The 119th session of the U.S. Congress begins today. Following disagreements over the government budget last month, Republican control of both Congress and the White House faces significant challenges.
In this new legislature, Republicans will have the majority in the Senate, which had previously been held by the Democrats. Senator Mitch McConnell has stepped down from leading the Senate Republicans, a position he held for 18 years. He has been succeeded by Republican Senator John Thune.
Republicans will hold a 53-47 majority, much smaller than the 60 votes typically needed to pass most legislation.
In the House of Representatives, where Republicans have a narrow majority of 219-215, attention will focus on the vote for Speaker of the House. The current Speaker, Mike Johnson, is under scrutiny following his agreement with the Democrats last month to pass a temporary government budget and avoid a shutdown.
Only two votes against Johnson from Republicans would put his position as Speaker of the House in jeopardy.
Democrats are expected to propose Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for the position, but he is not expected to secure the necessary votes.
President-elect Donald Trump expressed his support for current Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday, calling him “a good man, hardworking, and a faithful man.”
However, Republican lawmakers Chip Roy and Thomas Massie have openly expressed doubts about Johnson’s leadership, and Trump ally and advisor Steve Bannon has urged Republicans to remove him from the post.
“Mr. Johnson has been heavily criticized by his Republican colleagues. And he has an extremely narrow margin to secure the majority, just a handful of people,” said Kevin Kosar from the American Enterprise Institute in an interview with Voice of America via Zoom.
Two years ago, when the previous Congress began its work, Republican Kevin McCarthy faced similar challenges in his bid for the leadership of the House of Representatives.
He was elected after 15 rounds of voting.
Congress is expected to meet on January 6 to certify the results of the presidential election for Mr. Donald Trump, a process that cannot proceed without a Speaker of the House.
Whoever takes the leadership, at least temporarily, will have an even narrower majority after President-elect Trump assumes office on January 20, as he has chosen two Republican members of the House to hold positions in his administration.
Traditionally, the first 100 days of a new presidency and Congress present a period for an ambitious legislative agenda.
“The new president will focus on tariffs, the border, executive orders related to immigration and immigrants, particularly those from Mexico and Muslim-majority countries. Then, he will try for any possible compromises to secure the passage of laws on issues related to the economy and food, as he prefers to call them,” said Casey Burgat, a professor at George Washington University, in an interview with Voice of America via Zoom. /VOA/
