Republicans are on the verge of full control of Washington following the 2024 election, with President-elect Donald Trump’s victory and the GOP likely to control at least 52 seats in the Senate. In the House of Representatives, the GOP is just three seats shy of the 218 needed to win the majority, and control of the chamber is leaning Republican. Most of the outstanding House races are in California, where mail-in ballots are still being counted due to state law. Congress has reconvened, and Republicans are moving forward with leadership elections, with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise expected to retain their positions.
In Alaska, Republican Nick Begich leads incumbent Democrat Mary Peltola by over 10,000 votes in the at-large congressional race, potentially leading to a GOP pick-up in the House. Arizona’s 6th Congressional District sees incumbent Republican Juan Ciscomani leading Democrat Kirsten Engel by 4,900 votes in a toss-up race. In California, several districts are still being counted, with incumbents such as Rep. Josh Harder and Rep. Ken Calvert leading their opponents. In the 45th Congressional District, GOP incumbent Michelle Steel is in a tight race with Democrat Derek Tran, with Steel ahead by 3,900 votes in a toss-up contest.
In Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks leads Democrat Christina Bohannan by 796 votes in a race characterized as a toss-up. Maine’s 2nd Congressional District sees Democratic Rep. Jared Golden ahead of Republican Austin Theriault, with the election to be decided by ranked-choice runoff. In Ohio’s 9th Congressional District, Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur is in a toss-up race with Republican challenger Derek Merrin. Republican incumbent Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer faces off against Democrat Janelle Bynum in Oregon’s 5th Congressional District, with Bynum currently ahead by over 10,000 votes.
With several key House races still undecided, the balance of power in Washington remains up in the air. The GOP is close to securing full control of the federal government, with President-elect Trump’s victory and a likely majority in the Senate. The House is leaning Republican, with just a few seats needed to secure the majority. As Congress reconvenes and Republicans move forward with leadership elections, the outcomes of these remaining races will be crucial in determining the final makeup of the House of Representatives. California, in particular, has several close races that will be important in determining the final margin between the two parties.
The races in California, Alaska, Arizona, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, and Oregon are all closely watched as ballots continue to be counted. Incumbents and challengers in these districts are fighting for control of their respective seats, with some races being decided by only a few thousand votes. The use of ranked-choice voting in Alaska and Maine adds an additional layer of complexity to the race outcomes. The next few days will be critical in determining the final results of these races and shaping the balance of power in the House of Representatives for the next legislative session.
