Who will win the House? The remaining competitive races to watch
WASHINGTON – As the results from Election Day are finalized, the struggle for control of a crucial branch of the U.S. government continues.
The GOP will maintain control of both the White House and the Senate following President-elect Donald Trump’s triumph. Nevertheless, several races remain too close to call, leaving the balance of power in the House of Representatives in doubt. As of Thursday afternoon, Republicans had a lead and were just a few victories shy of clinching the majority.
All 435 seats in the House were contested this year. Here are some of the races that are still closely monitored:
Arizona: Longtime congressman faces contentious reelection fight
Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., is currently engaged in what many are calling the most contentious election of his 13-year career.
As of 1 p.m. EST on Thursday, the Arizona congressman held a slim 2.8 percentage point lead over his Democratic challenger, Amish Shah, with less than 70% of votes counted.
Arizona (again): First-term Republican in neck-and-neck rematch
In another Arizona race, Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., has a narrow half-point lead against Democrat Kirsten Engel.
This is the second time Ciscomani and Engel have squared off, and the outcome remains uncertain. A win for Ciscomani would be crucial for Republicans aiming to retain control of the House.
California: Veteran Republican in SoCal rematch
Republican Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif., is going head-to-head with Democrat Will Rollins in their second election battle.
Calvert has been in office since 1992 and is California’s longest-serving House member. He aims to retain his position representing California’s 41st Congressional District, located southeast of Los Angeles.
Colorado: Moderate Democrat faces rocky reelection race
Freshman Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Colo., is campaigning for a second term and is up against Republican Gabe Evans.
Representing a diverse electorate north of Denver, Yadira is known for her moderate stance, sometimes breaking from party lines, notably voting alongside six other House Democrats to criticize President Biden’s administration over its handling of the southern border.
Maine: Democratic incumbent competing in Trump district
Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat, is working to keep his position in a district that encompasses most of Maine north of Portland. He is challenged by Republican Austin Theriault, who has previously served as a state representative and a NASCAR driver.
Since 2018, Golden has represented Maine’s 2nd Congressional District. This predominantly rural area has supported the moderate Democrat while also voting for Trump in both 2020 and 2024.
Maryland: Republican trying to flip blue district without incumbent
With most precincts reporting, a narrow margin between Democrat April McClain Delaney and Republican Neil Parrott remains as they vie for Maryland’s westernmost congressional district.
A lawyer whose spouse previously held the seat, McClain Delaney has worked in the Department of Commerce during the Biden administration, while Parrott has been a member of the Maryland House of Delegates for over ten years. Both candidates ran campaigns focused on effective governance.
Often, they rely on “common sense” to characterize their opponent as disconnected or extreme.
Ohio: Congress’ longest-serving woman may secure a victory
Representative Marcy Kaptur, a Democrat from Ohio, has been serving in Congress for 41 years. At 78 years old, she holds the record as the longest-serving woman in the legislature and is aiming to win another term against her Republican challenger, Derek Merrin.
This is among the tightest contests still awaiting a result. As of Thursday, Kaptur had a slim lead of 0.3 percentage points with 99% of votes counted.
Oregon: Democrat seeks to unseat freshman Republican
Democrat Janelle Bynum is contesting first-term Republican Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who has the backing of Trump, in a closely fought race that carried on into Thursday.
Bynum, currently a state representative, is aiming to take over the seat that represents suburbs and areas south of Portland. Both candidates are entrepreneurs with small businesses, pledging to advocate for shared interests and collaborate across party lines. They have faced each other twice before in tight races for a state legislative seat, which Bynum ultimately won in 2018.
(This article has been updated with additional information.)
