The Republican Party has secured enough seats to retain control of the House of Representatives, solidifying a strong showing in the 2024 U.S. elections.
The Associated Press reported late Wednesday that Republicans reached the critical threshold of 218 seats out of the 435 in the House.
This win not only gives the Republicans control over both chambers of Congress but also extends their influence across all major branches of government, according to an Al-Jazeera report.
In the November 5 general election, Republican leader and former President Donald Trump reclaimed the White House by a wide margin, promoting his “America First” agenda. With his re-election, and the Supreme Court’s six-to-three conservative supermajority shaped by appointments during Trump’s prior term, the party holds considerable sway over national policy and judicial outcomes.
“We stand united, determined, and ready to deliver the America First Agenda,” House Speaker Mike Johnson posted on social media ahead of the announcement.
Unlike other outlets, the AP only calls a race when a win for a candidate or party is certain, which contributes to its reliability in election reporting.
While several races, including the presidential election, were decided within hours of polls closing, the House took over a week to finalize due to the sheer number of seats and some closely contested races. Every two years, all 435 House seats are up for election, unlike the Senate, where only a third of members face re-election every two years due to six-year terms.
The House races, spread across the nation, also faced varying state protocols for counting ballots, adding to the delay. States like California, which send mail-in ballots to all registered voters, often require more time to process returned ballots.
