Democrats Projected to Win House as Jeffries Eyes Speakership

Democrats are projected to regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives after the November 3 midterm elections, positioning House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to seek the speakership. The projection is not a final result, and Jeffries would need to win a formal vote by House members when the new Congress convenes in January. Decision Desk HQ projected Jeffries’ reelection in New York’s 8th Congressional District. Unofficial results cited by a local report put him at 79.3% of the vote. Jeffries, a Brooklyn Democrat, has led House Democrats since January 2023 and would replace Republican Speaker Mike Johnson if elected. If the projected majority holds, Democrats would gain control of the House’s legislative agenda, committee leadership and investigative authority for the final two years of President Donald Trump’s term. The shift would make it harder for the administration to advance legislation through Congress without Democratic support in the House. Democrats could also use committee hearings and investigations to scrutinize administration policies. Jeffries has said that affordability and increased oversight would be priorities for Democrats if they take control....