California GOP incumbent Duarte now trails in one of the three still undecided House races
If current trends hold, then the House GOP will have about two months of a 217-215 split with House Democrats next year.
GOP Rep. John Duarte in California’s 13th Congressional District is now trailing Democrat challenger Adam Gray by 182 votes after more ballots were counted Tuesday night.
Duarte and Gray's race is now the closest of the three undecided House races, Politico reported. Democrat Derek Tran is up by 613 votes against GOP Rep. Michelle Steel in California’s 45th Congressional District race, and GOP Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks is leading Democrat Christina Bohannan by 800 votes.
If these races end with the current leading candidates winning, then the House election tally will be 220-215 Republicans to Democrats, with the latter receiving a net gain of two seats.
However, Republicans will start the new Congress next year down by one seat, after Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz's resignation. Then, later in January, GOP Reps. Elise Stefanik, New York, and Michael Waltz, Florida, are expected to step down from their seats to join the Trump administration.
Two Florida special elections are scheduled for April 1, but the House GOP will have about two months of a 217-215 split with House Democrats.