WASHINGTON — The sudden death of Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., cast a pall over the first day of the new session of Congress on Tuesday, when House Republicans mourned their colleague and also watched their tiny majority dwindle to the bare minimum of 218 votes.

The passing of LaMalfa, 65, who died during an emergency surgery, came on the same day that the resignation of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia took effect. That left Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., able to afford just two defections on any party-line vote, if all members are present — and in an election year, they seldom are.

It was the latest blow to Johnson’s weak grip on a demoralized House Republican conference as the party anxiously looks toward midterm elections in which their control of the chamber is at stake. Lawmakers who are fearful of losing the majority have complained openly about his leadership, calling him a habitual liar and routinely circumventing him to bring legislation he does not want to hold a vote on to the floor.

Many House Republicans Eye New Political Jobs

A disproportionately large number of Republican lawmakers in the House are running for statewide offices this year, meaning that they are checked out of Washington and prioritizing time at home.

To name just a few: Rep. Chip Roy of Texas is running for attorney general; Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina is running for governor; Reps. Andy Biggs and David Schweikert of Arizona are running against each other for governor; Rep. Wesley Hunt of Texas is running for Senate; and Reps. Earl L. Carter and Mike Collins are both running in the Republican primary for Senate in Georgia.

That is in addition to the regular pace of absences that are simply a fact of life when members are dealing with illnesses, travel delays, weddings, funerals and unforeseen life events, for which congressional leaders typically need a cushion of votes to account for.

Democrats Expect to Fill Two Seats

Meanwhile, Democrats are expected to fill two vacancies in the coming months: On Jan. 31, there will be a runoff in Texas’ 18th District to fill the seat of former Rep. Sylvester Turner, a Democrat who died in March. And on April 16, New Jersey will hold a general election to fill the seat of former Rep. Mikie Sherrill, who was elected governor, in a solidly blue district.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

By Annie Karni/Max Whittaker

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