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The 119th Congress will convene Friday, ushering in Republican control of both the House and Senate for the first time since 2019.
Lawmakers return to Washington with a packed agenda and lingering challenges, including leadership votes and a divided Republican Party.
In the House, the spotlight is on Speaker Mike Johnson, who faces a leadership vote after a tumultuous year for Republicans. Johnson, who secured the gavel after former Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s ousting in 2023, must navigate a party still grappling with internal divisions. The speaker vote is scheduled shortly after noon, with Johnson requiring 218 votes to retain his position if all members are present.
The Senate also flipped to Republican control following the November elections, giving the GOP a 53-47 majority. Republicans are expected to prioritize issues such as immigration, border security, energy policy, and extending tax cuts implemented during former President Donald Trump’s first term. Using budget reconciliation, the GOP plans to bypass the Senate’s 60-vote threshold for passing key parts of their agenda.
“It’s going to take a lot of work to build a consensus among all the Republicans to get it done,” Johnson said earlier this week.
Republicans hold a slim majority in the House, with 219 seats to Democrats’ 215. However, two GOP seats remain vacant due to appointments to Trump’s incoming administration, and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has announced he will not take his seat. Special elections will be held in the coming months to fill those vacancies.
The new term also welcomes over 60 new House members and 10 new senators. Among the new faces in the Senate are Democrats Angela Alsobrooks (Md.) and Ruben Gallego (Ariz.) and Republicans Jim Banks (Ind.) and Jim Justice (W.Va.). Notable newcomers in the House include Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), Abe Hamadeh (R-Ariz.), and Sarah McBride (D-Del.), the first openly transgender member of Congress.
While Republicans have set an ambitious agenda, challenges remain. Trump’s call for raising the debt ceiling has sparked internal debates, and a narrowly divided House could complicate efforts to pass sweeping legislation.
As the new Congress begins, all eyes will be on how Republicans wield their majority to address pressing national issues and whether they can maintain party unity in the face of legislative and political hurdles.
