Republicans are close to their goal of taking control of the House and securing a governing trifecta.
After election night on November 5, Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States following a fierce battle with Vice President Kamala Harris. By that Wednesday, he had secured more than 290 electoral votes, emerging victorious in key battleground states like North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan. He also won the popular vote, marking the first time a Republican candidate has achieved such a victory since 2004, when George W. Bush won re-election against Democratic challenger John Kerry.
The GOP’s success didn’t stop with the presidency. In addition to clinching the White House, Republicans also regained control of the Senate and made significant headway toward securing the House. With all of the results now in, all eyes are on the House, where the final outcomes could further shape the balance of power. Here’s everything you need to know about the shifting congressional landscape.
Who Will Win Control of the House?
All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for grabs every midterm and presidential election year. This year, House races are particularly focused in states like New York and California, where Democrats are working to reclaim some of the 10 or so seats Republicans have gained in recent years. To secure a majority, either party needs 218 seats. As of November 12, the Democrats hold 205 seats, while Republicans have 214.
Last week, Representative Hakeem Jeffries, D-NY, and House Minority Leader, expressed hope that his party could still prevail.
“The House remains very much in play,” he said in a statement. “The path to take back the majority now runs through too-close-to-call pickup opportunities in Arizona, Oregon and Iowa — along with several Democratic-leaning districts in Southern California and the Central Valley.”
Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., expressed confidence that his party would retain control of the lower chamber.
“House Republicans have been successful in securing critical flips in swing states including Pennsylvania and Michigan, while our battle-tested incumbents have secured re-election from coast to coast,” Johnson said in the statement. “The latest data and trends indicate that when all the votes are tabulated, Republicans will have held our majority, even though we faced a map with 18 Biden-won seats.”
The election results could still take days before the House races are officially called.
How Did Republicans Win Control of the Senate?
In total, 34 Senate seats were up for election.
Democrats flipped two key seats in New York, defeating Representatives Marc Molinaro in the Hudson Valley and Brandon Williams in Syracuse. They also held onto two critical seats — one in Michigan and another in New Mexico — that Republicans had hoped to gain. However, with major wins in Ohio, Montana, and Texas, Republicans took control of the upper chamber.
Republican senators are expected to elect a new leader this week, as longtime GOP leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is stepping down after a record 18 years in the role.
Who Will Be the Next Senate GOP Leader?
Republican Senators John Thune of South Dakota, John Cornyn of Texas, and Rick Scott of Florida are vying for the top leadership spot in the U.S. Senate.
Trump signaled his intention to approach the process aggressively, emphasizing the need for swift action and loyalty from whoever takes the role.
“Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner,” Trump said in a statement on X and Truth Social, adding that positions should be filled “IMMEDIATELY!”
Since a 2014 Supreme Court ruling restricted the president’s authority to make so-called recess appointments, the Senate has not allowed them. However, all three leadership candidates have indicated they may be open to revisiting the practice.
What Happens Next?
If Republicans manage to gain complete control of Congress, they will find themselves in a similar situation to 2016, with Trump once again leading the way. In this second Trump administration, a fully Republican-controlled House would give the president-elect greater freedom to push his agenda.
Johnson and Senate GOP leaders have moved closer to Trump, leveraging his influence to strengthen their own positions as they align more closely with his “Make America Great Again” priorities. In a letter to his colleagues, Johnson used a football metaphor, declaring he’s “ready to take the field with all of you” to play “the biggest offense of our lives.”
Over the next two years, the House will face critical battles over government funding, tax policy, immigration, and corporate regulation.
