Friday’s new race calls put Democrats on track for a large House majority, with estimates placing their final total near or above the 257 seats they held in 2009.
The latest race calls clarified the size of the Democrats’ midterm gains. Several races remained unresolved, and estimates differed. NBC estimated Democrats could win 259 seats, while CBS put the likely total at about 256.
By Friday afternoon, Democrats had won 253 seats and Republicans had won 162, with 20 races still uncalled. The Associated Press called four more races on Friday morning, three of them for Republicans. Democrats began the election with 214 seats.
They have won more than 40 districts previously held by Republicans, including seats in battlegrounds and places that had strongly favored Republicans. A Democratic total near 260 would give the party its largest House delegation since 1991. It would also exceed the 257 seats the party won after the 2008 election.
Democrats needed to win only three more seats than they lost to secure control of the House. Their gains have been much larger than the three seats they needed. Remaining vote counts mean the final size of their majority is uncertain.
Democrats are set to take control when the new Congress meets in January. That will give them control over the House agenda and more power to examine President Donald Trump’s administration.