### Republicans on the Verge of Securing House Majority

The Republican Party is just four seats away from reclaiming the majority in the United States House of Representatives, an achievement that would bolster former President Donald Trump's influence in the White House. Following last week’s elections, Trump's Republican Party not only secured the presidency but also gained control of the Senate, concluding four years of Democratic dominance in the upper chamber.

In the 435-seat House, the Republicans need a total of 218 seats to hold the majority. Currently, they have secured 214 seats compared to the Democrats' 203. With all House seats contested in Tuesday's elections, the Republicans are leading in eight remaining races, while Democrats lead in ten. Despite these leads, if the Democrats win all ten contested seats, they would still fall short of the majority with 213 seats.

In California’s 22nd congressional district, which covers the southern part of the Central Valley, Republican candidates lead by 7.2 percentage points, with 76.6 percent of the results reported, according to The Associated Press. Historically, the Republicans have largely controlled the House over the past thirty years, having secured a majority since 2022. The Democrats, on the other hand, have only managed to win the House four times since 1994—in the years 2006, 2008, 2018, and 2020.

The House of Representatives plays a crucial role in crafting and passing federal legislation. While both the House and Senate need to pass the same bill with a majority vote to send it to the president for signing, they require a two-thirds majority to override a presidential veto.

With Trump's victory and a potential Republican majority in both congressional chambers, the legislative landscape might shift significantly. In recent years, U.S. presidents, including Joe Biden, have faced challenges in enacting their agendas due to narrow congressional majorities or a split Congress. During Biden's first two years, Democrats narrowly controlled both houses, but Republicans regained the House in the second half of his term. This shift led to significant legislative roadblocks, with Republicans successfully blocking major immigration reform and a bill guaranteeing women access to contraceptives in 2023.

The evolving congressional makeup suggests that if the Republicans secure these remaining seats, they could facilitate the enactment of Trump's legislative agenda with greater ease.