‘Record Small Majority!’ CNN’s Harry Enten Breaks Down How Just One GOP Defection Can Sink Any House Bill
CNN data reporter Harry Enten broke down Wednesday how just one GOP defection could kill any House bill in the upcoming Congress.
Enten opened the segment alongside anchor John Berman by noting that Republicans will have the smallest House majority since the days of President Herbert Hoover. Moreover, the GOP majority of 220 may shrink to 217 for a period of time due to several members leaving Congress to either join the Trump administration or resigning.
My goodness gracious: the GOP’s House Majority looks to be the smallest after any election since 1930 with current results.
With resignations (e.g. Gaetz), it may be the smallest majority during a House session in 100+ yrs.
Just 1 GOP defection + All Dems could sink a bill. pic.twitter.com/e5UFksaNAL
— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) November 27, 2024
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) resigned following his failed nomination as Trump’s attorney while Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Mike Waltz (R-FL) will join the incoming administration.
Enten noted that would degrade the GOP control of the House to a “record small majority” until special elections are held to fill those seats.
The House could be down to a 217-215 GOP majority for several months next year if Duarte loses & Stefanik and Waltz go to the incoming Trump administration (Gaetz is already gone & won’t serve in next Congress.)
— John Bresnahan (@bresreports) November 27, 2024
ENTEN: I mean, my my goodness gracious. Yes. The Republicans are going to control the House of Representatives. But if all the current results hold up, we’re looking at a record small majority after the Novembers in the last 90 years. You have to go all the way back since the Herbert Hoover administration to find an even smaller majority at the November elections. We’re talking about the Republicans with 220 seats. Democrats with 215. If the current House results hold. And keep in mind that this will drop lower. If Stefanik was or others like Matt Gates leave the Congress.
BERMAN: This is sort of the best case scenario for Republicans, at least for the next few weeks or months. Where could it go?
ENTEN: Where could it go? It could shrink either even further. So let’s say Gates, Stefanik and Waltz resigns. We could be looking at get this Republicans at 217, the Democrats at 215. And I went all the way back that this is this is crazy. This is crazy, right? Because all it means is Democrats at 215 plus one GOP seat could take the entire thing because then they both sides would be at 216 seats John.
BERMAN: One Republican vote for the first few weeks, maybe months of the administration could be enough to sink a measure. I mean, how historically unprecedented is this?
ENTEN: You might have noticed in my last answer, I was so excited, I nearly got ahead of myself, nearly got ahead of myself. How historically unprecedented is — I love history. So time’s just one majority member could sink a bill by voting with the minority in the last 100 years plus. this possibly 2025, with the likely resignations from the House. And that’s it. It’s literally the only time in the last 100 years, assuming, of course, all members votes. The bottom line is, look, the results from the November elections weren’t exactly good for Democrats. But this is a shining light for them. They really did hold the Republican majority down. And given the likely resignations that are coming, that House of Representatives for the Republicans, that House majority is going to be record record small.
