Control of the House of Representatives was still up for grabs Wednesday, although Republicans expressed confidence they will overcome modest Democratic gains in New York to hold onto the congressional chamber.
After Republicans swept the White House and flipped the Senate, House Speaker Mike Johnson predicted the GOP would expand its narrow eight-seat 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,” Johnson said in a statement.
Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem countered that the majority was still within reach for his party, with many districts undecided in West Coast states that take several days to count mail ballots.
“The party that will hold the majority in the House of Representatives in January 2025 has yet to be determined. We must count every vote,” Jeffries said.
There were still about 40 seats not officially called on Wednesday afternoon, including many in slow-counting California, Arizona and Oregon that will likely take several days to decide.
Given President-elect Trump’s sweeping victory, most pundits predicted Republican candidates would pull out enough seats to hold onto their majority or expand it by a few seats
One of the few bright spots on a very bleak election night for Democrats was their likely pickup of three House seats in New York state, including wins by challengers John Mannion and Josh Riley in upstate districts.
Lauren Gillen also looked poised to unseat incumbent Rep. Anthony D’Esposito in a Long Island district.
Republicans flipped a handful of Democratic-held seats elsewhere, notably in working-class districts in battleground Pennsylvania.
Republicans had already won control of the Senate by flipping three Democratic seats in West Virginia, Ohio and Montana, giving them at least 52 seats in the next Congress.
GOP Senate candidates led in Nevada and in Pennsylvania, while Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego had a more healthy sized lead in Arizona.
Rep. Elissa Slotkin narrowly led in Michigan and Sen. Tammy Baldwin won reelection in Wisconsin in a tight race.
Democrats are clinging to the hope they can pull out a surprise win in the House and prevent Trump from holding otherwise unchecked power in the incoming administration.
