Rep. Josh Harder, a Democrat from California, has been officially declared the winner in the 9th Congressional District, adding to the current Republican majority tally in the House, which stands at 219-212. Meanwhile, four races are still unresolved.

In California’s mail-in voting system, Harder’s Republican opponent, Kevin Lincoln, came up around 8,000 votes short. Harder secured victory with 51.8% of the vote, leading Lincoln by close to four percentage points.

The House majority now rests with Republicans, who hold at least 219 seats compared to the Democrats’ 212, with four races still undetermined. The GOP is currently leading in three of those remaining contests, including the Alaska at-large seat, which is held by Democrat Rep. Mary Peltola.

While Alaska operates under a ranked-choice voting system, introduced with the support of moderate Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, California still has three undecided seats in Districts 13, 21, and 45, with Republicans currently leading in Districts 13 and 45.

In District 13, Rep. John Duarte, a Republican, is on track to retain his seat, as is Democrat Rep. Jim Costa in District 21, with both races nearing a call due to steady leads.

In District 45, Republican Rep. Michelle Steel is in a tight race with only a 300-vote gap, suggesting a possible win for the Democrats if they can close the margin.

In Alaska, the ranked-choice voting process will reach a final decision on November 20, with Republican candidate Nick Begich currently at 49.1%. To avoid a second round, Begich needs to reach a 50% majority. If he falls short, the votes for eliminated candidates will be redistributed based on second and third preferences, determining whether Peltola or Begich will ultimately secure the seat.

Republicans have expressed discontent with the ranked-choice voting system, arguing it allows voters to effectively vote against a candidate rather than simply for one. They assert that this structure could enable Democrats in Alaska, traditionally a Republican stronghold, to consolidate support in a way that undermines a GOP front-runner through second and third preference votes.

{Matzav.com}