Thread by @greggiroux

Balance of power in the U.S. House in new 117th Congress begins at 222 Democrats & 211 Republicans, with #NY22 undecided & #LA05 vacant.

One of the smallest House majorities. 1/x

It was 20 years ago today, 3 January 2001, that the House began new 107th Congress with 221 Republicans, 211 Democrats, 2 independents and 1 vacancy.

Senate began 50-50. In June 2001, Jim Jeffords left GOP and became independent aligned with Democrats, who took over majority. 2/

In January 1953, House convened with 221 Republicans, 211 Democrats, 1 independent, and 2 vacancies.

By early Nov. 1953, Ds narrowed it to 218R-215D, after Harrison Williams (D-NJ) was elected to succeed Clifford Case (R). (They'd later serve together in Senate.) @wildstein 3/

Last time House *Democrats* had this small of a majority was 1944.

In Jan. 1943, House in 78th Congress began with 222 D, 208 R, 4 other parties, 1 vacancy. GOP special-election wins/D vacancies narrowed D majority -- it was 213D-212R by Nov 1944

12 House members died in 78th

Last time House Democrats *began a Congress* with this small of a majority was in December 1931, the last time a new Congress convened 13 months (!) after the election. (20th Amendment ratified early 1933)

In the Nov. 1930 elections, Republicans won more seats than Democrats, 218 to 216.

But 14 (!) members-elect died in the 13 months before the new Congress convened, and after special-election wins Democrats had a 219-214 majority when the House finally met in Dec. 1931.

The death of Rep. Ernest Ackerman (R-NJ) on Oct. 18, 1931 (same day Thomas Edison died in West Orange) brought the House to 214-214. @wildstein

Four days later, on Oct. 22, 1931, Rep. Fletcher Hale (R-NH) died, putting Democrats ahead of Republicans, 214-213, fewer than seven weeks before the new Congress met.

On Nov. 3, 1931, Michigan Democrat Michael J. Hart captured the seat of the late Republican Bird J. Vincent.

Then, this sequence in Texas over a 19-day span:

Nov. 6, 1931: Rep. Harry Wurzbach (R) died

Nov. 13: Governor set special election for Nov. 24 (an 11-day campaign!)

Nov. 24: Richard Kleberg (D) won, flipping seat and giving Democrats a 218th seat
chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn8304546…

Democrats added a 219th seat on Dec. 1, 6 days before Congress met, when Percy H. Stewart (D-NJ) won the seat of the late Ernest Ackerman (R).

When the House finally convened Dec. 7, 1931, Democrats had secured the majority and John Nance Garner (D-TX) was elected Speaker 218-207 over Bertrand Snell (R-NY)
chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn8304546…

Close-up of political cartoon on the front page of the Washington Evening Star December 7, 1931:

Finally, here's a detailed look at how the House shifted to a Democratic majority between the November 1930 election and when the House finally convened in December 1931:

Forgot to mention earlier in thread: one of the members of the small House Democratic majority of 1943-1944 was Thomas D’Alesandro Jr. (Md.), Nancy Pelosi’s father. bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/D00…