House control at stake as midterm polls close

Polls are closing across the United States as voters decide whether Republicans keep their narrow House majority or give Democrats control of a chamber that could investigate President Donald Trump’s administration during the final two years of his term.

All 435 House seats are on the ballot Tuesday. Republicans hold 218 seats, Democrats hold 214, and an independent caucuses with Republicans; two seats are vacant. A party needs 218 seats for a majority. Republicans have controlled the House since 2023.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Tuesday night that Democrats “are on the verge” of taking back the chamber, but cautioned that they “take nothing for granted.” He declined to predict a seat total. “We’re working hard to get to 218, and then to win as many seats as we can on top of that,” he told reporters in Washington.

Forecasters expect Democratic gains, though the scale remains uncertain. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report projects a pickup of 15 to 25 seats, according to The Guardian, while the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics lists 239 seats in Democrats’ favor. Neither projection is an election result.

If Democrats win the majority, they would control House committees and could subpoena documents and witnesses. The Guardian reported that Democrats have signaled plans to investigate Trump’s family business, immigration enforcement, matters related to Jeffrey Epstein and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s handling of vaccine procedures and recommendations. Jeffries, who became the first Black lawmaker to lead a party in Congress in 2023, would be expected to become the first Black House speaker.

Affordability remains a top concern for voters, CBS News reported. The network said the war in Iran and Trump’s tariffs have driven up everyday costs. Early exit polls cited by CBS put Trump’s approval rating at 38% and found that roughly six in 10 voters said he was a factor in their House vote.

The election follows a push to redraw congressional districts. At Trump’s urging, Republicans in states including Texas and Florida remade maps to favor their party. California carried out a successful Democratic-led effort to counter Republican redistricting. The Guardian reported that lawmakers in Alabama, North Carolina and Tennessee also redrew maps to eliminate districts where Black voters had been able to elect a candidate of their choosing.

Among the contests being watched is Kentucky’s open 6th District, where Republican Ralph Alvarado faces Democrat Zach Dembo. In North Carolina’s 1st District, Democratic candidate Don Davis faces Republican Laurie Buckhout in a rematch. Pennsylvania has several competitive races, including Republican Rep. Scott Perry’s rematch with Democrat Janelle Stelson in the 10th District.

In Florida, Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz won re-election in the heavily Democratic 20th District, according to the AP, as reported by The Guardian. Many other races remained unsettled as polls continued to close.