House swears in New York Democrat, thinning GOP majority ( thehill.com )

SuiXi3D , 13 days ago

No? The seat was already held by a democrat.

Rapidcreek OP , 13 days ago

Brian Higgins retired

SuiXi3D , 13 days ago

That’s fine, but the seat was held by a democrat previously. Literally the first paragraph of the article.

Rapidcreek OP , 13 days ago

Technically, the seat was empty until the special election

SuiXi3D , 13 days ago

Right, but that still doesn’t do what the headline says it does. The Republican majority didn’t change. It didn’t get worse, but it didn’t get any better either.

NotMyOldRedditName , 13 days ago

If the seat was empty, it did change.

Too lazy to look up actual numbers but...

If it was 6 vs 10 and then a dem retires it becomes 5 vs 10.

Months pass at 5 vs 10 where they have a larger margin. Then the election happens and it goes back to 6 vs 10.

Now the margin is smaller again.

HuntressHimbo , 13 days ago

The margin usually refers to the number of votes that they can safely lose in their own party and still have a bill pass, so with the same number of GOP reps the margin shouldn't change.

NotMyOldRedditName , 13 days ago

6 vs 10

4 person difference. if 2 GOP vote against

becomes 8 vs 8

It's a tie and the bill fails.

5 vs 10 after rep retires before seat is filled

if 2 GOP vote against

becomes 7 vs 8

GOP passes bill.

Seat gets filled and it's now 6 vs 10 again

Notice how the GOP rep count didn't change.

GreyEyedGhost , 12 days ago

This is kind of like talking about my weight. It's the same now as before, but that week around Easter was a little dicey.

NotMyOldRedditName , 12 days ago

Worth it