Republicans will have control of the Legislature; Mike Johnson is the favorite to remain in charge of the Lower House
The 119th Congress of the United States takes office this Friday (January 3, 2025) in the North American capital Washington DC The new 435 deputies and 34 of the 100 senators were elected on November 5, 2024 for a term of 2 years and 6 years, respectively.
President-elect Donald Trump’s Republican Party will have control of the House and Senate for the first time since 2019. In the Lower House, Republicans won 219 of the 435 seats (1 is vacant after Matt Gaetz’s). In the Upper House, they were left with 53 seats out of 100.
Before taking office, the elected deputies will have to choose who will assume the presidency of the Chamber in an initial session. The current head of the Lower House, (Republican), and the Democrat and minority leader, vying for the position.
Typically, the party with the majority has a candidate that is expected to be elected, but the voting process can be tense if there are internal divisions. This could happen in the new legislature.
To be elected, a candidate must receive the majority of votes (218 of 434). Rounds of voting are held until someone wins a majority.
Johnson has his candidacy supported by Trump, but he does not have the guaranteed vote of all 219 elected Republicans. If only 2 deputies from your party speak out against it, the current leader will not be able to be re-elected.
The representative for the State of Kentucky, , who will not support Johnson in publications on X (formerly Twitter).
Other Republican congressmen, such as (Texas), (Pennsylvania), (Missouri), (Tennessee) and (South Carolina), may also vote against it.
The North American Chamber cannot officially begin its activities until a new president is chosen. If a new leader is not decided by January 6, confirmation of Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election could be delayed.
DIVISION AMONG REPUBLICANS
Since taking control of the Lower House on January 3, 2023, after , the Republican Party has had difficulty electing a speaker.
Disagreements in the party resulted in Kevin McCarthy (Republican) only on January 7, 2023, in the 15th round of voting. The divergences also caused on October 3, 2023.
After that, Republicans also had difficulty reaching an agreement to elect a new president. The Chamber was left without a leader and its operation was suspended for 22 days. Mike Johnson of the Republican Party to office. It on October 25, 2023.
SENATE
The president of the American Upper House is the vice president of the United States. The function is ceremonial in practice, with relevance only in cases of tie-breaking voting. JD Vance (Republican) will take over after taking office on January 20th.
When the vice president is not present, the president pro tempore takes over. The role is held by the longest-serving senator of the party that commands the house. The Republican.
The person who actually controls the Senate is the Majority leader. On November 13, 2024, the Republican Party elected the senator to the position. He will replace the Democrat, who will become the Minority leader. Both take over this Friday (Jan 3).
