### Slim Margins Highlight House Race Uncertainties and Gaetz Nomination Drama

The balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives remains precariously uncertain as vote counting continues in a handful of critical races. More than two weeks after Election Day, five House races remain uncalled, and the margins are incredibly tight, especially in California and Iowa.

In California, two House races are particularly close with both having margins of about 300 votes. If the Democrats manage to flip these seats, it would leave the Republicans with a narrow 220-215 majority in the House at the start of the new Congress. This fragile margin could be further diminished if Republicans Elise Stefanik of New York, Matt Gaetz of Florida, and Michael Waltz of Florida are confirmed for roles in the Trump administration, necessitating special elections for their seats.

In Iowa's 1st District, incumbent Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks leads her Democratic challenger Christina Bohannan by just 801 votes as a recount begins. The House Administration Committee has said it will send additional staff to observe the recount process.

Meanwhile, in Ohio's 9th District, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, a Democrat and the longest-serving woman in congressional history, holds onto an 833-vote lead. If the final margin remains within 0.5 percentage points, Ohio law mandates an automatic recount.

Alaska's at-large district also presents an intriguing scenario with Republican Nick Begich narrowing his lead over incumbent Democrat Mary Peltola to about 7,500 votes. The state's ranked-choice voting system, which could redistribute roughly 16,000 votes from lower-ranking candidates, will come into play if no candidate meets the majority threshold by November 20.

In California's 13th District, incumbent Republican Rep. John Duarte’s lead over Democratic challenger Adam Gray has shrunk to 227 votes following a recent drop of ballots. A win for Gray would represent another Democratic flip with thousands of votes yet to be counted. Similarly, in California's 45th District, Democratic challenger Derek Tran has widened his lead over Republican Rep. Michelle Steel to 314 votes.

On another front, the Senate is grappling with the controversial nomination of Rep. Matt Gaetz for the role of Attorney General. Meeting with GOP senators, Gaetz, alongside Vice President-elect JD Vance, faced significant skepticism from Senate Republicans, including Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine. Despite serious allegations and a House Ethics Committee investigation, Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing. After a meeting on Wednesday with Gaetz, Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Sen. Mike Lee of Utah insisted on a fair confirmation hearing process.

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who also met with Gaetz, urged colleagues to disregard unverified allegations and allow due process. Republican Senators Lindsey Graham, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, and John Cornyn of Texas emphasized the importance of a fair and thorough evaluation of Gaetz’s nomination, despite the controversies surrounding him.

As these critical House races and the contentious Gaetz nomination unfold, the political landscape remains in a state of suspense, promising an eventful start to the new congressional session.