Congressional leaders from both parties are anxiously watching the remaining uncalled races in California, Arizona, and other Western states to determine the final balance of power in the House of Representatives.
The first party to reach 218 seats will gain control. On Election Day, Republicans won the majority in the Senate.
In California, several Republican incumbents are fighting to retain seats in districts around Los Angeles, which played a key role in securing the GOP majority in 2022, Fox News reported.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Louisiana Republican, has voiced confidence, noting that most Republican incumbents are leading in close races and expecting final tallies to favor the GOP.
However, New York is seeing a different trend, with at least three Republican representatives facing losses, especially among first-term lawmakers vulnerable in traditionally Democratic suburban areas reacting to crime issues in nearby cities.
As ballots continue to be counted in Alaska, Oregon, Nebraska, and Iowa, House Democrats remain watchful, though some have privately acknowledged a diminishing path to a majority.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, urged patience as the final votes are counted, stressing the importance of election integrity and confidence in a fair electoral process.
With President-elect Trump returning to the White House, Republicans hope to secure a government trifecta.
Scalise estimates a narrow GOP margin of four to six seats if Republicans maintain their leads, similar to the slim control they held throughout the 118th Congress.
As both parties push to secure the 218-seat majority threshold, the outcome hinges on the remaining battleground states. Jeffries reiterated that the House leadership race will stay undecided until the full results from California, Arizona, and Oregon come in, underscoring the importance of counting every vote in this critical contest.
This article was written with the assistance of artificial intelligence.