The withdrawal of Rep. Elise Stefanik’s (R-N.Y.) nomination to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is putting a spotlight on the House GOP’s razor-thin majority and the anxiety about upcoming special elections to replace President Trump’s Cabinet picks.

Trump referenced concerns about both in a Truth Social post announcing Stefanik would no longer be his U.N. pick.

“As we advance our America First Agenda, it is essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress,” Trump said, adding: “With a very tight Majority, I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat. The people love Elise and, with her, we have nothing to worry about come Election Day.”

Currently, the House has 218 Republicans and 213 Democrats, with four vacancies — meaning Republicans can afford to lose just two votes on any party-line measure, assuming full attendance.

Trump and congressional Republicans have a tough task ahead as they work to craft and advance his ambitious legislative agenda on tax cuts, energy priorities, spending cuts, and a debt ceiling increase in “one big beautiful bill” that will allow them to use a special reconciliation process that bypasses the need for Democratic support.

House GOP leaders were warning about the tough math and how Trump’s picks for his administration would complicate it as soon as he was elected back in November.

Trump got a taste of how tough it is to keep the slim House GOP majority together when the chamber voted last month to adopt a blueprint for his legislative agenda.

Republicans could only afford to lose one person, and the president was on the phone with one of the remaining holdouts — Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) — until the last minutes before the vote to help get it across the finish line.

Republicans got a little more wiggle room with the unexpected deaths........

© The Hill