2026 House election live results as Democrats win House majority with Trump approval at historic low

GOP Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks lost reelection to Democrat Christina Bohannan in Iowa's 1st District in their third consecutive rematch, CBS News projected. 

The race was expected to be close in the months leading up to the election. As November neared, election forecasters shifted the race in favor of Democrats. 

Another Republican incumbent has lost reelection. CBS News projected that GOP Rep. Mike Carey lost to Democrat Don Leonard in Ohio's 15th District. 

Both the Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball rated the race as lean Republican heading into Tuesday. 

GOP Rep. Zach Nunn lost reelection to Democrat Sarah Trone Garriott in Iowa's 3rd District, CBS News projected. 

Nunn has represented the Des Moines-area district since 2023. He won reelection in 2024 by less than 4 points. 

Democrat Fred Wellman flipped Missouri's 2nd District, defeating GOP Rep. Ann Wagner, CBS News projected. 

Heading into Tuesday, the Cook Political Report rated the race as likely Republican and Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it as lean Republican.

Former Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria defeated GOP Rep. Jen Kiggans in Virginia's 2nd District, CBS News projected. 

Luria, who held the seat for two terms, lost to Kiggans in 2022 after redistricting made the area more favorable to Republicans. 

The military-heavy district — which includes Virginia's Eastern Shore and Virginia Beach — has flipped parties four times since 2008. In 2021, it voted for Republican Glenn Youngkin for governor, then supported Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger four years later. The district voted for former President Joe Biden in 2020 but for President Trump in 2024. 

Luria, a 20-year Navy veteran, was first elected to Congress in 2018. She was part of a group of Democratic women with national security backgrounds who helped their party win back control of the House after eight years of a Republican majority.

Polls closed in Hawaii at 12 a.m. Eastern. Alaska followed at 1 a.m. Eastern. 

Polls are now closed in all states. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday night he was "disappointed" about the election results. 

"It looks like history will be kept tonight," the Louisiana Republican said, referring to the president's party typically losing House seats in the midterms. 

"If they make the next two years about retribution and lawfare and partisan games, every American will suffer by that," Johnson said in remarks from Shreveport, Louisiana. 

"Republicans will not be deterred by the outcome of one election. In fact, you know what we do? We double down," he said. 

Johnson called it the "honor of his life" to serve as House speaker, which he said was a position he did not ever aspire to or expect to have. 

A triumphant Hakeem Jeffries declared, "America is back" in remarks shortly before 11:30 p.m., in Washington, D.C.

"Today begins the great American comeback," said the House minority leader, who is now poised to become the first Black House speaker. 

Jeffries vowed that House Democrats are committed to making life better for Americans. 

"This is a change election, and we understand as House Democrats that we need to deliver dramatic change," he said. "We understand that this election, a dramatic change election, means that the American people are crying out for transformational change. We hear you, we see you, we feel you, and House Democrats are committed to making life better for you." 

Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures won reelection against Republican Rhett Marques in Alabama's competitive 2nd District, CBS News projects. 

Republicans sought to defeat Figures, who won the seat in 2024 after the Supreme Court affirmed that the state's GOP-drawn congressional map discriminated against Black voters. 

This year, however, the Supreme Court cleared the way for Alabama to use a map more favorable to Republicans, which eliminated one of Alabama's two majority-Black seats. Under the new boundaries, the 2nd District no longer included Mobile, making it more difficult for Figures to win reelection.

Democratic Rep. Greg Landsman won reelection in Ohio's 1st District, CBS News projected. 

Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas successfully defended his seat in the redistricted 34th District, CBS News projected. 

State Republicans redrew Gonzalez' district in their favor in 2025 during a mid-decade redistricting push. 

Gonzalez beat Republican Eric Flores. 

As of 11 p.m. Eastern, polls have closed in California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. We're watching several races in those states: 

• California's 1st District: GOP Rep. James Gallagher is poised to lose his seat against Democrat Mike McGuire after redistricting. 
• California's 6th District: Rep. Kevin Kiley, an independent who caucuses with Republicans, is in a tough race for reelection against Democrat Richard Pan after redistricting. 
• California's 7th District: Democratic Rep. Doris Matsui is facing Democratic challenger Mai Vang. 
• California's 22nd District: GOP Rep. David Valadao is up against Democrat Randy Villegas. 
• California's 34th District: Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez and democratic socialist Angela Gonzales-Torres are on the ballot. 
• California's 48th District: Republican Jim Desmond and Democrat Marni Von Wilpert are vying to replace retiring GOP Rep. Darrell Issa. 
• Washington's 3rd District: Republican John Braun is challenging Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. 

Democrats flipped two more seats — in Pennsylvania's 8th District and 10th District — CBS News projected. 

GOP Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr. lost to Democrat Paige Cognetti in the 8th District. 

Democrat Janelle Stelson beat GOP Rep. Scott Perry in the 10th District rematch. 

GOP Rep. Ryan Mackenzie lost his reelection bid against Democrat Bob Brooks in Pennsylvania's 7th District, CBS News projected. 

Mackenzie flipped the district in 2024, beating the Democratic incumbent by one point. 

Democrats have won enough seats to take control of the House of Representatives, CBS News projects, effectively halting President Trump's legislative agenda for his last two years in office.

Mr. Trump was on track for the lowest approval rating for a president in a midterm election, early exit polls showed at 38%. About 60% of voters said the president was a factor in their vote for the House. 

Economic discontent over the cost of living helped Democrats flip control of the House after four years of a razor-thin Republican majority that ceded large parts of its legislative authority to the Trump administration.

The total extent of Democrat's majority is unclear as votes in several competitive races continue to be counted.

Read more here.

Democratic Rep. Josh Riley won reelection in New York's 19th District, defeating Republican Peter Oberacker, CBS News projected. 

Democrat Zach Dembo won Kentucky's 6th District race against Republican Ralph Alvarado, CBS News projects. 

The seat is currently held by GOP Rep. Andy Barr, who won his Senate race. 

The race was not expected to be competitive, but election forecasters moved the race toward Democrats in recent weeks. 

GOP Rep. Gabe Evans lost his reelection bid against Democrat Manny Rutinel in Colorado's 8th District, CBS News projected. 

The seat was a top target for Democrats. 

Evans had flipped the district red in 2024. 

Polls are now closed in Montana, Nevada and Utah. The most competitive races in those states are:

• Montana's 1st District: Republican Aaron Flint and Democrat Sam Forstag are competing for retiring GOP Rep. Ryan Zinke's seat. 
• Nevada's 2nd District: Republican David Flippo and Democrat Teresa Benitez-Thompson are seeking to replace retiring GOP Rep. Mark Amodei. 

Democrat Stefany Shaheen won her race in New Hampshire's 1st District, CBS News projected. 

Shaheen, a former Portsmouth city councilor, is the daughter of retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. 

The seat is currently held by Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas, who won his race for Senate. 

Democrats have held the Southeastern New Hampshire seat since 2017, but it was highly competitive in the decade before, switching parties five times since the 2006 election.

The seat was a top target for Republicans. 

Democrat Rebecca Bennett ousted GOP Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, CBS News projected. 

The two-term congressman missed months of votes earlier this year as he was secretly being treated for depression. Kean did not disclose the diagnosis or his hospitalization until he returned to Washington in late June — nearly four months after his absence became apparent. 

Read more here. 

CBS News rates GOP Rep. Richard Hudson's race in North Carolina's 9th District as likely Democrat. Going into the midterms, the seat was rated by Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball as likely Republican.

Hudson chairs the House GOP's campaign arm, the National Republican Congressional Committee. He's facing Democratic candidate Richard Ojeda. 

As expected, several democratic socialists won their races in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, CBS News projected. 

Claire Valdez won in New York's 7th District and will replace Democratic Rep. Nydia Velázquez, who is also retiring. 

Darializa Avila Chevalier won in New York's 13th District. She beat Democratic Rep. Adriano Espaillat, the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, in a huge primary upset this summer. 

Chris Rabb won in Pennsylvania's 3rd District, and will replace retiring Democratic Rep. Dwight Evans. 

Adam Hamawy won in New Jersey's 12th District and will replace retiring Democratic Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman. 

Melat Kiros won in Colorado's 1st District, making history as the first Gen Z woman elected to Congress. 

Democrat Jamie Ager flipped control of North Carolina's 11th Congressional District, CBS News projected, marking the first time a Democrat has won the seat since 2010.

CBS News rates Kentucky's 6th District as likely Democratic. The seat is currently held by GOP Rep. Andy Barr, who is running for Senate and won reelection by 26 points in 2024. 

Republican Ralph Alvarado is competing against Democrat Zach Dembo for the open seat.

As of 9 p.m., CBS News rates Texas' redrawn 32nd District as lean Democratic. Texas Republicans dramatically shifted the district's boundaries to favor the GOP — turning the once solidly Democratic seat into a district where only 41% of the electorate backed Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024.

Democratic candidate Dan Barrios is currently leading Republican candidate Jace Yarbrough.

As of 9 p.m. Eastern, polls have closed in a majority of states. Polls have also closed in Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming. 

Nearly 20 races in those states are important to determining which party will control the House. They are: 

• Arizona's 1st District: Republican Jay Feely and Amish Shah are running to replace GOP Rep. David Schweikert, who ran unsuccessfully for governor. 
• Arizona's 6th District: Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani is facing Democrat JoAnna Mendoza. 
• Colorado's 5th District: GOP Rep. Jeff Crank is defending his seat against Democrat Jessica Killin. 
• Colorado's 8th District: GOP Rep. Gabe Evans is up against Democrat Manny Rutinel. 
• Iowa's 1st District: It's the third consecutive rematch between GOP Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Democrat Christina Bohannan.  
• Iowa's 2nd District: Republican Joe Mitchell and Democrat Lindsay James are competing to replace GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson, who is running for Senate. 
• Iowa's 3rd District: GOP Rep. Zach Nunn is defending the seat against Democrat Sarah Trone Garriott. 
• Michigan's 4th District: GOP Rep. Bill Huizenga is facing Sean McCann. 
• Michigan's 7th District: Republican Rep. Tom Barrett is defending the seat against Democrat William Lawrence. 
• Michigan's 10th District: Republican Michael Bouchard and Christina Hines are vying to represent GOP Rep. John James' district. James is running for Michigan governor. 
• Nebraska's 2nd District: Republican Brinker Harding is trying to keep retiring Rep. Don Bacon's seat in GOP hands. He's facing Democrat Denise Powell. 
• New Mexico's 2nd District: Republican Greg Cunningham is trying to unseat Democratic Rep. Gabe Vasquez. 
• New York's 17th District: GOP Rep. Mike Lawler is defending his seat against Democrat Cait Conley. 
• Texas' 15th District: Rep. Monica De La Cruz is running for reelection against Democrat Bobby Pulido. 
• Texas' 23rd District: Republican Brandon Herrera and Democrat Katy Padilla Stout are competing for the open seat. 
• Texas' 34th District: Republican Eric Flores is challenging Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez. 
• Texas' 35th District: Republican Carlos De La Cruz and Democrat Johnny Garcia are vying for the open seat. 
• Wisconsin's 3rd District: GOP Rep. Derrick Van Orden and Democrat Rebecca Cooke are in a rematch. 

Two Florida Democrats whose districts were made more favorable to Republicans survived redistricting, CBS News projected. 

Rep. Kathy Castor, who has been in Congress since 2007, won reelection in the 14th District. And Rep. Jared Moskowitz, who was first elected in 2022 and beat a democratic socialist in the primary, won the race in the 25th District. 

The 22nd District was also redrawn to favor the GOP, but Democratic candidate Pia Dandiya is projected to win.

There are several races we're watching in Florida. As of 8 p.m., here's where they stand.

These three Republican-held districts are competitive:

• Florida's 7th District: CBS News rates the race as a toss-up between Democrat Bale Dalton and Republican Ryan Elijah. 
• Florida's 13th District: CBS News rates the race as a toss-up between GOP incumbent Rep. Anna Paulina Luna and Democrat Leela Gray. 
• Florida's 27th District: CBS News rates the race as a toss-up between GOP Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar and Democrat Eliott Rodriguez. Salazar made news earlier this year after the Miami-area lawmaker broke with President Trump on immigration. 

These four Democratic districts were redrawn by state lawmakers to make them more GOP-leaning:

• Florida's 9th District: CBS News rates the race as a toss-up between Democratic Rep. Darren Soto and Republican Dan Green. 
• Florida's 14th District: CBS News rates the race as lean Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor. 
• Florida's 22nd District: CBS News rates the race as likely Democratic candidate Pia Dandiya. 
• Florida's 25th District: CBS News rates the race as likely Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz. 

At 8 p.m. Eastern, polls closed in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Tennessee. 

The races we're watching in those states include: 

• Alabama's 2nd District: Republican Rhett Marques is seeking to defeat Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures, whose seat was redistricted. 
• Florida's 7th District: Republican Ryan Elijah and Democrat Bale Dalton are competing to replace GOP Rep. Cory Mills. 
• Florida's 9th District: Republican Dan Green is trying to unseat Democratic Rep. Darren Soto. 

• Florida's 14th District: Republican Mike Beltran is challenging Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor. 
• Florida's 22nd District: Republican Casey Askar and Democrat Pia Dandiya are competing for the open seat. 
• Florida's 25th District: Republican Scott Singer is challenging Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz. 
• Florida's 27th District: GOP Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar is facing a challenge from Democrat Eliott Rodriguez. 
• Maine's 2nd District: Republican Paul LePage and Democrat Matt Dunlap are vying to replace retiring Democratic Rep. Jared Golden. 
• New Hampshire's 1st District: Republican Anthony DiLorenzo and Democrat Stefany Shaheen are vying to replace Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas, who is running for Senate. 
• New Jersey's 7th District: GOP Rep. Tom Kean Jr. is in a tough race against Democrat Rebecca Bennett. 
• Pennsylvania's 1st District: Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick is running for reelection against Democrat Bob Harvie. 
• Pennsylvania's 7th District: GOP Rep. Ryan Mackenzie and Democrat Bob Brooks are competing for the seat. 
• Pennsylvania's 8th District: GOP Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr. is facing Democrat Paige Cognetti. 
• Pennsylvania's 10th District: Republican Rep. Scott Perry is in a rematch with Democrat Janelle Stelson. 

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York could make history as the first Black speaker if Democrats retake the majority. 

In January 2023, Jeffries succeeded former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as the top Democrat in the lower chamber, becoming the first Black lawmaker to lead a party in Congress. His election to minority leader also made him the first House Democratic leader to be born after the end of World War II. 

Jeffries was first elected to Congress in 2012. 

CBS News rates the race between incumbent Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz and Democratic candidate J.D. Ford in Indiana's 5th District as a toss-up. 

Spartz won reelection by just over 18 points four years ago.

CBS News rates the race between incumbent Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz and Democratic candidate J.D. Ford in Indiana's 5th District as a toss-up. 

Spartz won reelection by just over 18 points four years ago.

At 7:30 p.m. Eastern, polls are now closed in North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia. The most competitive races in those states are:

• North Carolina 1st District: The race is a rematch between Republican Laurie Buckhout and Democratic Rep. Don Davis. 
• North Carolina's 11th District: Republican Jennifer Balkcom and Democrat Jamie Ager are competing to fill GOP Rep. Chuck Edwards seat. 
• Ohio's 1st District: Republican Eric Conroy is challenging Democratic Rep. Greg Landsman. 
• Ohio's 7th District: Embattled GOP Rep. Max Miller is facing Democrat Brian Poindexter. 
• Ohio's 9th District: Republican Derek Merrin is trying again to unseat longtime Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters Tuesday night that Democrats "are on the verge" of taking back control of the House, but added that they "take nothing for granted." 

"We're going to continue to run through the finish line," he told reporters in Washington, D.C. "The early vote numbers were strong, and today's vote numbers all across the country are strong in blue states, in swing states and in red states." 

Jeffries declined to predict how many seats Democrats could win, saying "we're working hard to get to 218, and then to win as many seats as we can on top of that." 

Asked whether he would reach out to President Trump if Democrats win the majority, Jeffries said, "we'll cross that bridge when we get to it." 

Jeffries said the first person he will call after the election is "my mother." 

As of 7 p.m. Eastern, polls have closed in Kentucky, Indiana, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia and Vermont. 

The most competitive House races in those states include: 

• Kentucky's 6th District: Republican Ralph Alvarado is facing Democrat Zach Dembo for the open seat currently held by GOP Rep. Andy Barr, who is running for Senate. 
• South Carolina's 1st District: Republican Jenny Honeycutt is running against Democrat Nancy Lacore for the open seat currently held by GOP Rep. Nancy Mace, who unsuccessfully ran for governor. 
• Virginia's 1st District: GOP Rep. Rob Wittman is up against Democrat Shannon Taylor. 
• Virginia's 2nd District: GOP Rep. Jen Kiggans is facing former Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria in a rematch. 

Here's where control of the House stands:

House Speaker Mike Johnson navigated a razor-thin majority during the 119th Congress, two years that were marred by government shutdowns, misconduct scandals and GOP infighting that often stalled the party's agenda. 

The president's shifting demands made Johnson's job more complicated and the Louisiana Republican had to lean into Mr. Trump to get holdouts on board for important votes. 

The defiance on a number of politically sensitive issues ranging from the release of materials related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, reining in Mr. Trump on Iran and a vote to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth coincided with Johnson sending members on recess days, sometimes weeks, early. Lawmakers were last in Washington for votes on Sept. 16, leaving town more than six weeks before Election Day. 

Republicans in Congress have also ceded their powers to the White House on tariffs, declaring war and government funding decisions. 

President Trump is on track for the lowest approval rating for a president in a midterm election, according to early exit polls. Currently at 38%, it's lower than it was during Mr. Trump's first term, and lower than it was for George W. Bush in 2006 when his party lost both houses of Congress.

Midterm elections have often been a referendum on the sitting president, and this one is no exception. Roughly six in 10 say Mr. Trump is a factor in their vote for the House.

This is being driven largely by voters backing Democrats, who are overwhelmingly motivated by opposition to Mr. Trump.

But for those backing Republicans, it's less about the president. Back in 2018, most Republican voters said their vote was to support Mr. Trump. That figure is lower today.

Read more from the exit polls here.

Officials in New York's Westchester County, which includes part of the competitive 17th District, reported issues with ballot scanners Tuesday morning. 

GOP Rep. Mike Lawler is in a tough race against Democratic candidate Cait Conley in the district. 

The New York State Board of Elections said the problems with the machines were the result of a late programming change in one municipality. 

"A change affecting a contest in one municipality required updated election programming, which was subsequently tested and deployed for early voting and for Election Day machines in that municipality," the board said in a statement. "However, Election Day machines elsewhere in the county continued to use the original programming and therefore could not recognize and accept the ballots being used for Election Day." 

"In the meantime, voting continues through established emergency ballot procedures," the board said. "Completed ballots are securely maintained under bipartisan oversight and will be scanned and counted in accordance with established procedures." 

The board added that "every valid vote will be counted." 

On Tuesday afternoon, Lawler told reporters that Democrats and Republicans were working together to resolve the issue. 

"We've been working in a bipartisan way, Republicans and Democrats, both campaigns, both state parties, both national committees, to come to a solution working with the Westchester County Board of Elections and the State Board of Elections," he said. 

Both Lawler and Conley urged voters to stay in line and vote. 

Under the 2026 boundaries, President Trump won 22 districts in 2024 that are currently represented by Democrats. They are: 

• Alabama's 2nd District, represented by Rep. Shomari Figures 
• Florida's 9th District, represented by Rep. Darren Soto 
• Florida's 14th District, represented by Rep. Kathy Castor 
• Florida's 22nd District, represented by Rep. Lois Frankel 
• Florida's 25th District, represented by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz 
• Louisiana's 6th District, represented by Rep. Cleo Fields 
• Maine's 2nd District, represented by Rep. Jared Golden 
• Michigan's 8th District, represented by Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet 
• Nevada's 3rd District, represented by Rep. Susie Lee 
• New Jersey's 9th District, represented by Rep. Nellie Pou 
• New Mexico's 2nd District, represented by Rep. Gabe Vasquez 
• New York's 3rd District, represented by Rep. Tom Suozzi 
• North Carolina's 1st District, represented by Rep. Don Davis 
• Ohio's 1st District, represented by Rep. Greg Landsman 
• Ohio's 9th District, represented by Rep. Marcy Kaptur 
• Tennessee's 9th District, represented by Rep. Steve Cohen 
• Texas' 9th District, represented by Rep. Al Green 
• Texas' 28th District, represented by Rep. Henry Cuellar 
• Texas' 32nd District, represented by Rep. Julie Johnson 
• Texas' 34th District, represented by Rep. Vicente Gonzalez  
• Texas' 35th District, represented by Rep. Greg Casar 
• Washington's 3rd District, represented by Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez 

Under the old 2024 boundaries — before several states redrew their congressional maps — there were 13 ticket-splitting districts. From the above list, they included: Maine's 2nd District, Michigan's 8th District, Ohio's 9th District, Nevada's 3rd District, New Jersey's 9th District, New Mexico's 2nd District, New York's 3rd District, North Carolina's 1st District, Texas' 28th District and Washington's 3rd District. The president also won California's 9th District, represented by Rep. Josh Harder, and California's 13th District, represented by Rep. Adam Gray. 

Under the 2026 boundaries, then-Vice President Kamala Harris won eight GOP-held districts. They are: 

• California's 1st District, represented by Rep. James Gallagher 
• California's 3rd District, represented by Rep. Kevin Kiley (a Republican-turned-independent who still caucuses with Republicans) 
• California's 41st District, represented by Rep. Ken Calvert 
• California's 48th District, represented by Darrell Issa 
• Nebraska's 2nd District, represented by Rep. Don Bacon 
• New York's 17th District, represented by Rep. Mike Lawler 
• Pennsylvania's 1st District, represented by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick
• Utah's 1st District, represented by Rep. Blake Moore 

Under the old 2024 boundaries, there were just three Republicans who won in districts carried by the Democratic presidential nominee — Bacon, Fitzpatrick and Lawler. 

"My bird's-eye view and what I've observed myself going around the country — I've been in more swing districts in more blue states than anybody in the whole cycle by far, OK — the polls are wrong right now," the Louisiana Republican said Monday while campaigning with vulnerable incumbent Rep. Jen Kiggans in Virginia's 2nd Congressional District. "It feels like 2024 to me when we swept the table and we won the White House, the Senate and the House. That's what's going on. The polls are wrong." 

Johnson said the polls are underestimating support for Republican candidates because "nobody wants to pick up the phone and talk to a pollster." 

Midterm elections are typically rough for the sitting president's party — when members of Congress lack the allure of a presidential candidate atop the ballot to galvanize voter turnout. Members of the president's party also have to reckon with their leader's sinking approval ratings and the subsequent voter backlash. 

Since 1934, there have been just three instances in which the sitting president's party has gained House seats in non-presidential election years, according to the American Presidency Project. 

The last time was in 2002, when President George W. Bush had a strong approval rating after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and Republicans added eight seats to their majority. Democrats gained four seats in 1998 when Bill Clinton was in office, though Republicans still retained the majority. Democrats added nine seats to their majority in 1934 during Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency. 

Of the 435 House seats on the ballot, more than 40 are considered competitive. CBS News considers 17 of those races toss-ups, with 13 held by Republicans and four by Democrats. 

Republicans have had control of the House since 2023, after four years with Democrats in the majority. Republicans took the reins during the final two years of President Joe Biden's four years in the White House and held on to power for the first half of President Trump's second term. 

Republicans currently have 219 seats, which includes one independent who caucuses with the party. Democrats have 214. There are two vacancies that were not filled after the resignations earlier this year of Reps. Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican, and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Florida Democrat. 

Democrats need a net gain of three seats to win back control of the lower chamber. Republicans in seven states tried to blunt their effort with mid-decade redistricting that sought to give them an advantage in 15 additional districts by making them more favorable to the GOP. Democrats countered the move by redrawing congressional districts in California, which made five seats less favorable to Republicans.