The political landscape of Washington has shifted as the Democratic Party successfully regained control of the United States House of Representatives in Tuesday's midterm elections, according to Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera reported that all 435 seats in the lower chamber were on the ballot, with Democrats needing to gain five seats to flip the chamber from Republican control.
Al Jazeera reported that outgoing Republican Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana has held the post since 2023, while the outgoing 119th Congress currently counts 218 Republicans, 214 Democrats, one independent, and two vacancies. Following the party's success, Al Jazeera reported that Democratic leader in the chamber Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York will likely be selected as speaker of the House, making him the third person in line for the US presidency and the first Black person to serve in the role.
Background
Al Jazeera reported that Republicans had held a majority in the House since the 2022 midterms during the presidency of Democrat Joe Biden. Over the last two years, Al Jazeera noted that President Donald Trump's Republican Party held a political trifecta in Washington, DC, controlling the presidency and both chambers of Congress. Democrats were widely projected to regain control of the House by leveraging backlash to the second administration of President Donald Trump, which Al Jazeera stated saw record-low approval ratings in the weeks leading up to the midterms.
Why it matters
As reported by Al Jazeera, a term in the House lasts two years compared to six for the Senate. The shift in congressional control alters the political balance in Washington, DC, where the ruling party previously held a trifecta across the presidency and both chambers of Congress.
What's next
Al Jazeera reported that the 120th Congress is slated to be sworn in on January 3, 2027.