Mike Johnson's latest strategy 'further alienating' him from GOP's right wing: report

House speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is presiding over an extremely narrow Republican majority, with a seven-seat advantage and four vacancies.

Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY) resigned last week, following the resignations of Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH) last month and former speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) at the end of last year and the expulsion of former Rep. George Santos (R-NY) in December, and Johnson has resorted to a procedural gambit to get bills onto the floor, reported CNN.

"The ever-shrinking margin has forced Johnson to put some bills directly onto the floor under a procedural move known as suspension of the rules as his right flank has increasingly taken to tanking rule votes on the floor in a show of protest," the network reported. "But that strategy compels the need for a two-thirds majority to pass bills, requiring significant Democratic support, and further alienating Johnson and the right wing of his conference."

Johnson can afford to lose only three votes to pass legislation if all members are present and voting, but two Republicans – House majority leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), who's recovering from a stem cell transplant, and Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY), who was hospitalized last month after a car accident – have been sidelined.

A special election to replace Santos will be held Feb. 13, and Democrats have a chance to pick up another seat to cut into the GOP majority.