The 65th Congress experienced the most closely divided partisan split in House history, with Republicans holding 215 seats and Democrats 214. This narrow margin meant neither party achieved a clear majority following the election. Consequently, the few third-party members held significant influence when the House gathered to select its speaker.
President Trump’s spending bill passed the House by a narrow 215-214 margin, thanks in part to the recent deaths of three House Democrats. Had these Democrats been alive and voted, the bill would have failed. The absences highlighted concerns about the aging Democratic leadership and the party’s image as out of touch, prompting criticism regarding the lack of generational change within the party. This issue is further exacerbated by the significant number of older House Democrats planning to seek reelection.
John Q. Hosedrinker