WASHINGTON — Over the last two years, a narrow Republican House majority has fought bitterly over everything from electing a speaker, keeping the government functioning and even passing symbolic messaging bills. Those divisions led to one of the least productive congresses in modern times. Now, Republicans have clinched at least 218 seats to win a House majority, NBC News projects , but it’ll be another small one.
And this time the stakes are much higher, as the party seizes full control of Washington under President-elect Donald Trump with high expectations from voters. Will the party be able to unify, govern and deliver this time? “The House has always been a chaotic place, will always be a chaotic place. Anyone who thinks it’s going to be smooth sailing has never spent one day walking these halls.
But it’ll be on us as members to actually go out and find a way to deliver,” Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, told NBC News. “And I certainly think the members that helped bring this majority — we have more to gain, more to lose than anyone else.
” The unified government gives Republicans power to set outcomes and deprives them of their recent luxury of sharing the political blame for paralysis with a Democratic president. The GOP trifecta will face major tasks with portions of Trump's tax cuts as well as Obamacare subsidies expiring at the end of 2025. There will also be deadlines like a new round of government funding, with the possibility of another shutdown fight.