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Jimmy Williams
More than a week after Election Day 2024, control of the House of Representatives remains undecided as several crucial races are still too close to call. While Republicans secured the presidency with Donald Trump’s win over Kamala Harris and gained a projected 52-seat Senate majority, their House majority hinges on a handful of races, mainly in California, that are still awaiting final counts. CBS News currently categorizes control of the House as leaning Republican, with the GOP only three seats shy of the 218 required for a majority.
Most outstanding races are in California, where the counting of mail-in ballots that can be received up to seven days after Election Day is ongoing. This delay has kept key House races unresolved, and the final results could define Republicans’ margin in the lower chamber and potentially shape Trump’s legislative power as he re-enters office.
Key Races to Watch
Alaska’s At-Large District
In Alaska’s single congressional district, Republican Nick Begich leads incumbent Democrat Mary Peltola by over 10,000 votes, with about 71% of votes counted. Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system requires a candidate to surpass 50% to win outright; otherwise, second and third preferences are redistributed in rounds until one candidate wins a majority.
California’s Uncalled Races
California has ten undecided races, many critical to GOP hopes of securing or expanding their House majority. Key contests include:
- California’s 9th District: Incumbent Democrat Josh Harder holds a lead over Republican Kevin Lincoln by over 7,000 votes, with CBS characterizing the race as lean Democratic.
- California’s 13th District: Republican Rep. John Duarte leads Democrat Adam Gray by around 3,000 votes, in a closely watched rematch from 2022, when Duarte narrowly won by fewer than 600 votes.
- California’s 21st District: Democratic Rep. Jim Costa leads Republican Michael Maher by 1,300 votes, though CBS News sees the race as leaning Democratic.
- California’s 22nd District: GOP Rep. David Valadao, one of only two House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump and remain in Congress, leads Democrat Rudy Salas by 9,500 votes.
- California’s 47th District: Following Katie Porter’s Senate bid, Democrat David Min leads Republican Scott Baugh by over 3,200 votes in a race that CBS categorizes as leaning Democratic.
Toss-Ups and Tight Contests Nationwide
Other close races include:
- Iowa’s 1st District: Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks leads Democrat Christina Bohannan by only 796 votes in a rematch of their 2022 contest. CBS News has labeled the race as a toss-up.
- Maine’s 2nd District: Incumbent Democrat Jared Golden leads Republican Austin Theriault by over 2,100 votes, with Maine’s ranked-choice system set to decide the final outcome since no candidate received over 50%.
- Ohio’s 9th District: Longtime Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur is in a close race against Republican Derek Merrin, with Kaptur currently leading by just over 1,100 votes. CBS News categorizes this race as a toss-up.
Leadership Decisions Amid Uncertainty
As Congress reconvenes, House Republicans are moving forward with leadership elections despite uncertainty around the final balance of power. Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise are expected to retain their positions, but the race for GOP conference chair remains open with Rep. Elise Stefanik tapped as Trump’s pick for U.N. Ambassador. Her move opens a key leadership position within the House GOP, with several members reportedly eyeing the influential role.
Should the remaining seats fall as predicted, the GOP will secure a narrow majority. However, if Democrats retain a few of these competitive seats, Republicans could face challenges advancing legislation in a more divided House.
