The problem for House GOP leaders isn't just the number of seats the party won. It's also the number of members joining the Trump administration.
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/just-small-will-house-republican-majority-2025-rcna181678
At first blush, while Republican leaders are no doubt pleased to keep their majority, they have reason to be discouraged by the numbers: As of last week, the party had 221 seats in a chamber that has struggled to complete even the most basic legislative tasks. Indeed, thanks to its vanishingly small majority, the GOP hasnt even been able to pass some of its own bills, which House Democrats were powerless to stop.
But lets take a step further and note that while House Republicans have currently won 219 seats for the next Congress, that total includes:
Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, who resigned last week and wont return to Capitol Hill;
Rep. Mike Waltz of Florida, whos giving up his seat to join Donald Trumps White House team; and
Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, whos giving up her seat to become the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
....Yes, these members will probably but not definitely be replaced with other Republicans. But as the new Congress gets underway, the House GOP will have a tiny majority that will barely exist as some members give up their seats for Trump administration jobs.
Passing legislation will be incredibly difficult. Electing a speaker on Day One might pose some challenges, too. Watch this space.