7 House seats that changed parties in the 2022 election
The 2022 midterms were not a "wave" election, and it was clear by election night that Democrats were showing unexpected resilience in what had been forecast to be a very good year for Republicans. Republicans did seize some House seats from Democrats, and the GOP is "slowly amassing some of the five seats needed to reach a 218-seat House majority," The Associated Press reports. But Democrats flipped some GOP-held seats as well — notably in the Pennsylvania Senate race. Here are some of the biggest House flips of the election, so far.
Virginia Congressional District 2: Election watchers realized a "red wave" wasn't coming when Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) beat GOP challenger Yesli Vega in Virginia's 7th Congressional District, which Republicans had hoped to flip. But in Virginia's 2nd District, Rep. Elaine Luria (D-Va.), a House Jan. 6 committee member, lost her reelection bid to state Sen. Jen Kiggans (R).
Ohio CD 1: Rep. Steve Chabot (R), who has been in Congress for 26 years, lost to Democratic Cincinnati City Councilman Greg Landsman. Chabot lost his seat in 2008 but won it back two years later.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Michigan CD 3: Democrat Hillary Scholten beat Republican John Gibbs in the Michigan swing district where Gibbs had defeated Rep. Peter Meijer (R) in the GOP primary. Scholten had lost to Meijer in 2020, but Meijer's vote to impeach former President Donald Trump in early 2021 fed his primary defeat.
Florida CD 13: Republican conservative activist Anna Luna beat Democrat Eric Lynn in the St. Petersburg-area seat vacated by Democrat Charlie Crist when he ran for governor. Crist lost to Gov. Ron DeSantis.
North Carolina CD 13: Democratic state Sen. Wiley Nickel defeated Republican Bo Hines, a 27-year-old former football star, in a newly drawn district vacated by Rep. Ted Budd when he ran for Senate. Budd won his Senate race.
Texas CD 15 and 34: Republican Monica De La Cruz flipped Texas' 15th District, long held by Democrats but redrawn to lean Republican. The seat was open as Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas) decided to run in the neighboring 34th District, which he won, defeating Rep. Mayra Flores (R-Texas), the winner of a special election over the summer.
Republicans, aided by aggressive gerrymandering, are favored to win the House. "When you wake up tomorrow, we will be in the majority and Nancy Pelosi will be in the minority," House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said early Wednesday. House Speaker Pelosi (D-Calif.) said soon afterward that "it is clear that House Democratic members and candidates are strongly outperforming expectations across the country."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
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.
-
Why the Earth's water cycle is under threat
Under The Radar Disturbances in the system that moves water around the world place more than half of global food production at risk
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Today's political cartoons - October 20, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - Secret Service flaws, weather control, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 cartoon critiques of the Kamala Harris media blitz
Cartoons Artists take on 60 surrealist minutes, word salad, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Trump gets profane at Catholic charity dinner
Speed Read The Republican nominee mocked Kamala Harris, her husband, her running mate, President Joe Biden and other Democrats
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Florida ordered to allow pro-abortion rights ads
Speed Read A federal judge in Florida ordered the DeSantis administration to stop threatening TV stations for running an abortion rights referendum ad
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Pentagon grants ousted LGBTQ vets full benefits
Speed Read The new ruling will apply to more than 820 LGBTQ veterans
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US says Israel must up Gaza aid or risk arms halt
Speed Read The Biden administration has provided a 30-day ultimatum to the country
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Georgia judge suspends new hand-count ballot rule
Speed Read The rule would have required three poll workers in every precinct to hand-count votes
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Man arrested as threats on FEMA hinder Helene relief
Speed Read The agency temporarily suspended door-to-door operations as a result of the threats
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published