u200b Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ) and the resignation of Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), have altered the GOP-led House&#8217;s balance. The current count stands at 217 Republicans and 212 Democrats, reshaping \u2062party-line voting dynamics. Keep an eye on \u2063the upcoming New York special election, \u2064which could have additional implications\u2062 for \u2064the House&#8217;s makeup.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p>This week, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/new-jersey-house-democrat-donald-payne-jr-dies-at-65\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sudden death<\/a> of Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ) and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/mike-gallagher-announces-resignation-shrinks-republicans-house-majority\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the resignation<\/a> of Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) once again changed the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/morning-wire-afghanistan-collapses-dc-wades-into-state-mask-battles-how-new-census-data-could-impact-elections\/\" title=\"Morning Wire: Afghanistan Collapses, DC Wades Into State Mask Battles, How New Census Data Could Impact Elections\">party breakdown<\/a> of the GOP-led chamber that has to contend with a Democrat-controlled Senate and White House.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans numbered 217 while Democrats had <a href=\"https:\/\/pressgallery.house.gov\/member-data\/party-breakdown\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">212 members<\/a> as of Thursday. That means, with the current set-up, the GOP can only afford two defectors in party-line votes with full attendance. Yet that will not be the case for long.<\/p>\n<p>In less than one week, on April 30, New York will hold a special election for the Buffalo-area seat once held by Brian Higgins, a Democrat who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/house-dem-announces-plan-to-resign-early-in-2024\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">stepped down<\/a> in February to become president and CEO of Shea\u2019s Performing Arts Center.<\/p>\n<p>New York State Sen. Timothy Kennedy (D) is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wbfo.org\/2024-04-23\/what-is-the-ny-26-special-election-and-why-is-it-happening-wbfo-explains\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">facing off<\/a> against West Seneca Town Supervisor Gary Dickson (R) in the race to finish the two-year term Higgins won in 2022. The winner will likely be sworn in during the following weeks.<\/p>\n<p>If Kennedy wins the 26th Congressional District, which Higgins had represented since 2005, it would further diminish the GOP\u2019s ability to prevail in contentious matters. Two Republican defectors in otherwise party-line votes would result in a tie.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans previously lost ground in the Empire State when Democrat Tom Suozzi <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/slim-house-gop-majority-takes-a-hit-with-dem-winning-contest-to-replace-santos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">emerged victorious<\/a> over GOP rival Mazi Pilip in the special election that followed the expulsion of Long Island Rep. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/topic\/george-santos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">George Santos<\/a> (R-NY). Suozzi <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/congress\/democrat-tom-suozzi-sworn-shrinking-house-gops-fragile-majority-rcna140563\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">took the oath of office<\/a> in late February.<\/p>\n<p>There are five other vacancies in the House, which has a full capacity of 435 voting members. While only a little more than half a year remains in the current session, some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fmr-senator-presidential-candidate-bob-dole-dies-at-98\/\" title=\"Fmr. senator, presidential candidate Bob Dole dies at 98\">important votes<\/a> may yet still happen \u2014 including for the fiscal 2025 budget.<\/p>\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/onelink.to\/dwapp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-describedby=\"sk-tooltip-9096\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/onelink.to\/dwapp&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1714058291759000&#038;usg=AOvVaw1pS1lhhUFaDRJmQxTok4Sv\">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p>Three other special elections have been set in motion for a GOP trio who resigned early. One in California is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/california-special-election-kevin-mccarthy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">set for May 21<\/a> to pick a successor to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). Two June contests for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-the-house-motion-to-vacate-means-for-the-speakership-and-why-republicans-must-preserve-it\/\" title=\"What The House \u2018Motion To Vacate\u2019 Means For The Speakership And Why Republicans Must Preserve It\">seats previously held<\/a> by Reps. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wtrf.com\/top-stories\/meet-the-5-candidates-running-for-bill-johnsons-seat-in-the-u-s-house-of-representatives\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bill Johnson<\/a> (R-OH) and <a href=\"https:\/\/rollcall.com\/2024\/04\/03\/field-set-for-colorado-special-election-to-fill-buck-seat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ken Buck<\/a> (R-CO) will follow.<\/p>\n<p>It remains unclear whether there will be a <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/donald-payne-rep-congress-dead-d1e3187470ee000b2e77c72226a1edd5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">special election<\/a> for the seat left behind by Payne, who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/new-jersey-house-democrat-donald-payne-jr-dies-at-65\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">died on Wednesday at the age of 65<\/a>. There are <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/wisconsin-congress-gallagher-lyerly-e54d2dc19192a3cc2ed91b395358ebf6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">no plans<\/a> for one to be held to replace Gallagher following his resignation, which <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CraigCaplan\/status\/1783506303010152832\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">became official<\/a> on Wednesday after he stayed in office slightly longer than planned to vote on a foreign aid package over the weekend.<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This week, the passing of Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ) and the exit of Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) altered the GOP-led House&#8217;s composition. With 217 Republicans and 212 Democrats, the party balance shifted amid a Democrat-controlled Senate and White House, impacting legislative dynamics<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1588,"featured_media":2230147,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/dw-wp-production.imgix.net\/2024\/04\/GettyImages-1496431868-scaled-e1714062501586.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2230145","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/dw-wp-production.imgix.net\/2024\/04\/GettyImages-1496431868-scaled-e1714062501586.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2230145","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1588"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2230145"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2230145\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2230147"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2230145"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2230145"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2230145"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}