What’s Next After Santos’ Expulsion from Congress

On Dec. 1, Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) became the sixth person ever to be expelled from the House of Representatives. The expulsion leaves the GOP with just an eight-seat majority in the lower congressional chamber, with 221 Republican members against 213 Democrat members. Republicans can only afford to lose three votes and keep their majority. If all Democrats vote in opposition to a measure and just three Republicans join them, the measure would pass 218–216. If four Republicans join the Democrats and the vote is tied 217–217, the measure will fail. Special Election Within 10 days, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul will have to set a date for a special election for someone else to succeed Mr. Santos in the state’s 3rd Congressional District. Before the ouster, Mr. Santos had already announced that he would not seek reelection and predicted the votes were there for expulsion....