3 House races that still have not yet been called



Although it has been over three weeks since Election Day, there are three House races that are still up in the air.

Republicans have secured their slim House majority of 219 seats while the Democrats have won 213 seats. While the GOP is expected to hold onto yet another narrow majority, several Republicans have been tapped by President-elect Donald Trump to serve in the upcoming administration. With potential House vacancies on the horizon, every race remains crucial for Republicans.

While Republicans have secured a majority in the upcoming 119th Congress, the narrow advantage is shrinking.

In California's 13th congressional district, Republican incumbent Rep. John Duarte is hoping to fend off Democratic challenger and former Rep. Adam Gray. The two candidates are currently less than 200 votes apart, with Gray inching ahead of Duarte.

Gray previously represented California's 13th congressional district from 2012 to 2022 when Duarte unseated the Democrat. Duarte defeated the then-incumbent by just 564 votes, making him the first Republican to win the district since 1974.

The district has historically been held by Democrats, and Gray is still within striking distance of Duarte, making this one of the closest House races to date.

Further south in California's 14th congressional district, Republican incumbent Rep. Michelle Steel is falling behind Democratic challenger Derek Tran. Tran has pulled ahead of Steel with an approximate 600-vote margin.

Steel was first elected to represent California's 45th congressional district in 2022. The seat was previously held for three terms by Democratic Rep. Katie Porter, who has since represented California's 47th congressional district after the state redistricted in 2021.

Although the GOP may have lost its footing in two key California seats, Republican incumbent Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks has held a narrow lead in the race for Iowa's 1st congressional district. Miller-Meeks is roughly 800 votes ahead of Democratic challenger Christina Bohannan, with just 900 votes estimated to be remaining.

Miller-Meeks was first elected to represent Iowa's 1st congressional district in 2022, defeating Bohannan by nearly seven points. Although the race is much closer this time around, Miller-Meeks still has a shot at holding onto her seat.

While Republicans have secured a majority in the upcoming 119th Congress, the narrow advantage is shrinking.

Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida most recently resigned from Congress after Trump nominated him for attorney general. Gaetz later withdrew from his Cabinet bid but reaffirmed that he had no intentions of returning to Congress, leaving the seat vacant.

Fellow Floridian and Republican Rep. Mike Waltz was also tapped by Trump to serve as national security adviser in the upcoming administration. Waltz has confirmed that he intends to resign the day Trump is inaugurated on January 20.

Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York was also recruited by Trump to serve in the next administration as U.N. ambassador. Although she has not yet indicated when she intends to resign, the GOP is anticipating her vacancy.

With the two Florida seats scheduled for special elections on April 1, House Republicans are bracing themselves for an estimated one-seat majority for the first two months of the 119th Congress.

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Republicans take back Alaska's House seat, solidifying the GOP's slim majority



Republican candidate Nick Begich has officially unseated incumbent Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola for Alaska's sole House seat on Wednesday, boosting the GOP's narrow majority in the chamber.

Begich won with 51.3% of the vote, while Peltola brought in 48.7% of the vote. Peltola first flipped the seat in 2022 after Alaska introduced ranked-choice voting, which allows voters to rank their preferred candidates on the ballot rather than choose between the Democratic and Republican candidates who won their respective primaries.

'The path ahead will not be built by one person or three people working for all of Alaska but by all Alaskans working together to build a future that works for all of us.'

Going into the 2024 election, there were two Republican candidates up against the Democratic incumbent: Begich and Nancy Dahlstrom. Republicans were concerned that two GOP candidates would split the vote as they did in 2022, so Dahlstrom dropped out in August to avoid becoming a spoiler candidate.

"The Ranked Choice Voting tabulation has been completed and has confirmed our win beyond any residual doubt," Begich said in a Wednesday post on X. "I am truly honored to have earned your trust and support."

"Alaska's potential is unmatched, but much work remains for Alaskans to fully realize that potential," Begich continued. "I am committed to fighting for our jobs and economy, protecting our unique way of life, and ensuring that our voices are heard loud and clear in Washington."

Republicans now hold 219 seats, while Democrats hold 213. Although Republicans have the advantage, their margin has been narrowed due to President-elect Donald Trump's recent nominations that have included three Republican congressmen.

"The path ahead will not be built by one person or three people working for all of Alaska but by all Alaskans working together to build a future that works for all of us," Peltola said in a Wednesday post on X.

"Nick, I'm rooting for you," Peltola continued. "Please don't forget when DC people keep telling you that you are one of three, you are actually one of more than seven hundred thousand Alaskans who are ready to fight for our state, myself included."

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Key pickup opportunities for Republicans to secure their House majority



Republicans will likely maintain their slim majority in the House, but several key races have not yet been called.

Republicans are just four seats away from the majority, currently holding 214 seats, while Democrats hold just 203 seats. In order for one party to win the majority, the party must hold at least 218 of the 435 House seats.

Although Democrats are leading 10 of the 18 uncalled races, Republicans are well on their way to maintaining their House majority.

California is the most likely path to victory for the GOP, with Republicans leading in four of the 10 uncalled congressional races. Republican incumbents John Duarte of California's 13th Congressional District, David Valadao of California's 22nd Congressional District, Ken Calvert of California's 41st Congressional District, and Michelle Steel of California's 45th Congressional District are all leading their Democratic challengers.

These four competitive California races would be enough to keep Republicans in the majority.

The GOP has another pickup opportunity in the neighboring state of Arizona. Republican incumbent Juan Ciscomani of Arizona's 6th Congressional District is currently leading Democratic challenger Kirsten Engel. Ciscomani's is the only congressional race that has not yet been called in Arizona.

Up north, Republicans are guaranteed another seat in the race for Washington's 4th Congressional District. Unlike most other states, Washington has a ranked-choice system, which allows voters to rank their candidates in preferential order rather than having a two-party primary like most other races. As a result, constituents are voting between two Republican candidates, incumbent Dan Newhouse and challenger Jerrod Sessler.

Newhouse is currently ahead of Sessler, but no matter which way the race pans out, Republicans will have secured the seat.

Similar to Washington, Alaska also adopted the ranked-choice voting system, though notably, Alaska introduced a ballot measure to end ranked-choice voting, which is currently on track to pass in the state.

Of the three Alaskan candidates, Republican challenger Nick Begich is leading Democratic incumbent Mary Peltola and independent candidate John Wayne Howe in the race for Alaska's sole congressional seat.

While the race has not yet been called, Begich is leading Peltola by four points, making the longtime red state a likely layup for the GOP.

Republicans are leading a much tighter race out east in Iowa's 1st Congressional District. Republican incumbent Mariannette Miller-Meeks is currently ahead of Democratic challenger Christina Bohannan by just 0.2% with 99% of the votes counted. Miller-Meeks holds just a 1,200-vote advantage.

Although Democrats are leading 10 of the 18 uncalled races, Republicans are well on their way to maintaining their House majority.

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Control of the House still hanging in the balance



Although Republicans have won the presidency and regained a majority in the Senate, it remains unclear which party will claim control of the House.

As of this writing, Republicans have secured 206 seats, while Democrats have won 192 seats, according to the Associated Press. Either party will need to win at least 218 of the 435 House seats in order to hold the majority. Currently, 37 seats are yet to be called, which could swing the majority in either direction.

Of the 37 seats, Republicans are leading 17 of them, while Democrats are ahead in 20. Although Democrats are leading in more uncalled races, Republicans only need 12 of the 17 seats to maintain their majority.

'As more results come in, it is clear that, as we have predicted all along, Republicans are poised to have unified government in the White House, Senate, and House.'

Republicans are leading Alaska's only House race, as well as Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District, Iowa's 1st Congressional District, Colorado's 3rd Congressional District, Pennsylvania's 7th, 8th, and 9th Congressional Districts, Arizona's 1st, 2nd, and 6th Congressional Districts, and California's 13th, 22nd, 27th, 41st, 45th, and 47th Congressional Districts.

Washington's 4th Congressional District is still uncalled but will go to one of the two Republican candidates due to the ranked-choice voting system.

Democrats are ahead in Washington's 3rd and 8th Congressional Districts, Oregon's 5th and 6th Congressional Districts, California's 9th, 12th, 21st, 26th, 39th, and 49th Congressional Districts, Nevada's 1st, 3rd, and 4th Congressional Districts, Arizona's 4th Congressional District, and Colorado's 8th Congressional District.

Farther east, Democrats are leading in Louisiana's 6th Congressional District, Ohio's 9th Congressional District, North Carolina's 1st Congressional District, Maryland's 6th Congressional District, New York's 4th Congressional District, and Maine's 2nd Congressional District.

Speaker Mike Johnson reassured his party, maintaining that he was confident that Republicans would hold their majority.

"This historic election has proven that a majority of Americans are eager for secure borders, lower costs, peace through strength, and a return to common sense," Johnson said in a statement Wednesday. "As more results come in, it is clear that, as we have predicted all along, Republicans are poised to have unified government in the White House, Senate, and House."

"House Republicans have been successful in securing critical flips in swing states including Pennsylvania and Michigan, while our battle-tested incumbents have secured re-election from coast to coast," Johnson continued. "The latest data and trends indicate that when all the votes are tabulated, Republicans will have held our majority, even though we faced a map with 18 Biden-won seats."

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How Ron DeSantis Won Republicans The House Of Representatives

Ron DeSantis is receiving praise for delivering Republicans four crucial congressional seats

House Democrats, expecting to increase their majority, get shocked by Election Day losses



While the presidential election hangs in the balance Wednesday morning with outstanding votes to be counted in six states and no clear winner, House Democrats received an Election Day shock, losing at least six seats and potentially more as the votes continue to be counted.

Projections that Democrats would win a dozen seats in the House of Representatives and oust several Republican incumbents proved "completely wrong," Politico's Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer wrote in their morning newsletter Wednesday.

Both Democrats and Republicans expected the Democratic House majority to expand — it didn't. Republicans won upset victories over several Democratic incumbents and now could gain as much as 10 seats in a year the media raised the possibility they'd lose as many as 15 or more.

Democrats will retain majority control in the House, but that majority will be smaller as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) must grapple with some stinging defeats.

"We have held the House and now, when — after all the votes are counted, we'll see how much better we will do than that," Pelosi said in a statement. "We are in a situation where some of the states have just said we're not counting any more until tomorrow morning and, of course, the West Coast has not chimed in yet, so there's more to come."

In Florida, Republicans picked off Democratic incumbents Reps. Donna Shalala and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell. Shalala lost her race narrowly in the state's 27th Congressional District in a rematch with Maria Elvira Salazar, a former television journalist.

In another rematch in New Mexico, Republican Yvette Herrell unseated Rep. Xochitl Torres (D-N.M.) in a contested race where energy policy was a major issue of the campaign. Herrell campaigned strongly on pro-oil and natural gas policies while her Democratic opponent struggled to distance herself from comments made by Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden opposing fracking and promising to "transition from the oil industry."

In South Carolina, freshman Democratic Rep. Joe Cunningham lost his race to a Republican challenger, reclaiming the 1st Congressional District for the GOP.

In a major upset, 30-year incumbent Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, lost re-election to Republican Michelle Fischbach by a double-digit margin, 53.6% to 39.8%. Peterson, 76, represented a rural part of Minnesota and over his career had a relatively moderate voting record, supporting gun rights and opposing President Donald Trump's impeachment. President Trump carried his district in Minnesota Tuesday night.

Additionally, Democratic Reps. Max Rose (N.Y.) of Staten Island and Kendra Horn (Okla.) of Oklahoma City lost their bids for re-election. Rose refused to concede to Republican Nicole Malliotakis despite trailing her by 38,000 votes.

"At this moment there are more than 40,000 absentee ballots that were returned, with potentially 10,000 more in the mail," Rose said Tuesday night.

House Republican Minority leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) celebrated the victories in a statement given to Politico.

"We defied the odds. It's the night of the Republican women," he said. "The Democrats never solved one problem in their majority. They promised they would govern differently, and they didn't."

Democrats were hopeful that a collapse in support for Trump in suburban areas of the country would translate to congressional victories in districts held by the GOP. They had targeted 10 seats held by Republicans in Texas as potential pick ups. As of this writing, it appears they will flip none of them.

The DNC did flip two Republican-held seats, both in North Carolina. Democrat Kathy Manning defeated Rep. Lee Haywood (R-N.C.) in the newly redrawn 6th Congressional District. Democrat Deborah Ross ousted Rep. Alan Swain (R-N.C.) in North Carolina's 2nd Congressional District.

According to Politico, Democratic strategists say that as outstanding mail-in votes are counted, remaining races where Republicans seem to be leading strongly will tighten. But if Republicans hang on to their leads, they may pick up as many as 10 seats.

Exclusive — Kevin McCarthy on Salon Scandal: ‘Every Single House Democrat’ Must ‘Answer for Pelosi’s Privilege’

House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is calling on every single House Democrat to answer for what he called House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s “privilege” after she broke coronavirus lockdown and public health restrictions in San Francisco to get her hair done without wearing a mask.