Tight Races Highlight Uncertainty in House Control as Votes Continue to Pour In

Wed Oct 22 2025 17:15:43 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As the outcome of the House of Representatives hangs in the balance, both parties remain hopeful as key races remain too close to call.

With Republicans falling seven seats short of the necessary 218 for House control and Democrats needing 15 more, several pivotal races across California, Arizona, Maine, and Ohio are crucial in determining the balance of power.

In the aftermath of the recent elections, the control of the US House of Representatives remains uncertain. On Thursday morning, Republicans were seven seats short of the 218 required for a majority, while Democrats needed an additional 15. With the Senate already under Republican control alongside the White House, President-elect Donald Trump could potentially wield significant power once sworn in on January 20, 2025.

All eyes are on the House, where control over spending bills and impeachment proceedings is at stake. As the last votes are tallied, both parties are closely monitoring critical races across the country.

In California, five seats are pivotal for Democratic hopes of reclaiming the House. Current polling indicates that incumbents hold narrow leads, but challengers remain competitive. Key races include:

- **California's 45th:** Incumbent Republican Michelle Steel is leading Democrat Derek Tran by 4 points with 70% of the vote counted.
- **California's 27th:** Republican Mike Garcia is narrowly ahead of Democrat George Whitesides by 2 points, with 69% of votes in.
- **California's 41st:** Republican Ken Calvert maintains a slim 2% lead against Democrat Will Rollins, with 76% of the vote accounted for.
- **California's 22nd:** Republican David Valadao currently holds a 10-point advantage over Democrat Rudy Salas.
- **California's 13th:** Republican John Duarte is leading Democrat Adam Gray by just 2 points with 52% counted.

In Arizona, two races remain too close to call. In the 6th district, Republican Juan Ciscomani holds a 0.5-point lead against Democrat Kirsten Engel, with 67% reporting. Similarly, in the 1st district, David Schweikert is just 1% ahead of Democrat Amish Shah with 69% of the vote counted.

Maine's representative battle is also tense, as incumbent Democrat Jared Golden fights to maintain his seat against Republican Austin Theriault, leading by less than a point with approximately 93% of votes in.

Lastly, the race in Ohio's 9th district, where longtime congresswoman Marcy Kaptur seeks re-election, reveals close competition. She leads Republican challenger Derek Merrin by just 0.3% with about 95% of votes counted.

As the nation awaits final results from these critical races, the question of who will ultimately control the House remains unanswered. The continued counting of votes promises potential shifts in power dynamics and sets the stage for a contentious political landscape in the coming years.