GOP's House Majority Shrinks as Democrats Win Special Election; Trump's Arch Plan Draws Criticism Amidst Immigration Enforcement Debates
Washington, D.C. – The Republican Party's already narrow majority in the House of Representatives is set to shrink further after Democrat Christian Menefee won a special congressional election in Texas, according to the Associated Press. Menefee, a former attorney for Houston's Harris County, defeated fellow Democrat Amanda Edwards in a runoff election on Saturday to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner last March, Fox News reported. Menefee's victory will reduce the GOP's control of the chamber to 218-213 when he is sworn in.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is advocating for the construction of a massive triumphal arch in Washington, D.C., to commemorate America's 250th anniversary. The White House defended the proposal, stating it would become "one of the most iconic landmarks in the world" and a central part of Trump's legacy, Fox News reported. However, critics warn the structure could visually dominate nearby memorials, including the Lincoln Memorial.
These developments occur against the backdrop of ongoing debates surrounding immigration enforcement. In Minnesota, a federal judge denied a request by the state government and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul to temporarily block a surge of federal immigration agents, The New York Times reported. Judge Kate M. Menendez, a Biden appointee, resisted requests to halt the Trump administration's immigration enforcement campaign, known as Operation Metro Surge, which began late last year. The state and cities argued the surge of some 3,000 agents violated state sovereignty.
The situation in Minnesota follows similar actions in other cities. The BBC reported that Chicago experienced a surge of immigration agents as part of "Operation Midway Blitz," launched in September with the stated aim of targeting "criminal illegal aliens." While the crackdown in Chicago has eased somewhat, the BBC noted that a once bustling neighborhood has changed.
These events unfold as the Republican National Committee (RNC) enters 2026 with a significant financial advantage over the Democratic National Committee (DNC). According to The New York Times, the RNC has nearly $100 million more than the DNC. The RNC reported $95.1 million with no debt, while the DNC entered 2026 in debt, with $14 million in the bank and $17.5 million in debt.
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