Johnson warns House Republicans to ‘stay healthy’ as GOP majority shrinks to the edge
The first of 4 special congressional elections to fill vacant House seats will be held on Jan 31
By Paul Steinhauser Fox News
Published January 24, 2026 5:00am EST
Republicans are clinging to a razor-thin 218-213 House majority.
But House Speaker Mike Johnson shouldn't expect many reinforcements anytime soon.
This month's shocking early House retirement of MAGA firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and the unexpected death of Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa of California further shrunk the GOP's margins in the chamber.
And that has House GOP leaders keeping a tight leash on the party's rank and file members.
"They'd better be here," Johnson recently said of his members. "I told everybody, and not in jest, I said, no adventure sports, no risk-taking, take your vitamins. Stay healthy and be here."
And House Majority Whip Tom Emmer’s office confirmed it is advising members that "outside of life-and-death circumstances," they expect Republican lawmakers to be on Capitol Hill.
There are currently four vacant House districts, which means four special elections to fill the seats. But it's the Democrats rather than the Republicans who will likely benefit more from the ballot box results in the short run.
Here's a look at the special elections that are on deck:
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/johnson-warns-house-republicans-stay-healthy-gop-majority-shrinks-edge
