New Year’s Day brings a month filled with political milestones and events that Washington hasn’t experienced in years.

The month of January 2025 will be marked by a number of significant votes and actions. From the House Speaker Election and the memorials for former President Carter to the beginnings and continuations of Donald Trump’s second tenure and everything that comes with it, the month will set the tone and bring about many changes.

The process of filling House and Senate seats begins in January, after Trump’s nominations as well as the election of Ohio Senator JD Vance to vice president create vacancies.

What to expect?

Jan. 3: House Speaker elected by new Congress

The 119th Congress will meet at noon on Friday and usher in a new Republican majority in both the House of Representatives and Senate. The first item on the agenda is the Speaker election. The House cannot conduct any business until this is resolved.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. Trump’s full support of Johnson on Monday may have helped his chances to keep the gavel. Johnson’s margin is so slim that it could be as little as two votes, if all are present. One Republican has stated that he will not vote for Johnson to be Speaker.

John Thune, R-S.D., will be the new majority leader in the Senate. John Thune (R-S.D.) will replace Sen. Chuck Schumer’s (D.N.Y.) leadership as Senate majority leader.

Congress certifies the election results on Jan. 6.

Congress will meet on Monday to count the electoral votes. This will cement Trump’s victory over Vice President Harris for the election of 2024. Harris will be first vice president in office to supervise the count of electoral votes since Al Gore’s 2002 loss.

Carter Memorial Events in Washington, Jan. 7 – 9, 2019

Carter, who passed away Dec. 29, in Plains, Ga. will be honored in Georgia and Washington with events.

The former Georgia governor will be laid in repose at the Carter Presidential Center for two days starting Saturday.

The funeral procession is headed to the Capitol on Jan. 7. Carter will lay in state starting that afternoon for two full days. Congress members will pay homage at 3 p.m. The Rotunda will open to the public at 7 p.m.

A state funeral will take place at Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 9 at 10 am. Biden will be expected to pay tribute to Carter. Trump has confirmed that he will be attending.

The former president will return with his family to Plains, Ga. for a private interment and funeral service.

Biden’s Italy trip on Jan. 9.

Biden is scheduled to spend three days in Rome and the Vatican, which will be his last foreign trip as President. He will also meet with Pope Francis and Italian leaders Giorgia Melini, Sergio Mattarella, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia.

Supreme Court to hear TikTok Ban Case on Jan. 10, 2019

The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments regarding whether a proposed law banning TikTok in all states violates the First Amendment. The video-sharing site is trying to invalidate a law that requires it to divest itself from its Chinese parent or face a potential ban. The law goes into effect on Jan. 19,

Trump opposes the ban, and has asked that the high court delay the case until after he assumes office.

“President Trump is the only one who has the expertise in negotiating deals, the mandate from the electorate, and the political will necessary to find a solution to save the platform, while addressing national security concerns,” said D. John Sauer. He was Trump’s personal appeals attorney.

Sauer, the nominee of Trump for solicitor general, will assume the defense of the government against the ban.

Jan. 14: Pete Hegseth confirmation hearing

On Jan. 14, just six days before Trump’s inauguration, the Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing on Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth. Hegseth visited Capitol Hill last month to try and win over Republican senators who were hesitant about his nominee.

Jan. 20, 2019: Trump’s Inauguration

Trump will be sworn-in as the 47th President of the United States at noon. This marks the end of a long road that began with the violent Capitol Riot on Jan. 6, 2021 and the dozens federal and state criminal cases.

On his first day, the president-elect promised to sign an avalanche of executive orders that would impact immigration policy, energy policy and foreign affairs. He also said he would act quickly to rollback protections for youth transgender.

Florida Special Primary Elections on Jan. 28, 2019.

Florida will hold special primaries to fill the House seats left vacant by Trump’s nominations. The general elections for both seats will be held on April 1.

Mike Waltz, the Republican candidate for national security adviser in Florida’s 6th Congressional district, will resign on January 20. This district will host both a Democratic primary and a Republican one.

Matt Gaetz, a former Florida Republican congressman who was nominated to be Trump’s Attorney General on November 13, resigned from his seat in the 1st Congressional District. Gaetz retracted his nomination eight day later when details from an Ethics Committee report started to leak. In the 1st district, there will only be a Republican Primary.

The Democratic National Committee meets on Jan. 30, 2019.

The Democratic Party’s ruling body will meet for its winter meeting from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1. This will include the election a new chairman. Five candidates are running to be the next leader.