The Midterm The Associated Press has called the House for the Democrats, on the night of November 3. That call projects which party will organize the chamber in January; it does not mean every district is settled. Several remain too close to call and will be counted for days.
Editor's note: This page was last updated November 6, 2026. Race calls are attributed to the Associated Press with the time of the call. Certified results come from state election offices, which are the final authority.
The math
| Item | Number |
|---|---|
| House seats | 435 |
| Seats needed for a majority | 218 |
| Lineup before the election | Republicans 218, Democrats 214, one independent caucusing with Republicans, two vacancies |
| Democratic net gain needed | About three, depending on how vacancies are filled |
The House is decided district by district. A party can win the national House vote and still lose the chamber, because margins are distributed unevenly across districts.
Districts we track
We cover one House race in detail and track the competitive map through our hub. This table records the status of the calls we can source.
| District | Race page | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Chamber control | This page | Called for Democrats — AP, night of Nov. 3 |
| Texas 15th | De La Cruz and the Democratic nominee | Not yet called |
| Competitive districts nationwide | House hub | Individual district calls not recorded here |
Status changes only when the Associated Press calls a district or the chamber. A lead in reported votes is not a status change.
What the majority call means
A call of the chamber is a projection that one party will hold at least 218 seats once every district reports. It is made district by district: the Associated Press waits until the outstanding ballots in enough seats cannot reverse the count.
Three things follow from it:
- The count continues. Districts inside a recount margin, or in states that take days to process mail ballots, are still being tallied. A call of the chamber does not end those counts.
- Certification comes later. County canvasses and state certification decide the official result, which our certification calendar explains.
- The majority's size matters. A narrow majority gives individual members more leverage over the speaker and the agenda; a wider one gives leadership more room. Our explainer on who could be speaker in 2027 covers the leadership question.
Why the House count is slower
- Volume. Four hundred and thirty-five separate counts, each run by a county or state office with its own rules.
- Mail ballots. Some states process mail ballots only after Election Day, so the last tranche can arrive days later. California, which mails a ballot to every registered voter, is usually the slowest large state to finish.
- Provisional ballots. Ballots cast by voters whose eligibility was questioned are reviewed afterward and added to the totals.
- Close districts. A few hundred votes can decide a seat, and a narrow margin can trigger a recount under state law.
- Redistricting. New lines in several states changed which voters are in which district, which makes historical comparisons unreliable in those areas.
None of this is evidence of a problem. Our uncalled races guide explains what "too early to call" means in practice.
What control changes
The majority party sets the House agenda, chairs every committee, and decides which bills reach the floor. A majority of one seat is enough to organize the chamber; the size of the majority decides how much dissent a speaker can absorb. Our explainer on who could be speaker in 2027 covers the leadership question.
Following the results
- The live results page records calls as they are confirmed.
- The Senate results page tracks the other chamber, and the governor results page covers the 36 state races.
- The certification calendar explains what happens after the count.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the 2026 House results be known?
The chamber was called on election night, but individual districts are still being counted. Districts inside a recount margin, or in states that process mail ballots slowly, can take days or weeks.
How many seats do Democrats need to win the House?
About three, based on the 218–214 lineup with one independent caucusing with Republicans and two vacancies. The number can shift if vacancies are filled.
Why does control not follow the popular vote?
Seats are won district by district, and the size of each win does not matter. A party can win more total votes and still win fewer seats.
Can a single seat decide the majority?
Yes. A one-seat majority still organizes the chamber, and several recent Congresses have had majorities that narrow.
Do you call House races yourself?
No. We record calls made by the Associated Press, with the time, and explain the count. We do not project winners.
Sources
- Associated Press — House race calls and call times. Accessed November 6, 2026.
- 270toWin: 2026 House elections — district results and ratings. Accessed November 6, 2026.
- National Conference of State Legislatures — redistricting, recount, and certification rules. Accessed November 6, 2026.
- Texas Secretary of State — example of an official state results source. Accessed November 6, 2026.
- U.S. Election Assistance Commission — federal election administration guidance. Accessed November 6, 2026.
Last updated November 6, 2026. Seat totals reflect the lineup at the start of the cycle; district status changes only when a call is sourced.