Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ) was hospitalized over the weekend, jeopardizing House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’s (D-NY) attempts to rally his troops in the House.
Republicans currently hold a 220-213 advantage in the House. The ratio was previously 220-215, but Democratic Reps. Sylvester Turner and Raul Grijalva died in March. Norcross’s hospitalization could place Democrats in an even more weakened position.
“Congressman Donald Norcross was traveling over the weekend and suffered an emergency medical event likely related to his gallbladder. He was admitted to UNC Rex Hospital in North Carolina on Sunday and is in stable condition where he is receiving exceptional medical treatment,” a message from his staff read.
Norcross was in “good spirits,” the message added, and once medically cleared, he will be transferred to a hospital in New Jersey to “complete his recovery.”
In a letter to his caucus on Monday, Jeffries decried the House Republican budget plan as “reckless” and “toxic.”
“Once again, it is essential that House Democrats are present with maximum attendance for what is anticipated to be a close vote on Wednesday,” he wrote.
LUNA AND JOHNSON STRIKE DEAL TO END PROXY VOTING FEUD
Though Jeffries claimed the bill was pushing “far-right extremism,” the bill is in trouble due to ire from House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) right flank. Several members of the House Freedom Caucus have pledged to vote against the bill, while some other House Republicans believe it will fail.
Dorcross’s hospitalization could give Johnson more leeway to push the bill through.
