Process to replace Matt Gaetz could cut into House GOP's narrow majority

Source: ABC News

November 22, 2024, 5:06 PM


Following news Friday that former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz does not intend to return to Congress after he withdrew from consideration to be President-elect Donald Trump's attorney general, it appears his seat will be vacant for months -- presenting a challenge for House Republicans who already maintain a slim majority in the incoming Congress.

On Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis set the FL-01 special election primary for Jan. 28 and the general election for April 1. That means Gaetz's seat will be unfilled for at least 12 weeks in the 119th Congress.

"At Gov. Ron DeSantis' direction, this special election is being conducted as quickly as statutorily possible," said Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd on Friday. "We are committed to ensuring this election is held as soon as we are allowed to hold it by state law." Such a vacancy would cut into the narrow majority House Republicans are projected to have in the next Congress, which will only continue to shrink if GOP Reps. Elise Stefanik and Michael Waltz are confirmed to be in Trump's Cabinet.

ABC News projects that Republicans have won 219 seats and Democrats 213 in the House. The numbers do not take into account any departures for jobs in the Trump administration or Gaetz's resignation. There are also three outstanding House races that still haven't been called, which will determine the ultimate size of the GOP's majority.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/process-replace-matt-gaetz-cut-house-gops-narrow/story?id=116147431