(#5780) Democrats are poised to win 215 House seats

      With the 45th congressional district race here in California being called for democrat Derek Tran, The last remaining one to be called is California's 13th congressional district. Where democrat Adam Gray is currently slightly ahead by nearly 200 votes. With litle counting left to do the most likely scenario is that Gray will win the 13th and become democrats 215 House seat. The majority party requires 218 seats to have a slim one seat lead and be able to control the House. There are 3 seats held by republicans that are not filled due to resignations to join the incoming administration. Those 3 special elections will take place months from now. So republicans only have 217 seats at the moment.
     The republicans, to pass legislation in the House for the new administration, can only have one defection from their ranks if no democrat joins in voting for their legislation. If two republicans refuse to join them under the same circumstance, then their legislation will fail. Another very unlikely scenario is if the 3 outstanding congressional districts each elect a democrat, then the House would revert back to democratic party control. All of this to say that there is no easy way forward with the House almost split evenly for much of any substantive or painfully detrimental legislation to become law. Which in the era of trump is a good thing.
     If however the republican party holds onto their 3 special election seats they will then have 220 seats and could lose two overall votes in their ranks and still pass legislation regardless if every democrat votes against whatever legislation is being offered. Still, whether losing 2 or 3 votes to deny republican legislation, overall is still a razor thin margin that requires skilled political gamesmanship to navigate. The next two years are going to be momentous in how our government operates and how it survives the threats to democracy trump has voiced. Winning that 215th seat if the trend remains is critical to keeping the republicans off balance in their effort to burn down the working middle poor class.