As the 2024 presidential election approaches, the already thin majority held by Republicans in the US House of Representatives is expected to shrink even further due to unplanned departures.

This week, Ohio congressman Bill Johnson announced he will not seek re-election and instead will take a more lucrative opportunity as the president of a university in his home state. The 69-year-old Representative, who has been in office since 2011, will see a significant increase in his salary from his current $174,000 as a member of Congress to $410,000 in his new position.

Johnson's departure raises concerns for the GOP as it could potentially leave a reliably Republican seat vacant until the November elections.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is considering scheduling a special election to coincide with the 2024 primaries, but this is contingent upon Johnson submitting his resignation letter by December 20th.

On the other side of the country, the situation is looking grim for New York Congressman George Santos.

Facing federal fraud charges and a damning ethics report detailing his misuse of campaign funds, Santos is once again facing a potential expulsion from the House next week. This time, however, many are confident that his opponents have the votes to make it happen.

If Santos is expelled, a special election will be called by Governor Kathy Hochul, and Democrats are widely expected to take the seat. This would further decrease the already slim Republican majority and present challenges for House Speaker Mike Johnson in maintaining control over his famously rambunctious colleagues.

With only a five-seat majority, Speaker Johnson already has a difficult task ahead of him.

The departure of any additional GOP representatives will make it even more challenging for him to juggle the demands of conservative members while also avoiding isolating those in more moderate districts.

READ MORE:

• SO, WHO THE HELL IS REP. MIKE JOHN JOHNSON?

• CONSERVATIVE LAWMAKERS RALLY BEHIND SPEAKER JOHNSON – THIS TIME

• SPEAKER JOHNSON’S LACK OF EXPERIENCE COULD MEAN A BUMPY ROAD AHEAD

• THE EFFORT TO FIND A NEW SPEAKER CONTINUES

GOP strategist Ryan Girdusky notes that this is a delicate balancing act that will require Speaker Johnson to continue working with Democrats to avoid any potential government shutdowns. The GOP majority in the House has always been fragile, but with potential departures looming, it is clear that the 2024 elections will be crucial in keeping the party's grip on the chamber.

As the saying goes, every vote counts – and this is especially true for the Republicans in the House as they face the challenges of the coming year.