There have only been three federal elections in the last 100 years decided by fewer than 20 votes, according to FiveThirtyEight's Nathaniel Rakich. But in an insult to injury for House Democrats, who have already lost a dozen incumbents to the GOP, Democrats are currently trailing by a scant six votes in Iowa's 2nd CD and 12 votes in New York's 22nd CD as both races head for lengthy legal fights.
The margins are infinitesimal but could make a huge difference in how the House operates. These two races will likely decide whether Democrats have a 222 or 224 seat majority and whether Speaker Nancy Pelosi can afford four, five or six defections and still pass legislation. There's a third race yet to be called in California's 25th CD, but GOP Rep. Mike Garcia holds a 405 vote lead that seems likely to hold.
In southeastern Iowa's open 2nd CD, Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks led Democrat Rita Hart by 47 votes before this past week's recount, 196,862 to 196,815. But an absentee ballot discrepancy discovered in Scott County (Davenport) netted Hart
Subscribe Today
Our subscribers have first access to individual race pages for each House, Senate and Governors race, which will include race ratings (each race is rated on a seven-point scale) and a narrative analysis pertaining to that race.