(NEXSTAR) – While the race between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris is taking up a sizable share of the spotlight, down-ballot races will influence who wields legislative power next year.
Control of Congress in the House of Representatives and Senate is hanging in the balance. Every single seat in the House is up for grabs in 2024 as are 34 Senate seats.
In the current Congress, Republicans have control of the House and Democrats hold the Senate – but each by an extremely slim margin. Just a few key races could swing control over to the other party.
Who will win the House of Representatives?
Polls haven’t closed just yet, but as races around the country are called, the interactive tracker below will show which party is gaining more seats:
Control of the House is expected to come down to the wire. Fourteen incumbent Republicans are considered to be in “toss-up” races, The Hill reported about a week out from Election Day. Eleven House Democrats find themselves in the same position.
A lot of attention is also on a handful of completely open seats created by redistricting and retirements.
Who will win the Senate?
As races around the country are called, the interactive tracker below will show which party is gaining more seats:
The Senate map this year looks favorable to Republicans, analysts say. Republicans only need to pick up two seats to capture a surefire majority, and one of those — West Virginia — is all but in the bag for the GOP.
For Democrats, the brutal math of this year’s election cycle is forcing them to defend eight seats in tough states. Losses by established incumbents could amount to an extinction-level event for Democrats who represent reliably Republican states.
Both parties have dumped a lot of money into just a handful of Senate races in attempts to gain control of the body. In three races alone — Ohio, Pennsylvania and Montana — more than $1 billion is projected to be spent by Nov. 5.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Read: Read More