The majority of representatives is still in play, while the Republicans see a red sweep

The race to control the House is tied, although Republicans are already expressing early optimism about securing a governing trifecta with their new Senate majority and newly minted President Donald Trump.

“As more results come in, it is clear that, as we have predicted all along, Republicans are poised to have a unified government in the White House, Senate and House,” Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement Wednesday.

The early confidence comes as Republicans need to win 12 more seats to retain their majority, while Democrats need 33 more to flip control.

According to NBC News‘ race tracker, 20 key House districts remain uncalled. The others are so far unlikely to be turned.

Among the remaining races are California’s 47th congressional district, Maine’s 2nd and Alaska’s at-large district, where Republicans are looking to pick up seats, along with California’s 45th, one of the most expensive races in the country.

“The path to take back the majority is now too close to pick up,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said in a statement Wednesday. “The party that will have the majority in the House of Representatives in January 2025 has not yet been determined. We must count every single vote.”

House GOP members entered the 2024 contest with a historically slim majority — 220 GOP seats to Democrats’ 212 with three vacancies.

Democrats poured huge sums of money into the House races and tried to flip the lower chamber. They have far outspent their Republican rivals in many of the most competitive House races across the country.

House Democratic candidates in the race rated either “vomiting” or “leaning” off Cook Political Report with Amy Walter spent $132 million against the Republicans’ $61.6 million, according to October applications with the Federal Election Commission.

The prevailing party will ultimately dictate the limits of power for the next Trump administration. A fully Republican-controlled House would likely give the president-elect a loose legislative leash, while a Democratic House would likely tighten it.

If the Republicans win, it will also mean that Johnson will have the chance to extend his term in office. If not, that would likely mean a promotion for current House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the favorite to become speaker in a Democratic victory.

Over the next two years, Parliament will face key battles over government funding, tax levels, immigration and business regulation.

In September, Congress passed a temporary funding bill to avert a government shutdown that expires Dec. 20, setting off another budget battle just before the next president takes office in January. The prospect of a divided government could further complicate that battle.

Also on the next congressional plate is the potential extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, which is due to sunset in 2025. Trump wants to make that law permanent and expand some of the tax cuts.