The battle for control of the House runs through California

Nancy Pelosi
(Image credit: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

House Democrats had been girding for a "red wave" wipeout in the 2024 midterms; now, they "have a legitimate — if narrow — chance" to keep the House, an outcome "that was almost unimaginable a week ago," Politico reported Sunday. Republicans officially have 212 House seats and Democrats have 204, according to Associated Press projections Sunday night. The magic number for control of the House is 218.

Democrats had their hopes boosted Saturday when Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) won reelection, ensuring that Democrats will keep control of the Senate. The Senate was always rated a tossup, but political forecasters had agreed the only question on the House side was the size of the GOP majority.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.