House Democrats prepare to make Mike Johnson's life hell

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Axios

5 hours ago


House Democrats are gearing up to put maximum pressure on House Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-La.) agonizingly small House majority.

Why it matters: Just a few complications on the GOP side could hobble Johnson's efforts to pass President-elect Trump's sweeping agenda, fund the government and raise the debt ceiling.

On any GOP-only legislation, there is "going to be enormous pressure" on Republican centrists to break away, said Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.).

Morelle pointed to Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), predicting some GOP bills will be "problematic for him" as he mulls a run for New York governor.

Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) said of flipping GOP members: "It's hard, but it can be done. And if we can entice some of those people on the other side to do that, it can stop a lot of bad things from happening."

State of play: The five-seat majority that Johnson has struggled to manage in the 118th Congress is set to dwindle next year.

Democrats managed to flip slightly more House seats than Republicans, and President-elect Trump has plucked several GOP House members for his Cabinet.

Republicans may end up with as small as a temporary one- or two-seat majority until seats can be filled with special elections.

That puts House Republicans in a significantly weaker position than they were in during Trump's first term in 2017, when they had a 20-seat buffer.

What they're saying: Several House Democrats told Axios that there is already a sentiment that dutifully attending major votes will be paramount.

"Given the narrow margins, there's going to be a real emphasis on making sure people are here," said Morelle.

"To vote against shi**y legislation ... if I get struck by lightning, I'm going to drag myself here," said Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.).

House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), in a statement to Axios, said showing up to votes is "what House Democrats do every day."

Read more: https://www.axios.com/2024/11/22/mike-johnson-votes-majority-house-democrats

[republianmushroom]

1. House democrats will be hearing a lot of

"please guys for the good of the country".

[Raven123]

2. Not much news here.

I think the title of the article may be overstating what the Dems can do.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Au contraire

We saw this week what happened in the Senate with the confirmation of Biden judges where a couple GOPers not there to vote meant that those nominees, some who were not supported by a couple (D)s, ended up confirmed because of who DID show up.

Since 45 has been raiding Congress for some of the appointees, that means Special Elections, which would reduce the couple seat GOP "majority" of the House, down to a tie or less before the vacancies get filled.

[Raven123]

7. Nope. The House is a different animal.

Highly gerrymandered districts. Will give TFG what he wants, with little exception

[Bluetus]

12. They couldn't get it together in the last Congress.

And other than some post offices and a huge tax cut for billionaires, they didn't pass any legislation in Trump's first term.

What makes you think they will suddenly learn how to govern?

[BumRushDaShow]

13. Most certainly yes because there were about 20 "moderate" GOPers who were elected in Biden districts

including one who just got re-elected here in PA (PA-1 just outside of Philly). So that is the group where you would just need a couple to flip. Many of them were on the "Problem Solvers Caucus".

Add any vacancies in there awaiting Special elections, and that drops the GOP majority down even more, where they might even get close to being at or below 218.

[ancianita]

3. Good. As Truman said, "I never did give them hell. I just told the truth, and they thought it was hell."

As Hakeem says, "We'll just do our job for The People." As Johnson says, "I''ll just do what Trump tells me."

As Axios would say if Dems lost a 20 seat buffer to a 1-2 seat majority, "Some major hurdles on the Democratic side..."

[ColinC]

5. What are the 3 most prestigious positions that could lure 3

(Or even just 2) "moderate" Republicans into the fold 🤔

[coffeenap]

6. They are our representatives--

I will support them every time they stand up. We'll need to fight where we are and we'll need to back them where they are.

[paleotn]

8. Offer a deal to a few rational R's in tight, swing districts.

Join our team and we won't primary you. And no more worries about being primaried by a magat if you don't tow the crazy line. We're a big tent and can handle divergent voices. What really matters is stopping the uber crazy shit. That's more than worth the effort and I wouldn't be surprised if a few might take that kind of deal. After all, getting RE-ELECTED is their prime directive. The main reason rational R's tow the crazy magat line is fear of getting un-elected.

[JT45242]

9. Never country over party. But maybe ambition over party

They are all scum. Liars, cheats, thieves, rapists and accomplices.

[dflprincess]

10. I hope so. nt

[onenote]

11. Why does the article say "Democrats managed to flip slightly more House seats than Republicans"?

Last report I saw, the repubs had flipped 8 seats and the Democrats had flipped 7. There were three uncalled races, all involving republican held seats. In two the republican incumbent had a narrow lead; in one the republican incumbent narrowly trailed the Democrat.

If those positions hold, it will be a wash: 8 flips by Republicans and 8 flips by Democrats.

[BumRushDaShow]

14. Remember this guy?

That was a 2024 (D) "flip" that happened in a Special Election AFTER the 2023 start of the 118th Congress. That had dropped the GOP majority down at the time and in the General Election, the GOP was unable to flip it back to their side.

Some outlets will compare the numbers at the START of a Congress, to those at the START of the next Congress.