**Republicans Secure Presidency and Senate, Await Final House Results**

Following a decisive victory that saw Republicans reclaim the White House and the Senate, attention has now shifted to the House of Representatives, where Democrats are pinning their hopes to counter President-elect Donald Trump's agenda. The outcome will determine whether Trump has the backing of a fully Republican-controlled Congress or will face a House controlled by Democrats, ready to serve as a check on his legislative plans and wield subpoena power for investigative purposes.

Several key races remain undecided, leaving the fate of the House majority uncertain. NBC News has not yet projected the controlling party for the House in 2025, but following Trump's substantial win over Vice President Kamala Harris, House Republicans are confident about maintaining their narrow majority. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., expressed optimism from West Palm Beach, Florida, emphasizing the party's success in critical states. “House Republicans have been successful in securing critical flips in swing states including Pennsylvania and Michigan, while our battle-tested incumbents have secured re-election from coast to coast,” he noted.

Conversely, Congressional Democrats have not conceded defeat. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., highlighted several optimistic points, including holding open seats in Virginia and Michigan, and unexpected pickups in Alabama and Louisiana. Jeffries remains hopeful about opportunities in battleground states like Arizona, Oregon, and Iowa, as well as Democratic-leaning zones in Southern California and the Central Valley. "The House remains very much in play," Jeffries asserted, emphasizing the importance of counting every vote.

For Trump’s second administration, the control of the House holds significant implications. Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., recalled the chaotic first term marked by unpredictability and emphasized the need for House Democrats to remain resolute, regardless of their eventual status as majority or minority.

The pathway to the House majority spans suburban regions where Democrats previously performed well, despite a challenging 2024 election cycle. While Harris struggled with Latino voters and younger male demographics, she gained traction among white women, college graduates, and older voters. The Republican majority in the House stands at 220-212, and Democrats require just a net gain of four seats to regain control.

Both parties have achieved critical wins thus far, keeping the majority status competitive. In New York, Democrats defeated freshman GOP Rep. Brandon Williams and saw another first-term GOP lawmaker, Rep. Marc Molinaro, trailing his Democratic opponent. Meanwhile, Republicans made gains in Pennsylvania and Michigan, capturing seats from Democratic incumbents and securing an open seat.

Several tight races continue to unfold. Alaska’s Republican Nick Begich III leads over Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola, while Arizona presents mixed results with GOP Rep. Juan Ciscomani trailing and GOP Rep. David Schweikert slightly ahead. In Nebraska, GOP Rep. Don Bacon appears poised for re-election.

California's notoriously slow ballot counting adds to the uncertainty, with multiple hyper-competitive races that are pivotal for determining the House majority. Early results show Republican incumbents leading in several toss-up districts. Additionally, NBC News has projected a victory for GOP Rep. Kevin Kiley over Democrat Jessica Morse in another significant California contest.

The ultimate balance of power in the House of Representatives remains pending, with both parties vigilantly tracking the results as votes continue to be counted.