Unresolved House Races Leave Uncertainty in Control of the House
Election Results Take Time to Call
The morning after election day, voters had learned the results of the presidential race — called once the president-elect received 270 electoral votes — and that Republicans had won control of the U.S. Senate. But a week later, many House races are still too close to call.
The Associated Press Projects Winners
The Associated Press surveys the numbers posted by local election officials and projects the winner using vote returns and other data. Races can be called within minutes of polls closing on election night. However, if a race has tight margins or an expected high volume of mail-in ballots, it can take longer to call.
Competitive House Races
This year, all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives were up for election. According to the Cook Political Report’s House Ratings, 69 House races were competitive. Of those, 54 have been called. Until the final races are called — eight of which are in California’s competitive congressional districts — control of the House remains unknown.
California’s Competitive Districts
In California’s 27th Congressional District race, Republican Rep. Mike Garcia conceded defeat on Monday, though the AP had not called the race by Tuesday morning.
Races Yet to Be Called
The following table shows the races that have been called and those that have not:
Winner Incumbent
✓ Winner * Incumbent
Conclusion
The uncertainty surrounding the control of the House highlights the importance of mail-in ballots and the complexity of election night projections. With all 435 seats in play, the outcome is far from certain until the final votes are counted.
FAQs
- Q: Why are some House races taking longer to call?
A: Some races have tight margins or an expected high volume of mail-in ballots, which can delay the call of the winner. - Q: How many House races were competitive this year?
A: According to the Cook Political Report, 69 House races were competitive. - Q: When can we expect the final House races to be called?
A: Until the expected high volume of mail-in ballots is counted, which could take several days. - Q: What determines the winner of a House race?
A: The Associated Press surveys the numbers posted by local election officials and projects the winner using vote returns and other data.
