Which party holds the House majority in 2025 and who is the Speaker of the House?

Checked on December 9, 2025
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Executive summary

Republicans hold the majority in the U.S. House for the 119th Congress, with sources reporting 219–220 Republican seats vs. 212–215 Democratic seats and several vacancies at various points in 2025 [1] [2] [3]. The House elected Republican Mike Johnson as Speaker on January 3, 2025; he was re‑elected/confirmed by narrow margins (reported 218–215) and remains the speaker in the available reporting [4] [5] [6].

1. The arithmetic: a razor‑thin GOP edge

The Congressional Research Service profile and contemporary reporting show Republicans holding a bare majority in the 119th House — CRS counted 219 Republicans to 212 Democrats with four vacancies at one snapshot [1]. Other outlets and trackers report the post‑election grid as roughly 220 Republicans to 215 Democrats or similar narrow margins as special elections and vacancies shifted the tally during 2025 [2] [3]. This slim margin makes every single GOP vote consequential on party‑line business [3].

2. Who runs the floor: Mike Johnson’s speakership

The House re‑elected Republican Mike Johnson as Speaker on the first day of the 119th Congress. Multiple outlets documented Johnson’s narrow victories — the final tallies reported as 218–215 in initial balloting — and described his win as the product of last‑minute defections switching to his column [4] [5] [6]. News accounts emphasize that Johnson’s hold on the gavel depended on near‑unanimous Republican support and that insurgent factions within the GOP remained a persistent threat to his leadership [5] [4].

3. Political consequences of the narrow majority

Reporters and analysts noted immediate consequences of the compressed margin: Republican leaders must manage internal dissent closely, and several Republican members being tapped for executive branch positions could further thin House ranks and tighten margins [2] [1]. The small majority also means the chamber’s working “magic number” on floor votes can fluctuate with vacancies, absences or members who vote “present,” making governance fragile [3] [1].

4. Disagreement among sources is limited but notable details vary

All provided sources agree Republicans control the House and Johnson is speaker. They differ in exact seat counts at specific times: CRS gave a 219 R / 212 D snapshot with vacancies noted [1], while other outlets reported 220 R / 215 D or later 220 R / 213 D as special elections and deaths changed the roster [2] [3]. That variation reflects routine post‑election updates and special‑election results rather than substantive disagreement about which party holds the majority [1] [3].

5. Stability questions: why the speakership remains precarious

Contemporary reporting framed Johnson’s re‑election as narrow and contingent, with holdouts initially refusing to back him and party infighting a continuing risk [5] [4]. News coverage also documents rule changes adopted early in the 119th Congress intended to make it harder to remove a speaker, indicating leadership’s awareness of vulnerability [4]. The sources show an explicit intra‑party agenda: secure the gavel to advance the Republican congressional agenda while insulating the speaker from recurring ouster attempts [4].

6. What the sources do not say

Available sources do not mention any change of party control after the January 2025 organization of the House beyond the special‑election shifts noted in late 2025 reporting (for example deaths, resignations and special elections) nor do they report any successful removal or replacement of Speaker Johnson within the covered accounts [1] [2] [4]. If you seek the absolute current seat count on a particular date, the sources supply differing snapshots; consult the Clerk of the House or real‑time trackers for the exact, up‑to‑the‑minute tally [7] [8].

7. Bottom line for readers

Multiple authoritative trackers and contemporary journalism converge on two facts: Republicans hold the House majority in the 119th Congress and Republican Mike Johnson was elected (and reported re‑elected) Speaker on January 3, 2025 by narrow margins [1] [4] [6]. The practical implication is a GOP‑run House with very limited internal margin for error and a speakership that, per the reporting, must continuously manage factional pressures to keep the majority functional [5] [4].

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