2024-11-11 22:23:16 :
(Bloomberg) — House Republicans are on the verge of cementing unified Republican control of Washington under President-elect Donald Trump as they await victories in four of the 18 remaining open races in the House.
Republicans led the confirmed races 214 to 203 on Monday and need 218 seats to control the 435-member House of Representatives, the Associated Press reported.
But the number of Republicans from other races is about to grow, too. In Colorado, freshman Democratic Representative Yadira Caraveo posted a concession statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.
“While this is not the outcome we had hoped for, the work is not over yet,” she wrote. “I look forward to returning to Washington to complete this term and continue to be an independent voice for the people of the region.”
Republicans are also certain to pick up the 216th seat in an unannounced intraparty fight in Washington state.
Still, the Republican advantage in the House of Representatives is likely to shrink again when the new Congress begins in January.
As of Monday, Democrats were leading in many of the 18 unnamed races. New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik has accepted Trump’s offer to serve as U.N. ambassador — temporarily shrinking the majority if she is confirmed.
The Republican Party’s slim majority has been a key factor in intra-party strife and dysfunction, with the Republican bloc, mostly far-right conservatives, willing to hold out for votes in exchange for concessions.
How a Trump presidency and Republican control of the Senate might change such fights is uncertain. But Trump has previously succeeded in keeping Republican House members largely in line. Republicans who opposed him during his first term are often no longer in office.
Republicans under Speaker Mike Johnson will meet this week to make early plans for a legislative agenda under Trump that will be anchored by spending priorities and expiring 2017 tax cuts. leading.
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