Weeks after Election Day, three House races remain undecided, leaving uncertainty about the final makeup of the 119th Congress. The GOP has secured a majority, but the exact number of seats they’ll hold is still in question.
California’s 13th district features one of the tightest contests. Republican Rep. John Duarte is ahead of Democrat Adam Gray by only 204 votes. The race mirrors their 2022 matchup, where Duarte won by a mere 564 votes in a race that wasn’t decided until early December.
In California’s 45th district, Democrat Derek Tran leads Republican Rep. Michelle Steel by 545 votes, with 99% of ballots counted. Steel’s ability to flip the seat remains uncertain as votes trickle in from this hotly contested area.
Over in Iowa’s 1st district, Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks leads Democrat Christina Bohannan by 800 votes. While Decision Desk HQ has called the race for Miller-Meeks, the Associated Press has yet to do so. Bohannan’s recount request has drawn criticism from Miller-Meeks, who has labeled it a waste of taxpayer resources.
The Associated Press reports Republicans currently holding 219 seats to Democrats’ 213. If current leads hold, the GOP will secure 221 seats, giving them a slim but significant majority. However, upcoming special elections for seats vacated by Reps. Elise Stefanik, Mike Waltz, and Matt Gaetz add further uncertainty.
The narrow majority places increased pressure on Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to unify his caucus. With these unresolved races, the Republican Party must prepare for potential challenges in governing effectively.
