YourNNY Your Source for News & Sports in Northern New York

Balance of Power: How the midterms will impact control of the House

Of all the major storylines on Tuesday evening, this is one that few Democrats dispute: It is unlikely the party will control the legislative chamber come January.Given Republicans only need a net gain of five seats to take the majority, the odds of the GOP taking back the House are high. The party is on offense in House races across the country, but most notably in districts President Joe Biden won handily just two years ago, including once seemingly solid blue districts in Rhode Island, New York and Oregon. All 435 seats in the House are being decided. If Republican newcomers help the party seize control of the House, and possibly the Senate, the outcome will pose new challenges for Congress’ ability to govern.Here’s a look at how races are shaping up around the country: PGlmcmFtZSBjbGFzcz0iYXAtZW1iZWQiIHRpdGxlPSJMaXZlIGVsZWN0aW9uIHJlc3VsdHMgdmlhIHRoZSBBc3NvY2lhdGVkIFByZXNzIiBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vaW50ZXJhY3RpdmVzLmFwLm9yZy9lbGVjdGlvbi1yZXN1bHRzL2N1c3RvbWVycy9sYXlvdXRzL29yZ2FuaXphdGlvbi1sYXlvdXRzL3B1Ymxpc2hlZC82NjU5Ny84MjY1Lmh0bWwiIHdpZHRoPSIxMDAlIiBmcmFtZWJvcmRlcj0iMCIgc2Nyb2xsaW5nPSJubyIgbWFyZ2luaGVpZ2h0PSIwIj48L2lmcmFtZT48c2NyaXB0IGRlZmVyIHNyYz0iaHR0cHM6Ly9pbnRlcmFjdGl2ZXMuYXAub3JnL2VsZWN0aW9uLXJlc3VsdHMvYXNzZXRzL21pY3Jvc2l0ZS9yZXNpemVDbGllbnQuanMiPjwvc2NyaXB0Pg== Polls have closed in Virginia, where two suburban House races will offer an early indication of how vulnerable Democrats are. Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria is facing a challenge from Republican Jen Kiggans in a district that includes Virginia Beach and some of the exurbs of Norfolk. Another Democrat elected in the 2018 blue wave, Rep. Abigail Spanberger is defending her seat, in a district that became bluer in redistricting, against Republican Yesli Vega.In a rare instance of two sitting House members facing off against each other, due to redistricting, Rep. Neal Dunn defeated Rep. Al Lawson to represent Florida’s 2nd Congressional District.Republicans have already promised to launch investigations into the administration and cripple its agenda if they win the House majority, and many of their nominees have echoed former President Donald Trump’s election falsehoods, leading to Biden’s repeated warnings about threats to democracy.The Associated Press and CNN contributed to this story.

Of all the major storylines on Tuesday evening, this is one that few Democrats dispute: It is unlikely the party will control the legislative chamber come January.

Given Republicans only need a net gain of five seats to take the majority, the odds of the GOP taking back the House are high. The party is on offense in House races across the country, but most notably in districts President Joe Biden won handily just two years ago, including once seemingly solid blue districts in Rhode Island, New York and Oregon.

All 435 seats in the House are being decided. If Republican newcomers help the party seize control of the House, and possibly the Senate, the outcome will pose new challenges for Congress’ ability to govern.

Here’s a look at how races are shaping up around the country:

Polls have closed in Virginia, where two suburban House races will offer an early indication of how vulnerable Democrats are. Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria is facing a challenge from Republican Jen Kiggans in a district that includes Virginia Beach and some of the exurbs of Norfolk. Another Democrat elected in the 2018 blue wave, Rep. Abigail Spanberger is defending her seat, in a district that became bluer in redistricting, against Republican Yesli Vega.

In a rare instance of two sitting House members facing off against each other, due to redistricting, Rep. Neal Dunn defeated Rep. Al Lawson to represent Florida’s 2nd Congressional District.

Republicans have already promised to launch investigations into the administration and cripple its agenda if they win the House majority, and many of their nominees have echoed former President Donald Trump’s election falsehoods, leading to Biden’s repeated warnings about threats to democracy.

The Associated Press and CNN contributed to this story.