Republicans are on the verge of securing control of the U.S. House of Representatives, a crucial factor for President-elect Donald Trump as he prepares to advance his policy agenda when he takes office in January.
As vote counting continues from the November 5 general election, Republicans have secured 213 seats in the 435-member House, according to projections by Edison Research. The research group announced on Saturday night (November 9) that Representative Jeff Hurd had garnered enough support to maintain Republican control of Colorado’s third congressional district.
To retain control of the House, Republicans need to win just five more seats. They have already gained sufficient victories to reclaim the U.S. Senate from Democrats. However, Edison Research projected late on November 8 (Friday) that Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen won re-election in Nevada.
So far, Democrats have secured 205 seats, with Edison Research projecting on Saturday that Representative Greg Stanton in Arizona was re-elected. For the Democrats to take control of the House, they would need to win 13 of the remaining 17 seats.
With Trump’s victory in the presidential election and the Republicans reclaiming control of the Senate, retaining the House would grant the party significant power to push forward a wide-ranging agenda, including tax and spending cuts, energy deregulation, and enhanced border security.
The remaining 17 House races are primarily in competitive districts in Western states, where vote counting typically progresses more slowly than in other regions. Of these seats, nine are currently held by Republicans and eight by Democrats, with 14 races deemed highly competitive before the election.
Republican senators are expected to decide next week who will lead the party in the Senate in 2025, with John Thune, John Cornyn, and Rick Scott in the running. Senators Bill Hagerty and Rand Paul endorsed Scott on Saturday, favoring him over the more senior Thune and Cornyn, who are considered strong contenders.
Cornyn pledged on Saturday night that, if elected, he would keep the Senate in session until Trump’s cabinet is confirmed, stating, “No weekends, no breaks. Democrats can either cooperate in the country’s best interest or continue their resistance, which will eventually be worn down,” in a post on X.
