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Majority in House: 5 races still uncalled to finalize size of GOP lead

By Megan Ziegler
Published  November 20, 2024 9:24am MST
2024 Election
FOX TV Stations

Republicans complete election sweep

Republicans have won enough seats to control the U.S. House, completing the party’s sweep into power and securing their hold on U.S. government alongside President-elect Donald Trump. Political analyst Rich Rubino joined LiveNOW from FOX to discuss.

The Brief

    • Republicans have won the majority of the House, but five races are still outstanding that will determine the size of the party’s lead.
    • The races still to be called are in California, Alaska, Iowa and Ohio. 
    • Republicans have won 218 seats to Democrats’ 212. 

Republicans have won a majority in all major branches of the federal government this election – the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives. 

The Republican majority in the House was made official more than a week after election night, and now, more than two weeks later, several races are still too close to call. 

Here’s what to know about the five outstanding races: 

What is the House majority?

FILE - A view of the Capitol building on August 2, 2023. (Photo by Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

It takes 218 seats to have a majority in the House, which Republicans crossed last week. 

The GOP has currently 218 seats to Democrats’ 212, with five races still uncalled. More on that below. 

But, as The Associated Press reports, the GOP’s majority is thin and a highly functioning House isn’t guaranteed. 

The Republican majority depends on a small group of lawmakers who won tough elections by running as moderates. It remains to be seen whether they will stay on board and along party lines for some of the more extreme proposals championed by Trump and his allies.

RELATED: Trump’s Cabinet, White House staff picks: Who’s been nominated so far

2024 House races still uncalled

California, 2 seats, mixed leads

Two House seats remain undermined in California, in the 13th and 45th congressional districts. 

As of Wednesday, in the 13th district, the vote difference between the two candidates is less than half a percentage point - or about 200 votes, with the Republican candidate leading. About 96% of the vote has been counted. 

In the 45th district, the vote count was tied at 50.0%, with a difference of about 700 votes. The Democratic challenger has taken the lead over the Republican incumbent with about 97% of the vote counted. 

RELATED: Here’s the last time the GOP controlled Senate, House and presidency

Alaska, 1 seat, GOP lead

The Republican candidate is winning in Alaska’s at-large district, with 48.6% of the vote. The race there will advance to ranked choice voting if no candidate is the first choice on a majority of ballots, according to The Associated Press. 

About 98% of the votes there are counted. 

Iowa, 1 seat, GOP lead

The Republican incumbent is leading in Iowa’s 1st district, with 99% of votes counted. 

She has 50.1% of the votes, to the Democratic candidate’s 49.9% – with a difference of about 800 votes, a margin that has potential to prompt a recount. 

Ohio, 1 seat, Dem lead

With 99% of the vote counted, the Democratic incumbent in Ohio's 9th congressional district was leading with 48.1% of the vote to 47.9%, and a vote difference of more than 800. 

Races with a margin of 0.5% or less trigger an automatic recount in Ohio, FOX News reported. 

The Source: Information in this article was taken from The Associated Press, which receives polling numbers from counties and has delivered election results since 1848. This story was reported from Detroit.