With a number of races still yet to be called, Congress reconvenes this week to try to wrap up unfinished business as well as vote on a number of leadership positions for next Congress. In addition, the newly elected members arrive in town this week to begin their official orientation program, which is expected to last until after Thanksgiving.
The most pressing of the unresolved issues to be addressed is the remaining FY2019 appropriations bills. With the fiscal year having started October 1, seven of the 12 bills have yet to be signed into law. Funding for a wall along the Southern border, which President Trump has repeatedly emphasized as a personal priority, is the biggest skirmish that will need to be settled during this lame duck period. The current short-term government funding measure expires at midnight on December 8 and it remains to be seen whether the wall issue can be resolved by then.
In the meantime, with at least 92 new Members of the House and the Senate expected next year, the two parties in both chambers are expected to take up questions surrounding leadership positions for next Congress starting tomorrow.
House Republicans are expected to vote on their leaders tomorrow. With Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) retiring at the end of this year and the Democrats taking control next year, current Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is seeking to become the Minority Leader. He is expected to be challenged by Jim Jordan (R-OH), a leader of the Tea Party wing of the House Republicans. Steve Scalise of Louisiana is not expected to be challenged for the position of Minority Whip. Recently re-elected Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, who is currently the Republican Conference Chair, will not seek to keep that position in the new Congress and is expected to be replaced by Liz Cheney of Wyoming.
On the Democratic side of the aisle, the elections will wait until after Thanksgiving. Although a number of Democratic House candidates pledged not to support her as the new Speaker if they were to win, it remains to be seen whether anyone will challenge Nancy Speaker of California for Speaker. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) is expected to assume the position of Majority Leader in the new Congress. The race for Majority Whip, at this point, has two candidates: Jim Clyburn (D-SC), the current Assistant Democratic Leader, and Diana DeGette (D-CO), a long-time Member from Colorado.
In the Senate, with the Republicans retaining control, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky will remain as the Majority Leader. In the position of Majority Whip, John Cornyn of Texas will likely be replaced by John Thune of South Dakota, due to term limits placed on leadership positions by the Senate Republicans. John Barrasso of Wyoming is expected to become the new Republican Conference Chair.
Senate Democrats are expected to keep their leadership team in place, with Chuck Schumer of New York and Dick Durbin of Illinois remaining as Minority Leader and Minority Whip, respectively.