Two U.S. House races in California remain uncalled as Republicans aim to bolster their slim majority in the new Congress. Meanwhile, an Iowa race has been unofficially projected, but the outcome is still pending.
In California’s 13th Congressional District, Democrat Adam Gray has taken a narrow lead over Republican incumbent Rep. John Duarte, holding a 182-vote advantage (104,503 to 104,321), according to Decision Desk HQ. The district includes Merced County, most of Madera County, and parts of Fresno, San Joaquin, and Stanislaus Counties.
Merced County Registrar Melvin Levey confirmed all ballots in his county have been processed. However, nearly 1,500 ballots are still under review for issues such as mismatched signatures. California law allows voters to address these challenges by 5 p.m. on Dec. 1, with final certification expected by Dec. 3. Duarte narrowly defeated Gray in 2022 by 564 votes, one of the closest margins in that election cycle.
In California’s 45th Congressional District, Democrat Derek Tran leads Republican Rep. Michelle Steel by 613 votes (157,960 to 157,347). Steel, a two-term congresswoman and the first Korean-American woman elected to Congress, is facing Tran, the son of Vietnamese refugees.
In Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks has been projected to win against Democrat Christina Bohannan. With more than 95% of votes counted, Miller-Meeks leads 206,940 (50.1%) to 206,139 (49.9%). Bohannan has requested a recount. Miller-Meeks, an Army veteran and ophthalmologist, was first elected in 2020 by just six votes.
These undecided races could impact the balance of power in the House, where Republicans currently hold a 220-213 majority.
