Speaker’s Majority Grows as California Republican Joins Ranks

California Republican James Gallagher is the newest member of the House after being sworn in Wednesday, widening Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) tiny majority as the GOP conference presses for contentious legislative items before the midterm elections.

Gallagher won the special election to finish the term of Republican Doug LaMalfa, who died in January.

“It will be the first time ever that I’ve been in the majority,” Gallagher, 45, said in a farewell speech Monday to the Democratic-led California Assembly.

Gallagher is also running for a full term in November, where he will face Democratic state Sen. Mike McGuire. Once ...