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Republicans have secured a House majority in the next Congress.
The GOP clinched its 218th seat — posting plus-9 in these midterm elections thus far — a tally that earns a majority. Democrats are projected to win 203 seats, with more than a dozen races still undecided.
California District 3 going to Republican Kevin Kiley was the 218th seat to be clinched at 6:13 p.m. ET on Tuesday night.
Owning the majority gives House Republicans the power to determine what bills will be presented for floor votes, and control the gavel of the House committees.
It also guarantees President Joe Biden and Democrats will not be able to pass partisan laws, furthering what critics deride as inflationary spending and a progressive agenda, and likely means there will be oversight and investigations into such things as the Afghanistan troop withdrawal, the administration’s COVID-19 response, and business dealings involving Biden’s family members.
Current House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has been in line to become speaker, though some members have called for other candidates to emerge. He won a first vote Tuesday 188-31.
McCarthy and other GOP leaders are facing backlash after the party failed to snag control of both chambers in the midterms.