House Democrats didn’t see arrival of ‘blue wave’
WASHINGTON – While Democrats will likely hold their control in the House of Representatives, Republicans had big wins for Tuesday’s election that could narrow Democrats’ majority.
Republicans flipped back key seats that Democrats won in the 2018 midterms, unseating freshmen incumbents in South Florida, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Iowa. GOP candidates also defended key seats in Texas, many that were thought to be vulnerable in suburban areas.
“Republicans defied the odds and grew our party last night. In districts all across the country, Americans rejected socialism and voted for freedom,” House Minority Leader Kevin Mccarthy wrote in a tweet Wednesday. “Nancy Pelosi: you’ve been put on notice.”
The gains by Republicans are contrary to the narrative that Democrats hoped for. Prior to polls closing Tuesday, Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-ill., the chairwoman of House Democrats’ campaign arm, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Democrats would not only defend the gains Democrats made in 2018 but also flip districts previously thought to be in safe Republican territory.
But the continuation of the 2018 “blue wave” fell short this year. On the Senate side, the battle for control got even tighter overnight.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Democrats have 194 to Republicans’ 185 seats, with 56 races yet to be called, including several key races in Iowa, New York and California. To control the House, 218 seats are needed.
Here are some key takeaways from Tuesday.
Races to watch
Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District: Republican Mariannette Miller-meeks is holding a 282-vote lead over Democrat Rita Hart, as they compete to fill the seat left open by Democratic incumbent Rep. Dave Loebsack, who announced he was retiring last year.
The vote counts available Tuesday night are unofficial until officials canvass the district’s returns. Absentee ballots can still be counted if they’re delivered to county auditors’ offices by Monday at noon. Provisional ballots must also be counted before the results are certified.
New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District: Rep. Jeff Van Drew, an incumbent freshman who switched from Democrat to Republican last year, holds a slight lead against Democrat Amy Kennedy, whose family is a political dynasty.
The race has yet to be called, with roughly 75% of the votes in.
Van Drew gained widespread notoriety after switching from the Democratic party to join Republicans during President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial. The move was jarring given Van Drew helped flip the district, which Trump won by nearly 5 points, over to Democrats.
His switch garnered praise from Trump, who invited him to the White House, where Van Drew promised Trump his “undying support.”
California’s 21st Congressional District: Rep. TJ Cox, the freshman Democrat elected to California’s 21st Congressional District, is currently trailing Republican David Valadao.
Results for the race are still coming in, and it has not been called by AP.
The district was won by Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton by double-digit margins.
New York’s 11th Congressional District: Rep. Max Rose was in a bitter race against Republican Nicole Malliotakis – a campaign that included an assortment of cursing, accusations of lying and name dropping of New York City Mayor Bill deblasio, who is unpopular in the district.
While a winner has not been called, Malliotakis is currently leadingts.
GOP pickups
Republicans flipped back several key races that Democrats had won in 2018 that helped them win the majority in the House.