Mike Johnson’s Majority in Peril After Sudden Republican Death

The death of Representative Doug LaMalfa, a California Republican, will further shrink the GOP’s slim margin in the House of Representatives. Their majority is now just five seats, and could narrow further in the coming months. Costas Panagopoulos, professor of political science at Northeastern University, told Newsweek the slim margin makes it more of a challenge to keep the GOP coalition unified on any vote, as even just a small number of defections could "make it impossible for the Republican majority to pass legislation." The Context House Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota confirmed LaMalfa’s passing in a post on X, describing him as a "loving father and husband, and staunch advocate for his constituents and rural America." ADVERTISING            Prior to his death, Republicans already were facing a tight majority of 219-213, with former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene officially leaving Congress on Monday. The historically tight margin could be more challenging to navigate for House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, as he works to pass legislation over the coming months.   House Speaker Mike Johnson arrives for a bicameral congressional leadership briefing with administration officials at the U.S. Capitol on January 5 in... Read More    What To Know READ MORE Politics Trump’s Capture of Maduro Is Popular Across Latin America—New Poll Trump’s Approval Rating With Republicans Slips to Second Term Low: Poll Venezuelan Opposition Back Machado, Downplay Rift With Trump More Related Stories  Republicans now hold 218 seats in the House of Representatives following LaMalfa’s death, while Democrats hold 213. But that could narrow even further over the coming months. Democrats are expected to pick up another seat in the special election in Texas’ 18th Congressional District on January 31, 2026. Two Democrats, Christian Menefee and Amanda Edwards, advanced to the runoff in the race to replace the late Representative Sylvester Turner, who died last year. ADVERTISING            Democrats are also favored in the April 16 special election in New Jersey’s 11th district to fill the seat vacated by the state’s Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat. The seat generally backs Democrats, and Sabato’s Crystal Ball classified the race as being Safe Democrat. If Democrats win both of those seats, as expected, the majority would become 218-215—meaning Republicans could afford only a single defection or absence on any bill. Panagopoulos said it will be interesting to watch for whether Johnson’s approach changes at all with regards to making more room for Democratic influence and how he deals with members in his own caucus. "These developments have now raised the importance of any individual Republican House member who can almost single-handedly control what Republicans can do in the House," he said. "Virtually anyone can emerge as a potential derailment to Johnson’s efforts to do just about anything." ADVERTISING            Meanwhile, Representative Jim Baird, an Indiana Republican, was hospitalized after a car crash. President Donald Trump said he will be fine, Politico reported. It remained unclear how soon he will return to Congress. Panagopoulos noted that Republicans are getting "dangerously close" to a situation where Democrats could flip control of the chamber. Still, he said deaths and retirements could "just as easily" happen to Democrats, and would be "just as problematic for Democrats given the composition of the House at the moment." Johnson paid tribute to LaMalfa in a statement posted to X Tuesday morning. "Congress is devastated to learn this morning about the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Doug LaMalfa. Doug was a lifelong resident of northern California and deeply loved its people. He was as fierce of a fighter for his state’s vast natural resources and beauty as we have ever known. We are mourning the loss of our friend and brother today and we send our respects for his life and work to his wife Jill and the LaMalfa family during this difficult time," he wrote.