Democrats Poised for Strong Majority as Some House, Senate Races Remain Uncalled
Final results are still pending in several U.S. House and Senate contests, with Alaska and Mississippi among the Senate races awaiting calls.
At a glance
- Democrats are poised for a strong majority in the next Congress, but final totals are still being determined.
- Two Senate races remain uncalled: Alaska, which uses ranked choice voting, and Mississippi, where affidavit ballots are still being counted.
- In some California races, two candidates from the same party are competing, so party control of those seats is already known.
Several U.S. House and Senate races remain uncalled as ballots continue to be counted, with Democrats poised for a strong majority in the next Congress, according to NPR News.
Final totals are still being determined, and multiple contests are outstanding. In some California races, two candidates from the same party are competing, so the party that will hold the seat is already clear even though the winner is not. Other races are too close to call, or too few ballots have been counted to know which candidate will win. NPR notes that in many parts of the country, it takes time to count votes, and that this is normal and expected.
Senate races outstanding
Two Senate races are waiting to be called: Alaska and Mississippi.
Alaska uses ranked choice voting. No candidate in the four-person race reached a 50% majority in the initial count, so the contest may move to another round of counting later this month.
Mississippi uses a more traditional electoral system. A large number of provisional ballots, called affidavit ballots in the state, are taking time to count. Less than 2,000 votes separate the top two candidates in that race.
House races pending
The Associated Press is tracking the House races that have not been called, according to NPR. Some California contests feature two candidates from the same party, while others remain too close to call or lack enough counted ballots to determine a winner.
The outstanding races do not indicate a problem with the process, according to NPR. Vote counting in many places simply takes time, and final results in the remaining races are still pending.
Source: NPR News.
Questions and answers
- Which House and Senate races have not been called yet?
- NPR reports that several House races remain outstanding, while two Senate races are uncalled: Alaska and Mississippi. Some California contests with two same-party candidates are also awaiting winners.
- Why might Alaska's Senate race go to another round of counting?
- Alaska uses ranked choice voting, and no candidate in the four-person race reached a 50% majority in the initial count. Another round of counting could follow later this month.
- Why is Mississippi's Senate race taking longer to count?
- Mississippi uses a more traditional electoral system, but many provisional ballots — called affidavit ballots in the state — are taking time to count. Less than 2,000 votes separate the top two candidates.
