(The Center Square) – The early resignation of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., raises the stakes for U.S. House Republicans in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections – a fact Greene herself acknowledged Monday.
There are currently 219 Republican and 213 Democratic representatives in the House. Three special elections will be held within the next few months — a formerly Republican-held seat in Tennessee and formerly Democrat-held seats in Texas and New Jersey.
With Greene resigning in January, Georgia’s Republican Gov. Brian Kemp must also call a special election to fill her position until the end of its term.
If Democrats are able to fill their Texas and New Jersey seats – a highly likely scenario – and flip the Tennessee seat – a less likely but still possible scenario – Republicans will hold only a three-vote majority of 219-216 heading into the midterms.
The delicate election situation, coupled with growing public infighting among Republican lawmakers, threatens the party’s chances of maintaining their legislative majority, Greene says.
“[M]y colleagues constantly trying to pass loyalty tests instead of demanding what is right won’t help Americans pay their rent or stop corporations from buying up homes, buy their groceries, provide good paying jobs and stop foreigners with visas from stealing their jobs, stop American tax dollars from funding foreign wars and causes, or rebuild the value of the dollar,” Greene posted Monday on X.
“Now that House members are switching gears into campaign mode and will be fighting for their lives, our legislative majority has been mostly wasted,” she added. “And when Republicans likely lose the midterms it will become total and complete political war and gridlock once again.”
Texas recently redrew 37 of its 38 congressional districts, and the new map could potentially flip up to five Democratic seats in the 2026 midterms. A federal district court, however, sided with a lawsuit arguing that the redistricting is unconstitutionally discriminatory.
The U.S. Supreme Court has granted a temporary stay on the ruling to give Texas time to appeal the federal judge’s decision.
