Congress
Latest called races extend Democrats’ deluge
Winners have been called in several remaining races as the historic blue wave continues to help Democrats make gains across the country.
In Michigan’s 4th District, Democratic state Sen. Sean McCann succeeded in his challenge to Republican Rep. Bill Huizenga. The eight-term GOP representative fought an uphill battle in the Kalamazoo-based district that he won by 12 points in 2024.
Democrat Christina Hines beat out Republican Michael Bouchard in a seat occupied by Rep. John James, the GOP gubernatorial candidate. James won the 10th District, which covers Detroit’s northern suburbs, by 6 points in 2024.
Democrat William Lawrence defeated freshman Republican Rep. Tom Barrett in Michigan’s 7th District. Barrett won the Lansing-based district, formerly held by Sen. Elissa Slotkin, by 4 points in 2024.
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a moderate Democrat known for breaking with the party on key issues, won reelection for a third term in Washington’s 3rd District. She fended off a challenge from Republican state Senate Minority Leader John Braun in a traditionally right-leaning district that went for President Donald Trump by 3 points in 2024.
In Texas’ 9th District, Democrat Leticia Gutierrez won over Republican Alex Mealer to succeed Democratic Rep. Al Green, who unsuccessfully ran for a different seat after state Republicans redrew maps last year in hopes of bolstering Republicans’ advantage there. The Houston-area district was a target of the redistricting plan, and the result was another blow to the state GOP as Democrats swept statewide races in the Lone Star State.
In California’s 13th District, Democrat Adam Gray, who won his seat by 187 votes in 2024, handily secured reelection over Republican Kevin Lincoln. The district shifted to be friendlier to Democrats following California Democrats’ redistricting push last year.
In California’s 22nd District, progressive Democrat Randy Villegas, who was among Sen. Bernie Sanders’ handful of House endorsements, ousted Republican Rep. David Valadao in another newly drawn district where 2 out of 3 voters are Hispanic.
In California’s 34th District, democratic socialist Angela Gonzales‑Torres beat her incumbent opponent, fellow Democrat Jimmy Gomez. Gomez is facing a House Ethics Committee investigation after a former congressional staffer accused him of sexual misconduct. He has denied any wrongdoing.
New York Democratic Reps. Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen both fended off their Republican challengers in the state’s 3rd and 4th districts, respectively.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer launched his run for the minority whip job Wednesday in a letter to fellow Republican lawmakers, telling them, “There is no sugarcoating the failure we just experienced.”
“We lost, and I take that loss personally, both as a competitor and a member of this team,” the Minnesotan wrote about Tuesday’s results, adding, “We are down, but we are not out.”
Emmer, the No. 3 GOP leader since 2022, would rise to the No. 2 position if successful. He is expected to face Rep. August Pfluger, chair of the influential Republican Policy Committee.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is running for speaker, he announced in a letter to colleagues Wednesday.
Democrats have long considered the New Yorker — who has served two terms as minority leader — the heir apparent to longtime leader Nancy Pelosi. If he wins the Jan. 3 floor vote, he would become the House’s first Black speaker.
“Against all odds, House Democrats were consistently successful in the minority,” Jeffries wrote in the letter. “We must now deliver the dramatic change the American people are demanding in the majority.”
Jeffries is well-positioned to lead House Democrats next term. Although an incoming crop of hard-left members has not committed to backing him for speaker, no alternative candidate has emerged, and the size of the Democratic majority appears likely to make a small group of holdouts irrelevant.
In his role leading the caucus, Jeffries has built a reputation as a measured, deliberative leader with strong allies in the Congressional Black Caucus and centrist New Democrat Coalition. His left flank has signaled that they will push him on key priorities like Medicare for All and Israel aid.
In the letter, Jeffries touted his efforts to oppose President Donald Trump’s policies and personnel and working to overcome the “Republican gerrymandering scheme” by helping to organize counterefforts in California and elsewhere.
Jeffries emphasized on the campaign trail that he wants to tackle cost-lowering policies that could win broad support in the caucus. In particular, he previewed early votes on ending the Trump administration’s tariffs, clawing back Republican-led Medicaid cuts and restoring expired Affordable Care Act tax credits.
He also vowed an aggressive oversight agenda that includes probes into Trump, his family, his administration and his corporate allies.
Chris Marquette contributed to this report.
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