Election 2024

Eric Boehm | 11.6.2024 3:45 PM

A majority in the House of Representatives could provide Donald Trump with the necessary power to cement some of his most ambitious policy plans—or could serve as a critical check on his worst impulses.

The steady erosion of power from the legislative branch to the executive over several decades means the congressional majority is less important than it ought to be. Still, the one remaining piece of the 2024 election puzzle is a big prize, and as of Wednesday afternoon, it remains unsettled. The results in the few handfuls of yet-to-be-called House races will set the stage for next year's huge fiscal policy showdown—the most important piece of which is the expiration of some of the tax cuts passed during Trump's first term—and will similarly affect Trump's supposed plans to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget.

More on that in a moment. First, let's check the scoreboard. As of 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, The New York Times had called 200 House races for Republicans and 183 for Democrats, with 52 races still undetermined. The Associated Press, meanwhile, had Republicans ahead 201-186 and 48 still too close to call. Remember: it takes 218 seats to have a majority in the chamber.

On the heels of Trump's win and a GOP takeover of the U.S. Senate on Tuesday night, it might feel like a Republican majority in the House is a foregone conclusion. That's not necessarily true, as congressional races are sometimes decided by a........

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