Republicans appear to be closing in on securing a majority in the House

The race to get to 218 members, and thus the majority in the House of Representatives, continues with the GOP having secured 216 as of Saturday night, according to Decision Desk HQ, and the Democrats trailing with 209 seats. 

A total of 10 races have not yet been called. Of those 10, Democrats are leading in two while Republican candidates are ahead in the other eight, according to The Hill.

Republicans appear confident as Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has already announced his plans to remain as the speaker while saying that he expects the House to still be controlled by the GOP.  

Democrats have not given up hope, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., saying Thursday it “has yet to be decided who will control” the House. 

Control of the House means the chairmanship of every committee, subpoena power, and the choice of what and whom to investigate. The smallest majority can even impeach a sitting president. 

The Hill offers a rundown on the remaining 10 seats. For example, it looks at California’s 45th Congressional District, a race between Republican Michelle Steel and Democrat Derek Tran. 

Steel has a “healthy lead” in the uncalled race, with 78.9 percent of the vote in. Steel, a two-term lawmaker, was ahead of Tran, by 2.9 percentage points, or 7,590 votes. 

In California’s 41st District, Rep. Ken Calvert (R) — a 30-plus year veteran of the House — was leading Democrat Will Rollins, by 2.8 percentage points with 75 percent of the vote in.

On the other side, in California’s 27th District, Democrat George Whitesides, the former Virgin Galactic CEO who also served as NASA chief of staff during the Obama administration, is leading a tight race against incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Garcia. Whitesides is leading Garcia by 0.8 percentage points — or 2,114 ballots — with 85 percent of votes reported.