Republicans and Democrats are in a tight battle in 2024 for control of both chambers of the 119th Congress.
All 435 House seats are up for election this year, and a handful of close matchups could make or break which party winds up with the majority. Republicans are vying to keep control of the lower chamber, while Democrats hope to flip enough seats to take over.
There are about two dozen tossup House races, where either party could come away with the win regardless of incumbency, according to Cook Political Report. Several high-profile lawmakers, such as House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., are also up for reelection and expected to win another term.
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Meanwhile in the Senate, there are 34 seats up for grabs. About half a dozen of those are likely to be decided by tight margins.
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Democrats currently hold the majority with 51 seats in the upper chamber, which includes four independent senators who caucus with them. Republicans only need to regain control of two seats to flip the Senate. A handful of Democratic incumbents are running tough reelection races in Republican-leaning and swing states, including Ohio, Montana, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, while Democrats are hoping for upsets in Texas, Florida and Nebraska.
Follow along with USA TODAY for full coverage.
There are a total of 535 seats in the United States Congress. With two from each state, 100 exist in the Senate. Based on its population, each state elects a varying number of people to serve in the House of Representatives. In total, there are 435 seats in the House.
−Rachel Barber
Congress is currently divided, with Republicans having control over the House and Democrats holding a majority in the Senate.
−Savannah Kuchar
The 119th U.S. Congress will officially take office on January 3, 2025, at noon. This transition date, set by the 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ensures that all newly elected members of the House of Representatives and Senate can begin their terms and address key legislative priorities at the start of the year.
−Jeremy Yurow
A total of 34 Senate races are on the ballot this election cycle. Nine stand out as the most competitive. These are the crucial contests could ultimately decide which party takes control of the U.S. Senate:
−Jeremy Yurow
All 435 seats in the House are up for grabs every midterm and presidential election year.
Much like the Senate, control of the House will come down to a handful of tight races. Republicans are defending their turf here – they control the lower chamber by only two seats – as the nation watches make-or-break contests.
Check out USA TODAY’s voter guide for a complete rundown of the most heated 2024 House of Representatives races:
–Riley Beggin
It’s crucial to understand the term lengths for Congress’s two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The differences in these terms impact how often voters can hold their representatives accountable.
Members of the House serve two-year terms, with all 435 seats up for election every midterm and presidential election year.
In contrast, U.S. Senators serve six-year terms, with elections staggered among the 100 senators. Currently, 34 senators are up for reelection, while another group will face voters in 2026 and the remaining in 2028.
–Jeremy Yurow
Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | District of Columbia | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming
