Republicans Could Have a Temporary Zero-Seat Majority in the House

The departures of Matt Gaetz, Mike Waltz, and Elise Stefanik will bring the majority down to zero seats. Any more could mean that Democrats take the majority.

(L-R) House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) at a bipartisan candlelight vigil at the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 7, 2023. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

WASHINGTON–When the House of Representatives returns on Jan. 3, 2025, to begin the 119th Congress for a two-year term, Republicans will start out with a narrow majority.

Though the party won 220 seats in the House, giving them a three-seat margin over the majority mark of 218, this number is set to decline in January. The drop in seats could imperil the GOP’s ability to pass legislation and, possibly, flip control of the House to the Democratic Party.