GARDEN CITY, N.Y. — Democrats flipped their first seat late Tuesday as John Mannion unseated Rep. Brandon Williams in New York's 22nd District in a battle for control of the House of Representatives.
New York and California are expected to play a pivotal role with at least 13 competitive House races between the two states. But the catch is that both states could be slow to report final results, especially in close races.
In New York, at least six House races were looking highly competitive in the state's 1st and 4th Districts on Long Island, as well as in the 17th, 18th, 19th and 22nd Districts upstate. New York's 3rd District, which spans Long Island and a portion of Queens, could also be competitive if Republicans outperform expectations.
Democrats were looking to retake seats they lost in 2022, and they dedicated significant resources and the attention of party leadership, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., barnstorming the state last week.
Republicans aimed to hold onto gains they posted in 2022, a challenge given New York's Democratic tilt and the high turnout environment of a presidential election. They have, however, increased their support relative to previous election cycles, especially in the Hudson Valley and on Long Island. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., spent some of his final days on the campaign trail in the Empire State, looking to boost candidates in some of the most competitive races.
A few hours after polls closed in the 18th District, Rep. Pat Ryan, the sole swing district Democrat to hold on in 2022, fended off Republican challenger Alison Esposito.
In New York's 1st Congressional District, GOP Rep. Nick LaLota was defending his Long Island seat against John Avalon, the Democratic challenger. In New York's 4th District, also on Long Island, GOP Rep. Anthony D'Esposito appeared poised to defeat Democrat Laura Gillen in a rematch of their 2022 race.
At Gillen's election night watch party, the crowd of Democrats seemed anxious yet optimistic as presidential election results rolled in. The mood could quickly change if and when the first swing states are called.
Upstate, in New York's 17th District, former Rep. Mondaire Jones, a Democrat, is seeking to make a comeback against Rep. Mike Lawler, the incumbent Republican. In New York's sprawling 19th District, GOP Rep. Marc Molinaro and Democrat Josh Riley are in a rematch in one of the closest races in the country.
In California, Democrats are pushing to retake five seats they have lost to Republicans since 2020 — four in 2020 and another in 2022 — which could prove decisive for control of the House.
These two states alone could determine which party leads the lower chamber, though there is a scattered collection of swing districts outside New York and California.
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While statewide races in New York are typically called fairly early in the night, sometimes just shortly after polls close at 9 p.m. local time, officials this year have declined to specify when they expect full results.
New York also accepts mail ballots as late as a week after Election Day, so long as they are postmarked by Election Day. This means that the statewide Senate and presidential elections will likely be called early in the night, but the marquee House races could take days or even a week or so to call.
California is known for its lengthy ballot-counting procedure, and it could take days or weeks to learn who won close House races or control of the House.
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