Earlier this month, as we covered at the time, Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) was tasked by President-elect Donald Trump to serve in the Trump-Vance administration as his national security advisor. He currently serves in the House, representing Florida's 6th Congressional District, but will resign on January 20, the day Trump takes office.
Scoop from POLITICO's Olivia Beavers mentioned such a timeline, which means that Waltz can vote for the January 3 speakership vote which will likely result in Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) once more getting the gavel.
While Republicans will keep control of the House following the 2024 elections, and also gained control of the Senate and the White House, it's still a narrow majority in the chamber. Thus, Johnson will likely need every vote he can get, and House Republicans can't afford too many defections or vacancies for the 119th Congress.
NEWS: Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), who Trump picked to serve as his national security adviser, plans to resign from Congress on Jan. 20, a source familiar tells me.
— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) November 25, 2024
This also means he will still be serving in the House during the Jan. 3 speakership vote.https://t.co/XSTXLi6p2L
Confirming @Olivia_Beavers, Waltz to step down Jan 20, putting House GOP 2 seats down thru April 1@DecisionDeskHQ projects 220 R, 213 D, 2 seats left to call. So, already-slim majority will be down to 1 to 3 seats for that time. & that’s before even considering Stefanik leaving https://t.co/9ZjtNug5Lp
— Emily Brooks (@emilybrooksnews) November 25, 2024
Florida's Secretary of State Cord Byrd has been posting to social media about the timeline, as has the Florida Department of State Office.
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who had been nominated as Trump's Attorney General before he ultimately withdrew his name, resigned nearly two weeks ago and has also indicated he will not serve in the 119th Congress.
There will be a special primary for Waltz's seat and Gaetz's seats on January 28, with the special election taking place on April 1.
We are just now in receipt of Congressman Mike Walz's resignation letter, therefore the special election for CD 6 will proceed according to the following timeline. https://t.co/OKnE3aCSYW
— Cord Byrd (@CordByrd) November 25, 2024
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who currently chairs the House Republican Conference, was also tasked earlier this month to serve as the ambassador to the United Nations, and a special election will be needed to fill her seat.
Before Waltz, it was actually Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) who represented Florida's 6th Congressional District. He resigned in September 2018 to focus on his run for governor.
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