[Non-Sequitur]

The real issue is whether the Senate will be reorganized with a clause allowing republicans to take control if the membership shifts.

The Republicans can take control the moment they become the majority party. If Johnson never sets foot on the floor of the senate for the remainder of his term there are still 50 Democrats and only 49 Republicans.

[Political Junkie Too]

I've been reading the Senate rules found here, and voting rules found here.

According to the definition of "simple majority" for rollcall votes:

All questions are to be decided on the Senate floor by simple majority vote unless some constitutional provision or Senate rule or precedent provides otherwise. A simple majority vote is defined as at least 50% plus one of the Senators voting, provided that a quorum is present.

So, assuming there are 49 Republicans, 48 present Democrats, and 2 Independents, this gives the Democrats 50 votes. However, in a Senate with 99 members present, a simple majority (50%+1) is 50.5 votes, or 51 if you round.

Does this mean that the Organizing Vote to be held tomorrow will NOT meet the rules for simple majority, so it fails? If it fails, does this mean that the current organization remains in force until a new Organizing resolution can garner 51 votes?

-PJ

[LexBaird]

for the remainder of his term there are still 50 Democrats and only 49 Republicans.

No, there are 49 Reps, 48 Dems, 1 Ind, and 1 Socialist. The Reps are technically the majority party now, but the two odds are caucusing with the Dems.