Republicans Officially Take Back the House After 4 Years with Democratic Majority

Mar. 15, 2025

Republicans were long favored to take control of Congress' lower chamber in 2023 as PresidentJoe Biden’s wavering popularity hurt Democratic prospects down the ballot.

Though Democrats saw aboost in the pollsafterRoe v. Wadewas overturnedthat made themmore competitive across the board, issues like inflation and crime began controlling the narrative in many key districts as the election neared, restoring Republicans' upper-hand.

Historically, the sitting president’s party — in this case, the Democratic Party — suffers greatly during midterms. While Democrats did lose a number of House seats, they exceeded expectations and suffered minimal damage, making it the best a leading party has performed in midterms in 20 years, and the best under a first-term president in 40 years.

Kevin McCarthy and Donald Trump.David McNew/Getty

Republicans' thin majority in the House will require them to act with a certain level of bipartisanship — and withDemocrats maintaining a majority in the Senate, Republicans will have an extra hurdle to jump through if they hope to pass any controversial bills into law.

When the incoming Congress convenes in January, House representativeswill cast their votes for a new speakerto lead the congressional chamber. According to tradition, both major party caucuses meet beforehand to select their respective nominees — often the top-ranking party official at the time — and representatives are generally expected to support the nominee that their party has selected.

Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/Shutterstock

On Tuesday, Minority LeaderKevin McCarthywas selected as the GOP’s pick to replace Democratic Rep.Nancy Pelosias House speaker in January. Rep.Steve Scalisewas chosen to be the second highest-ranking Republican official, the House majority leader.

McCarthy has already begun preparing for a transition of power in the House, and said his first agenda item will be securing the United States' southern border.

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source: people.com