Nearly three weeks after polls closed, three tightly contested House races remain uncalled, leaving the final size of the Republican majority unresolved. California’s 13th and 45th districts, along with Iowa’s 1st district, are still being decided as ballot counting continues.
In California’s 13th district, Republican Rep. John Duarte leads Democrat Adam Gray by just 204 votes. This district has a history of close races—Duarte won in 2022 by only 564 votes in a race called in December.
Meanwhile, Democrat Derek Tran holds a slim lead over Republican Rep. Michelle Steel in California’s 45th district. With 99% of ballots counted, Tran is ahead by 545 votes, making this another highly competitive race.
Iowa’s 1st district recount began over the weekend, with Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks maintaining an 800-vote lead over Democrat Christina Bohannan. Miller-Meeks has criticized the recount as unnecessary, though Decision Desk HQ has already called the race in her favor.
The Associated Press shows Republicans with 219 seats to Democrats’ 213. If current GOP leads hold, the party will end up with 221 seats to Democrats’ 214. However, special elections to replace Reps. Elise Stefanik, Mike Waltz, and Matt Gaetz could shift these numbers in the coming months.
As the GOP prepares to take control of the House, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) faces the task of managing a slim majority. The results of these uncalled races will shape the legislative landscape in the next Congress.
