WASHINGTON – With the conclusion of the primaries on Tuesday, the matchups for the 2024 general election are set, signaling a fierce struggle for control of the U.S. House and Senate. Both Democrats and Republicans are eager to position their party for the next presidency and to enable their respective agendas.

In the Senate, Democrats will be on the defensive over the next eight weeks. The retirement of Sen. Joe Manchin in West Virginia essentially hands an additional seat to the Republicans, meaning the GOP needs just one more victory in November to regain control of the chamber. This holds true as long as they avoid unexpected losses elsewhere, even if Kamala Harris wins the presidency. The Republicans are particularly focused on challenging Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., with other states also showing potential for victories.

Over in the House, more than thirty competitive races will be crucial in deciding who leads next year. The situation is highly unpredictable—24 districts are categorized as “toss-ups” by the non-partisan Cook Political Report, nearly equally split between currently held Republican and Democratic seats. Republicans hold a very slim majority in the chamber.

Both parties are presenting sharply contrasting visions for the future of the country. The outcome in both chambers of Congress will significantly influence whether Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump or Democratic presidential nominee Harris can implement their plans if they win the White House.

Here’s what you need to know about the races for Capitol Hill and what they might mean for you.

Changes During Primary Season

The competitive races will shape who controls the House and Senate. However, some key races are basically decided already.

In House districts that lack competitiveness—those that strongly favor either party—the main contest occurred during the primaries. Candidates from the same political party went head-to-head, securing their positions for the general election in November.

Both sides have seen some surprising outcomes. A few progressive Democratic incumbents who openly criticized Israel during its conflict with Hamas were defeated by other Democrats backed by pro-Israel groups, such as Reps. Jamal Bowman, D-N.Y., and Cori Bush, D-Mo. Conversely, other progressive figures like Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-M.N., and Summer Lee, D-Pa., successfully faced their challengers.

On the Republican side, Trump remains influential, with most of his endorsed candidates winning their contested primaries, including South Carolina GOP Reps. Nancy Mace and William Timmons.

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy launched a multimillion dollar effort to unseat the eight GOP members who voted against him last year. This faced mixed results; only Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., was defeated—but this may have been due to Trump’s endorsement of Good’s opponent as punishment for Good’s support of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the Republican primaries.

Key Senate Races

Control of the Senate is likely to hinge on three key races. With Republicans nearly assured a win in West Virginia, they need to capture one more seat to regain control of the chamber or win the White House, which would allow Trump’s vice president, JD Vance, to serve as the tie-breaker next year.

Sen. Jon Tester, a three-term Democrat from Montana, is in a tough race against businessman Tim Sheehy, making this one of the Republicans’ best chances to regain Senate control, as Montana is typically a solidly Republican state—voters favored Trump by over 16 percentage points in 2020.

Another three-term incumbent, Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, is also under pressure to retain his seat against Bernie Moreno, a Republican businessman with a network of car dealerships in a state Trump won by 8 percentage points in 2020.

Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat from Michigan, is competing against former Representative Mike Rogers, a Republican, for an open seat after Senator Debbie Stabenow’s retirement. Both candidates have national security experience, which resonates with voters in this battleground state that leaned towards Biden by a narrow 2.8 percentage points in 2020.

Several Democratic Senators, including Bob Casey from Pennsylvania, Tammy Baldwin from Wisconsin, and Jacky Rosen from Nevada, are also facing stiff challenges this election cycle. If Republicans have a successful year overall, these Senate seats could be at risk. In Arizona, there’s a competitive race for an open seat where Rep. Ruben Gallego, a Democrat, is up against former TV anchor Kari Lake.

Key House Races to Monitor

The balance of power in the House usually aligns with the party in the White House, especially since both races are closely contested. Voters often focus more on party affiliation rather than individual candidates in House races. Consequently, the party that can mobilize more of its base for the presidential vote tends to gain the upper hand in securing a House majority.

Currently, Democrats hold five House seats that voted for Trump in 2020, while Republicans occupy 17 that backed Biden. California and New York emerge as critical battlegrounds for the House, with Democrats targeting Republicans in districts that Biden won.

In California, Republican Rep. Mike Garcia is up against Democrat George Whitesides in the 27th District (Simi Valley); Rep. John Duarte will face Democrat Adam Gray in the 13th District (Modesto); Rep. David Valadao goes against Democrat Rudy Salas in the 22nd District (Bakersfield); Rep. Ken Calvert is challenged by Democrat Will Rollins in the 41st District (Corona); and Rep. Michelle Steel is up against Democrat Derek Tran in the 45th District (Huntington Beach).

In New York, Republican Rep. Brandon Williams is up against Democratic state Senator John Mannion in the 22nd District comprising Syracuse and Utica; Rep. Mike Lawler faces former Democratic Rep. Mondaire Jones in the 17th District (Pearl River); Rep. Marc Molinaro confronts Democratic attorney Josh Riley in the 19th District (Binghamton); and Rep. Anthony D’Esposito is challenged by Democrat Laura Gillen in the 4th District (Garden City).

Democrats are also aiming to unseat Republican incumbents in key Biden-won districts in states like New Jersey, Oregon, Arizona, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Democrats representing House districts that voted for Trump in 2020 are dispersed nationwide. Rep. Marcy Kaptur from Ohio is up against state House member Derek Martin in the 9th District (Cleveland); Rep. Jared Golden faces Republican Austin Theriault in Maine’s 2nd District (Bangor and Lewiston); Rep. Matt Cartwright is challenged by Republican Rob Bresnahan Jr. in the 8th District (Pennsylvania, Hazleton and Hawley); Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is up against Republican Joe Kent in Washington’s 3rd District (Vancouver); and Rep. Mary Peltola is competing against Republican Nicholas Begich for Alaska’s only House seat.

Republicans are also targeting vulnerable Democratic districts in Colorado, Michigan, North Carolina, and New Mexico.

The Importance of Funding

Funding is crucial as it allows each party to effectively communicate their message and introduce candidates to voters, especially in races for the House and Senate that may not be well-known.

Currently, Republicans find themselves at a financial disadvantage. This election cycle, Democrats have largely outperformed them in fundraising, a gap widened by increased grassroots contributions from Democratic supporters following President Biden’s withdrawal from the race.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which manages campaign funding for House races, has raised $228 million so far, compared to the National Republican Congressional Committee’s $173 million, according to federal campaign data from OpenSecrets, a nonprofit research organization. In the Senate, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has reported $154 million in earnings, while the National Republican Senatorial Committee has brought in $181 million, but with fewer funds available as they approach the final days of the campaign.

“There are races we can win right now that may slip away due to a lack of resources,” warned NRSC Chair Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) in an interview with Fox News last week. “That’s why we’re working hard to alert potential donors and galvanize support.”

What to Anticipate if Either Side Wins?

Identifying the main legislation Congress will focus on in 2025 is complicated due to various factors related to the election outcomes and other external influences.

However, certain issues will need to be confronted regardless of the election results. These include discussions around extending the Trump-era tax cuts from 2017, ongoing federal budget disputes that are likely to persist into the next year, and determining how much U.S. support should be allocated to international conflicts such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

Republicans are concentrating on issues related to immigration.

This election season, candidates are focusing heavily on the economy in their messages to voters. They claim they will stand against excessive spending that drives inflation and ensure low taxes for families and businesses alike. Regarding immigration, they assert that the rise in migrant crossings at the southern border under the Biden administration has negatively impacted American lives, and they intend to reinforce measures against illegal immigration.

“If Democrats gain control of the House and the presidency, your taxes will increase,” stated Republican campaign strategist Brad Todd. “This would be harmful to everyone.”

On the other hand, Democrats are emphasizing reproductive rights, healthcare, and the importance of democracy in their campaign messages. They promise to fight for federal protections for abortion rights that were overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022, safeguard programs like Social Security and Medicare, and work to lower the costs of prescription medication. They also contend that Trump would misuse presidential power and undermine the necessary checks and balances of democracy.

“The outcome of this election is incredibly important,” said Sarah Guggenheimer, a spokesperson for the Democratic super PAC Senate Majority PAC, in a statement. “In November, voters will have to decide between Republican Senate contenders, who seem primarily interested in self-enrichment, and Democrats, who will keep striving to lower costs, secure abortion rights, and support hardworking families.”

The ability of either party to fulfill their promises hinges on the outcomes of the elections for both chambers of Congress and the presidency. If all three fall to one party, they will likely have the opportunity to enact more of their respective agendas, whether liberal or conservative.

However, if the government remains divided—whether it be between the presidency and Congress or within the chambers themselves, as is currently the case—deadlock is a more probable scenario. In such a divided government, only moderate proposals or those deemed essential are expected to advance.