Congressional Republicans have a big week ahead as they near securing control of the U.S. House of Representatives, and both chambers see leadership races and elections.
While the Decision Desk HQ has called enough races for Republicans to secure the needed 218 seats for the House majority, other news outlets have not yet called the races, which are tight as votes continue to be counted.
The Associated Press has called 205 House races for Democrats and 214 races for Republicans, leaving Republicans four short of the needed 218 seats with 16 races uncalled.
By AP’s count, Republicans have so far picked up one seat compared to 2022’s results.
The uncalled races are sprinkled around the country but are more in the western half of the U.S. in states like California, Colorado and Alaska.
So far, more than half of the seats are currently leaning Republican, but that could change as votes continue to be tallied.
Democrats would have to exert a Herculean effort to gain control of the House, where Republicans are now scrambling in their own leadership elections, expected Wednesday.
President-Elect Donald Trump announced that House Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., would serve as ambassador to the U.N.
Now, Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., Rep. Erin Houchin, R-Ind., have all announced they are seeking the conference chair position.
Houchin has experience in party leadership. All three are notably women.
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., endorsed Cammack for the role on X, calling her “a proven champion of liberty with a strong track record of defending our freedoms and empowering Americans.”
In the Senate, a tight race to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., as majority leader is underway.
AP has Republicans with 53 Senate seats compared to Democrats 47 seats. Republicans picked up four Senate seats in this election, flipping majority control.
While Republicans are notably short of the 60 seats that would give them power to fastrack an agenda, they still have a wide enough agenda to get majority votes even if a few Republicans defect.
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., has become the favorite of many Trump supporters to serve as majority leader while Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, have more establishment support in the three-way race.
A secret ballot contest is expected Wednesday, and so far Trump has not weighed in other than to call for recess appointments, something for which all three candidates have expressed support.
Recess appointments allow the Senate to confirm presidential appointments temporarily while the Senate is in recess, though lawmakers have recently used parliamentary processes to prevent these appointments.
