Fairfax County Supervisor James Walkinshaw (D) on Wednesday was sworn in to the House, further narrowing House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) razor-thin majority.
“Honored to be sworn in today to represent VA-11 in Congress. Fairfax families will always come first. Grateful to my wife Yvette and our son Mateo for their love and support every step of the way,” Walkinshaw said Wednesday in a post on social platform X.
With Walkinshaw, the former chief of staff of the late Rep. Gerry Connolly (D), sworn in, Johnson’s majority has narrowed to 219-213, meaning he can only afford to lose two GOP votes on any party-line bill.
There are three vacant seats.
Walkinshaw is the newest member of the lower chamber. He comfortably defeated Republican Stewart Whitson, a former FBI agent, in a special election to become the next lawmaker to represent Virginia’s 11th Congressional District.
The ratio between Democrats and Republicans has changed numerous times since the 119th Congress began, due to vacancies resulting from the resignations or deaths of lawmakers.
Johnson has had some breathing room when passing major legislation this year. The House passed President Trump massive tax and spending cuts legislation earlier this year, which was ultimately signed into law by the president, with Johnson losing two GOP votes on the final passage - Reps. Thomas Massie (Ky.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.)
The next major legislative battle will be over government funding, with the deadline set for the end of this month.
Source: The Hill - News
