{"id":2562699,"date":"2026-02-02T19:55:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T00:55:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-gop-margin-narrows-as-christian-menefee-is-sworn-in\/"},"modified":"2026-02-02T19:56:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T00:56:12","slug":"house-gop-margin-narrows-as-christian-menefee-is-sworn-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-gop-margin-narrows-as-christian-menefee-is-sworn-in\/","title":{"rendered":"House GOP margin narrows as Christian Menefee is sworn in"},"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\">20<\/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%2Fhouse-gop-margin-narrows-as-christian-menefee-is-sworn-in%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=2562699&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>Rep. Christian Menefee (D-TX) was sworn in Monday to represent Texas\u2019s 18th Congressional District,narrowing House Speaker Mike Johnson\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >razor-thin margin<\/a> to 218-214 with three vacancies still in play. He won a runoff against Amanda Edwards to succeed the late Rep. Sylvester Turner, whose death left the Houston-based seat vacant for nearly a year. menefee\u2019s seating tightens Democrats\u2019 presence in the chamber and sets up a rematch with Edwards in next month\u2019s primary for the full term, a race that could also pit him against longtime Rep. Al Green after redistricting. As the House weighs a deal to end a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nancy-pelosi-blames-president-trump-climate-change-for-migrant-surge\/\" title=\"Nancy Pelosi blames President Trump, \u2018climate change\u2019 for migrant surge\">partial government shutdown<\/a>, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urged opponents to oppose it over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-sends-<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-taking-regeneron-drug-remdesivir-therapy-for-coronavirus-diagnosis-ex-wh-doctor-explains\/\" title=\"Trump taking Regeneron drug, Remdesivir therapy for coronavirus diagnosis: ex-WH doctor explains\">house<\/a>-spending-bill-as-government-shutdown-begins\/&#8221; title=&#8221;Senate sends &#8230; spending bill as government shutdown begins&#8221;>immigration-enforcement reforms<\/a>, arguing dramatic changes are needed within the Department of Homeland Security before any funding for ICE or CBP proceeds.  <\/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><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">House GOP margin narrows as Christian Menefee is sworn in<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2489556\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Rep. Christian Menefee (D-TX) was sworn in Monday to represent the voters of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/texas\/\">Texas&rsquo;s<\/a> 18th <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/congress\/\">Congressional District<\/a>, bringing <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-johnson\/\">Speaker Mike Johnson&rsquo;s <\/a>(R-LA) already razor-thin margin even narrower.<\/p>\n<p>Menefee won a runoff against Amanda Edwards on Saturday to succeed the late Rep. Sylvester Turner for the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/houston\/\">Houston<\/a>-based seat. Turner died in March 2025, and the seat has been Vacant for nearly a year.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4442675\/illinois-republicans-raise-election-integrity-concerns-letter\/\">Illinois Republicans raise election integrity concerns with state<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4442484\/house-gop-ditching-democrats-pass-spending-bills-luna\/\">House GOP ditching Democrats to pass spending bills, Luna reveals<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4442452\/raskin-clinton-contempt-vote-pam-bondi\/\">Raskin conditions Clinton contempt <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-continuous-media-covid-fear-mongering-may-backfire-and-diminish-democrat-voter-turnout\/\" title=\"The Continuous Media COVID Fear Mongering May BACKFIRE and Diminish Democrat Voter Turnout\">vote<\/a> on separate resolution for Bondi<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;After 334 days of having no voice in Congress, TX-18 will finally have representation,&rdquo; Menefee said ahead of being sworn in. <\/p>\n<p>With Menefee seated, the total in the House now stands at 218-214, with three vacancies. Johnson can now only lose one Republican on any party-line vote.<\/p>\n<p>Menefee will fill the remainder of Turner&rsquo;s term through next January. He will face Edwards again next month in a primary for the full term. That race will also pit Menefee against longtime Rep. Al Green (D-TX), who was drawn out of his district by a redistricting effort that passed the state legislature last year. <\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4442173\/christian-menefee-wins-texas-special-election-house-seat\/\">CHRISTIAN MENEFEE WINS TEXAS SPECIAL ELECTION FOR HOUSE SEAT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Menefee&rsquo;s seating comes as the House is set to vote on a deal to end the partial government shutdown. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has urged his caucus to oppose the deal, saying it does nothing to reform the practices of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Dramatic change is needed within the Department of Homeland Security before any appropriations bill related to [ICE] and [Customs and Border Protection] proceeds,&rdquo; Jeffries said at his press conference last week.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Menefee sworn in, tightens House GOP edge<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3691,"featured_media":2562700,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/menefee-texas-special-election.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[72662,70987,72661],"class_list":["post-2562699","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-christian-menefee-2","tag-house-gop-2","tag-margin-narrows"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/menefee-texas-special-election.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2562699","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\/3691"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2562699"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2562699\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2562703,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2562699\/revisions\/2562703"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2562700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2562699"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2562699"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2562699"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}