Republicans appeared on the cusp of losing control of the U.S. House of Representatives hours after polls closed on Election Day, with Democrats flipping several seats and countering Republican gerrymandering efforts. By 10 p.m., the GOP held 62 seats, while Democrats had secured over 100 of the 293 races called by the Associated Press. Projections from NBC News and CNN indicated a Democratic takeover of the House.
If these projections hold, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and his party could achieve their largest majority in over a decade. This potential shift is largely attributed to voter dissatisfaction with the economy, including rising costs of fuel and food, according to public polling.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), speaking from his hometown of Shreveport, expressed a desire for his party to "defy history and the polls, stand for common sense, and save America." However, early results began to show a different outcome as polls closed on the East Coast.
Democrats secured early victories in key states. In Florida, where Republicans had anticipated gaining several seats through redistricting, Democratic candidates successfully defended at least four of the five districts that were expected to favor the GOP. Similarly, in North Carolina's 11th District, Democrat Jamie Ager defeated Republican state representative Jennifer Capps Balkcom. This seat was previously held by former Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC), who withdrew his re-election bid following a House ethics report detailing "inappropriate conduct" with staff.
Other Republican seats were flipped in states like New Jersey, where Democrat Rebecca Bennett defeated Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) by a significant margin. Kean's second term had been marked by a nearly four-month absence due to depression.
In Kentucky's 6th District, Democrat Zach Dembo was projected to win against Ralph Alvarado. The seat had been vacated by Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.), who successfully ran for the Senate to replace retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell.
President Trump, anticipating a divided Congress, stated in an interview with CBS News that he would be "Mr. Veto" for the upcoming two years. His allies have reportedly been preparing for substantial legal costs should House Democrats pursue investigations into the first family's business dealings and other allegations of corruption if the GOP loses its majority.