Democrats are poised to hold a strong majority in the upcoming Congress, but the final composition of both chambers remains unsettled as of Thursday, November 5, 2026, with a set of House races and two Senate contests still awaiting calls from The Associated Press.
In the House, several districts remain outstanding for different reasons. A few California races feature two candidates from the same party, meaning the seat's partisan affiliation is already settled even though the winner is not. Other contests are either too close to call or have not yet produced enough counted ballots to determine which candidate will prevail.
Election administrators caution that extended counting periods are a normal and expected part of the process in many parts of the country, not evidence of a problem. The outstanding House races are being tracked by The Associated Press, which calls contests based on vote counts and other factors.
The Senate picture is narrower, with only Alaska and Mississippi left to be decided. Alaska conducts its elections under ranked choice voting, and because none of the four candidates in that race has reached a 50% majority in the current count, the state may move into an additional round of tabulation later this month.
Mississippi, by contrast, relies on a more conventional electoral system, but a substantial volume of provisional ballots — known in the state as affidavit ballots — has slowed the tally. The margin between the top two candidates in that race stands at fewer than 2,000 votes.
For local readers, the practical effect is that the final partisan balance in Washington will not be known until these contests are resolved. The uncalled races carry particular weight because they determine how large the Democratic majority will be and how much leverage the party will have when the next Congress convenes.
NPR's Megan Pratz reported on the outstanding races, noting that the final numbers are still being determined. The AP continues to monitor the uncalled contests in both chambers.
