US House control hinges on tight races

Control of the US House of Representatives hinged on Monday on several tight races that could secure a majority for Republicans following midterm elections that saw President Joe Biden’s Democrats beat expectations and retain the Senate.

Republicans were closer to winning the House, having secured 211 seats compared to Democrats’ 206, with 218 needed for a majority. But the outcome might not be known for days as officials continue counting ballots nearly a week after Americans went to the polls.

Democrats portrayed their better-than-expected performance as vindication of their agenda and a rebuke of Republican efforts to undermine the validity of election results.

Other high-profile uncalled races include the Arizona governor contest, in which Republican Kari Lake, who promoted former President Donald Trump’s baseless 2020 election fraud claims, was trailing her Democratic opponent.

There are still some 18 outstanding House races, including 13 considered close. Ten of the remaining contests were in liberal-leaning California.

Democrats, having clinched the Senate with a win in Nevada on Saturday and extinguished Republican hopes for a “red wave” of gains, have turned their attention to a Georgia runoff contest that could strengthen their hand in Congress.

A Democratic victory in the December 6 run-off between Senator Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker would give the party outright majority control, bolstering its sway over committees, bills, and judicial picks.

The Nevada win put Democrats in charge of a 50-50 Senate, with Vice President Kamala Harris holding the tiebreaking vote.

Even if Republicans win a narrow majority in the House, Democrats’ performance suggests they had success in portraying their opponents as extremists, pointing in part to the Supreme Court’s decision to eliminate a nationwide right to abortion following conservative appointments to the bench.