Republicans nearing House majority, as vote tallies continue - The Washington Post

The Post has not reported a projected House bulk for either party. The idiosyncratic projected wins edged the GOP person to the 218 seats indispensable for a majority. Even arsenic Republicans closed successful connected victory, GOP leaders were eyeing a constrictive vantage — 1 that is shaping up to beryllium overmuch slimmer than galore successful the enactment had hoped. Democrats person won a sizable fig of competitory races, causing disappointment and friction successful the GOP.

Democrats person secured 205 seats truthful far, aft The Post reported Monday that Andrea Salinas (D) was projected to triumph successful Oregon’s caller 6th Congressional District.

Vote counting continued 1 week aft Election Day, successful what has turned retired to beryllium a historical midterm year. Republicans are starring successful six legislature districts wherever The Washington Post has not reported a projected winner, including 4 wherever they pb by astatine slightest 5 percent points.

History shows the president’s enactment tends to endure important losses successful midterm elections. But this year, Democrats person held their ain successful galore cardinal races. Some Republicans person seen this predetermination play arsenic underwhelming, fixed their expectations earlier this twelvemonth of flipping scores of seats.

Republican leaders expect a last tally of 220 to 223 seats, a House bulk and an summation from the 212 they held successful January 2021, but importantly little than estimates that they would triumph implicit 2 dozen, according to galore House GOP run strategists. Over the weekend, The Post reported that Democrats were projected to clasp power of the Senate, dashing Republican hopes of a implicit takeover connected Capitol Hill.

While galore susceptible Democratic incumbents were capable to clasp connected and immoderate of the party’s candidates flipped districts this cycle, the latest House contention results made it wide that Democrats’ way to retaining a bulk had shrunk considerably.

On Tuesday afternoon, Republicans are acceptable to conscionable to statement and elite their leaders for the 118th Congress, which volition beryllium sworn successful aboriginal adjacent year. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.), who has sought the speakership for years, volition beryllium challenged by erstwhile House Freedom Caucus seat Andy Biggs (Ariz.), arsenic the staunchly blimpish radical tries to beryllium that McCarthy cannot garner the 218 level votes indispensable to go talker connected Jan. 3.

McCarthy is expected to get the plurality of the concealed ballot ballot Tuesday, but the situation from Biggs could unit McCarthy to marque concessions to guarantee helium clinches the apical occupation adjacent twelvemonth successful the ballot connected the House floor.

The Republicans who won Monday and Tuesday, but for Schweikert, beryllium to a much pragmatic group, a invited motion for McCarthy, who worked passim the superior to physique a governing coalition. Ciscomani was a prima enlistee by McCarthy successful a territory wherever the House GOP run limb invested heavily.

But the wins don’t offset each of the unexpected GOP defeats crossed the state that, had they turned retired differently, would person enabled Republicans to physique a comfy majority. A larger caucus could person fixed House Republicans much breathing country to navigate perchance fraught negotiations betwixt far-right and mean flanks of the conference.

Republicans besides had their oculus connected different House enactment races. Minority Whip Steve Scalise (La.) faces nary situation arsenic helium seeks to go GOP leader, the highest-ranking presumption for the enactment abbreviated of speaker. Rep. Elise Stefanik (N.Y.) is expected to beryllium reelected arsenic GOP league chair, but she is facing contention from Rep. Byron Donalds (Fla.), a Freedom Caucus member. One notable contention volition beryllium for the third-ranking station connected a bulk enactment team, arsenic Reps. Jim Banks (Ind.), Tom Emmer (Minn.) and Drew Ferguson (Ga.) question to go GOP whip.

Scott Clement contributed to this report.