Before Santos was expelled, the count was 222 R to 213 D. The “four-vote majority” really meant that Republicans could afford to lose no more than 4 votes on a measure: if five Republicans vote against it, the measure would fail by 1 vote, 217-218, assuming all members voted.
With Santos gone, the math is 221 to 213, as long as the seat remains vacant. The margin shrunk to 3, because a majority is needed to pass anything, and losing 4 ® votes now ties the vote at 217. When McCarthy leaves, with 2 vacant seats, it will be 220 to 213, but the margin remains 3, because losing 3 votes will still result in passage at 217-216.
Effectively, each vacant seat is like half a vote is lost. But then it’s more important to see how that seat is filled. I imagine McCarthy’s seat will remain Republican, but Santos ‘s seat on Long Island seems likely to flip, and that would go further to narrow the Republicans’ majority.
That’s not quite the way it works.
Before Santos was expelled, the count was 222 R to 213 D. The “four-vote majority” really meant that Republicans could afford to lose no more than 4 votes on a measure: if five Republicans vote against it, the measure would fail by 1 vote, 217-218, assuming all members voted.
With Santos gone, the math is 221 to 213, as long as the seat remains vacant. The margin shrunk to 3, because a majority is needed to pass anything, and losing 4 ® votes now ties the vote at 217. When McCarthy leaves, with 2 vacant seats, it will be 220 to 213, but the margin remains 3, because losing 3 votes will still result in passage at 217-216.
Effectively, each vacant seat is like half a vote is lost. But then it’s more important to see how that seat is filled. I imagine McCarthy’s seat will remain Republican, but Santos ‘s seat on Long Island seems likely to flip, and that would go further to narrow the Republicans’ majority.
Yes, and after he leaves only 2
Math is hard, isn’t it?
I know razor thin when I see it. With Santos and McCarthy gone and Ken Buck a clear no, how’s that impeachment vote coming along Mr, Johnson?