Nick Begich’s flip of Alaska’s only House seat would further expand Republicans’ slim House majority, but several members have left the party to join President-elect Donald Trump’s administration. However, with only three races left to be decided, Republicans may enter the new year with little leeway. error.
This narrow majority will change everything from how House Speaker Mike Johnson deals with the looming government funding battle and right-wing misfortunes to who the governor considers appointing to fill the Senate vacancy. All of this could mean big things at the Capitol when the new Congress is sworn in in January. President Trump will be inaugurated in 17 days.
Two weeks after Election Day, both parties are keeping a close eye on several House races where a winner has yet to be decided. On Wednesday, two of those elections had winners. Begich ousted Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola as Alaska counted its ranked votes late Wednesday. And just hours earlier, Ohio’s final vote tally further extended Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur’s narrow lead in the Toledo-based 9th Congressional District.
Balance of power: These results mean Republicans gain 219 House seats and Democrats gain 213, according to CNN’s projections. Undecided districts include California’s 13th and 45th Congressional Districts, where votes are still being counted, and Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who leads by about 800 votes ahead of a recount. Iowa’s 1st Congressional District.
But President Trump is poaching Republicans who hold or recently held three of those seats to join his still-forming administration. The next president may choose more House Republicans to serve in the remaining Cabinet and other management positions.
So far, he has nominated Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general, Florida Rep. Michael Walz for national security adviser, and New York Rep. Elise Stefanik for ambassador to the United Nations. did. Gaetz immediately resigned from the House of Representatives and said he would not take the seat in January. Walz and Stefanik will remain in the House for now.
All of their seats are expected to remain in Republican hands and will be filled through special elections, although it is not yet clear when those elections will be held and when the winners will be seated in Congress.
Read more about how the remaining House races could impact Republicans’ narrow chamber majority.
