As the general elections in the United States draw near, the focus is primarily on the presidential race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. However, on election day, November 5, crucial battles will also unfold for both chambers of Congress: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Unlike the Senate, where only a third of the seats are up for grabs, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives will be on the ballot this election cycle. The races will be scattered across every corner of the US, as each state is assigned a certain number of seats based on population size, with each seat representing a specific district within the state. This year, the Republican Party is playing defense to protect its majority in the House, where they currently hold 220 seats compared to the Democrats’ 212.
Experts have identified 34 House seats as vulnerable to flipping parties this November. Here are five of the closest races to watch:
1. New York’s 4th district: Incumbent Republican Anthony D’Esposito faces a rematch from Democrat Laura Gillen in a suburban, wealthy enclave on Long Island.
2. North Carolina’s 1st district: Incumbent Democrat Don Davis faces a challenge from retired Army Colonel Laurie Buckhout in a historically Black district that is facing questions about redistricting.
3. California’s 27th district: Incumbent Republican Mike Garcia, a former fighter pilot, faces a tough fight against businessman George Whitesides in a district on the northern border of Los Angeles.
4. Washington’s 3rd district: Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Republican Joe Kent face off in a rematch from the last election cycle in a toss-up district along the coastline bordering Oregon.
5. Alaska at-large district: Alaska’s sparsely populated district, represented by Mary Peltola, is up for grabs with the entire state being one congressional district.
These races highlight the intense battles happening beyond the presidential race, as both parties vie for control of the House of Representatives and the power to pass or block new legislation.