The Republican Party has won a narrow majority in the 2022 elections to the U.S. House of Representatives.
On November 16, 2022, the Associated Press reported that Republicans had won at least 218 seats in the 435-seat House of Representatives. As of November 17, 2022, The New York Times reported that Republicans had won 218 seats and Democrats had won 211; elections in six House districts (AK-at large, CA-3, CA-13, CA-22, CA-47, and CO-3) remained too close to call. Republican candidates lead in four of the six districts where votes are still being counted.
Despite losing their House majority, the Democrats exceeded expectations in this year’s elections. Some pundits expected to see a “red wave” of Republican victories on Election Day. In congressional elections occurring two years after a new president takes office, the party in power in the White House typically loses seats. Furthermore, President Joe Biden’s approval ratings hover around 41%, and low presidential approval ratings can drag down a political party’s congressional candidates. The nation’s struggles with inflation were also expected to boost Republicans on Election Day. However, it appears that voter support for abortion was one factor that helped the Democrats avoid bigger losses.
Surprisingly, the House election results in New York gave Republicans a significant lift nationwide. Republicans won 11 of 26 House races in the Empire State, with Brandon Williams defeating Democrat Francis Conole in New York’s 22nd congressional district to give the GOP its 11th victory. This showing marked a three-seat gain for New York Republicans.