[Craig]

EXACTLY FOUR WEEKS AFTER ELECTION DAY, THE MAKE-UP OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS NOW KNOWN, AS THE LAST RACE HAS FINALLY BEEN CALLED.
DEMOCRAT ADAM GRAY HAS DEFEATED INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN JOHN DUARTE, IN CALIFORNIA’S 13TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, NOW THAT ALL BALLOTS HAVE BEEN COUNTED.
GRAY’S VICTORY PUTS THE CURRENT TALLY IN THE HOUSE AT 220 REPUBLICANS, TO 215 DEMOCRATS. HOWEVER, PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP NOMINATED 3 REPUBLICAN HOUSE MEMBERS TO HIS CABINET, DROPPING THE MAJORITY TO A VERY SLIM 217-TO-215 MARGIN, IN FAVOR OF THE GOP.
WITHIN DAYS AFTER THE ELECTION, TRUMP NOMINATED FLORIDA CONGRESSMAN MATT GAETZ TO BE ATTORNEY GENERAL, GAETZ RESIGNED FROM THE HOUSE AND LATER REMOVED HIS NAME FROM CONSIDERATION TO BE ATTORNEY GENERAL. THERE WILL NOW BE A SPECIAL ELECTION, IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA. IT IS SET FOR APRIL 1ST, 2025.
ANOTHER REPUBLICAN FLORIDA CONGRESSMAN, MIKE WALTZ, IS SLATED TO BECOME THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER AND LEAVE CONGRESS ON JANUARY 20TH. A SPECIAL ELECTION IN THE DAYTONA BEACH AREA OF FLORIDA IS ALSO SET FOR APRIL 1ST.
IN NORTHERN NEW YORK, REPUBLICAN CONGRESSWOMAN ELISE STEFANIK IS TRUMP’S PICK FOR U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS. SHE HAS **NOT** ANNOUNCED WHEN SHE IS LEAVING CONGRESS. IN NEW YORK, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL IS REQUIRED, BY LAW, TO SET THE DATE FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION WITHIN TEN DAYS OF STEFANIK’S RESIGNATION AND THAT ELECTION HAS TO HAPPEN WITHIN 70 TO 80 DAYS.
ALL THE MOVING PARTS, AND DEPARTING REPUBLICANS LEAVES THE GOP WITH ALMOST NO WIGGLE ROOM TO PUSH THEIR AGENDA FORWARD IN THE UPCOMING CONGRESS. THE MOVES PROMPTED HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON TO SAY “EVERY SINGLE VOTE WILL COUNT BECAUSE IF SOMEONE GETS ILL OR HAS A CAR ACCIDENT OR A LATE FLIGHT ON THEIR PLANE THEN IT AFFECTS THE VOTES ON THE FLOOR.” HE SUPPOSEDLY HAS ALSO URGED DONALD TRUMP NOT TO TAP ANYMORE HOUSE REPUBLICANS FOR CABINET JOBS.
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