As the results of not just the presidential election but also congressional races roll in, it looks as if the Republican party will keep control of the House of Representatives. The AP reports that although not all votes are in, Republicans are the projected winners of enough states for this to be the case.
The result isn’t unexpected. The Democrats had to clear the significant hurdle of the Republican party’s 60-seat majority margin. Leading up to election day, it looked increasingly unlikely the Democrats would take back the 30 seats necessary to gain a majority. The AP reports that Republicans won at least 218 seats by early Wednesday, November 9, to maintain control.
Republicans have had a majority in the House since 2011. In the current 114th Congress, there are 246 Republican representatives to 186 Democrats (the House has three vacancies due to two resignations and a death). A party needs a majority of 218 of the 435 seats to have control of the house.
The Republican victory means that the Speaker of the House gavel stays in the hands of Wisconsin Republican Paul Ryan. Ryan took office as Speaker in 2015, after the John Boehner's resignation.
The results of Senate races are still coming in, leaving the Democrats with hope that they can take back at least one chamber of Congress.
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