An early directive is being communicated to House Democrats regarding the importance of attendance as the 119th Congress approaches. Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) emphasized the importance of every member fulfilling their responsibilities during a recent press briefing at the Capitol.
He stated, “It’s important for every member to come to work and to do their job. That’s what we’re telling our caucus.” Aguilar highlighted that attendance is vital, noting, “The work that we do here is important, and pushing back against Republican overreach is potentially something that we have to do next year. And in order to do that, we’re going to need them coming to Washington.”
Aguilar emphasizes the need to counter GOP overreach with strong Democratic presence
Despite a disappointing total performance in this year’s elections, Democrats managed to surpass expectations in the House, where they face a narrow Republican majority of 220 to 215 in the upcoming Congress.
This slim lead is expected to shrink further early next year, as Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) and Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) are poised to join the Trump administration, and former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has already resigned after winning reelection, following his unsuccessful bid for a position in Trump’s second-term Justice Department.
These changes will result in Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) holding a precarious 217 to 215 majority for several months in 2025, coinciding with President-elect Trump’s ambitious agenda that includes extending his 2017 tax cuts, which relies on the GOP’s control in Congress.
Such a narrow margin necessitates absolute unity among Republican lawmakers, as even one defection could create a tie of 216 to 216, leading to failure under House rules. The dynamics change, however, if Democrats are absent, which would lower the threshold required for Republicans to pass legislation, allowing for more defections within their ranks.
Aguilar and other Democratic leaders are proactively working to prevent this situation by urging all members to be present when contentious legislation is debated. While he expressed understanding for lawmakers facing serious health challenges, including those battling cancer, he pointed out that these members chose to run for reelection despite their conditions.
“Members ran for these jobs and were reelected knowing that that was what they were experiencing,” Aguilar remarked. “If they asked their voters to send them to D.C. to do work, my expectation is that they’re going to come to D.C. to do work. That’s how I approach it.”
