--- [ POLITICS ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=396) # Is US House 'Only Hope' for Blocking Worst of Trump's Return? Written by Jessica Corbett. ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/ajax/?p=cache/ff/090d-ff569814.jpg&src=images/stories/Nov-2024/090d.jpg&thumbnail=1200,684,&hash=161e735f) November 06 2024 [](https://www.addtoany.com/share) [Comments](#disqus_thread) THE VOTE - While Republicans have [won](https://www.commondreams.org/news/trump-declares-victory) the White House and U.S. Senate as of early Wednesday afternoon, control of the House of Representatives remains too close to call—and may be the only governmental firewall against the GOP's fascist federal agenda. Democrats went into the Tuesday election hoping to flip the House, which is now narrowly controlled by Republicans. There are 435 seats in the lower chamber, so the party to secure 218 of them will have the majority. Various decision desks have called [179](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/11/05/us/elections/results-house.html) to [193](https://decisiondeskhq.com/results/2024/General/US-House/) House seats for Democrats and 200 to 210 for Republicans. *The Associated Press* [noted](https://apnews.com/live/senate-house-election-updates-11-5-2024#00000193-01f5-d414-a79f-1ffd1e6c0000) that "vote-counting[ can take weeks](https://apnews.com/article/california-house-recount-election-congress-9a8924103a5d2b7a80272c99f17f4c68) in California, where most voters use mail-in ballots." Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), who [won](https://www.kob.com/politics-news/ap-race-call-democrat-gerald-connolly-wins-reelection-to-u-s-house-in-virginias-11th-congressional-district/) his ninth term on Tuesday, [told](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4975887-democrats-house-majority-hopes/) *The Hill* early Wednesday that "in terms of the power trifecta, the House is the only hope for Democrats to maintain a check on our out-of-control [Donald Trump](https://www.commondreams.org/tag/donald-trump)," now the president-elect. *"The House is the only hope for Democrats to maintain a check on our out-of-control Donald Trump."* "The results tonight are grim... for the country, and Democrats offer those who believe in constitutional democracy the only hope of presence in the White House and an enabling Republican Senate," Connolly said. "So a lot is hinging on district-by-district results tonight." The *AP* has [called](https://apnews.com/article/new-york-congress-long-island-election-2024-d9971985ba0440117d41b1fd0d921e56) flips in New York's 19th and 22nd Congressional Districts, with Democrats [Josh Riley](https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/new-york/?r=36599) and [John Mannion](https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/new-york/?r=36602) ousting Republican Congressmen Marc Molinaro and Brandon Williams, respectively. Democrat Laura Gillen is also on track to [beat](https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/new-york/?r=36584) GOP Rep. Anthony D'Esposito in the state's 4th District; she has [declared](https://x.com/News12LI/status/1854052882514849987) victory. "Our livable future was on the ballot this year, and New York's climate movement delivered," declared Food & Water Action New York state director Laura Shindell, whose group endorsed Gillen and Riley. "New Yorkers voted like our lives depended on it, rebuking the dangerous pro-corporate Project 2025 interests seeking to boost climate-killing fossil fuels, dismantle clean air and water safeguards, and spread misinformation and distrust about the reality of the crisis we face." "New York's newest congressional representatives have the backing of the state's grassroots climate movement—now, it's time to get to work fighting for our livable future against all odds, and delivering the climate wins that won them their seats," Shindell said. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) similarly [welcomed](https://x.com/RepJeffries/status/1854131898491994340) the "critically important" wins in his state on social media. Redistricting also helped Democrats pick up seats in Alabama, where Shomari Figures [won](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/06/us/politics/alabama-house-figures-dobson.html) the state's 2nd Congressional District, and Lousiaina, where former Congressman Cleo Fields [claimed](https://lailluminator.com/2024/11/05/cleo-fields-congress/) victory in the newly drawn 6th District. However, the GOP has picked up two seats in Pennsylvania—with Republicans [Ryan Mackenzie](https://x.com/DecisionDeskHQ/status/1854199979923186002) and [Rob Bresnahan](https://x.com/DecisionDeskHQ/status/1854201190780948893) beating Democratic Reps. Susan Wild and Matt Cartwright, respectively—plus three in North Carolina, [thanks](https://x.com/admcrlsn/status/1854017842804338977) to redistricting. Republican Tom Barrett also [flipped](https://apnews.com/article/michigan-house-hertel-barrett-mcdonald-rivet-junge-83ce19c9cc64f23c6ee42fe0b3087892) an open seat in Michigan's 7th Congressional District. As *Bloomberg* [reported](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-11-06/us-house-is-democrats-best-hope-in-brutal-election-for-party) Wednesday: Democratic House control would force Republicans to negotiate on trillions of dollars worth of provisions in the 2017 tax law that expire at the end of next year. It also would provide a check on Trump's "America First" foreign policy agenda, providing perhaps some hope to Ukraine and other allies of continued support. The House under Democratic control also impeached Trump twice during his first term in office. He was never convicted by the Senate. Key issues on the minds of progressive lawmakers and advocates across the country on Wednesday included reproductive freedom and the climate emergency. "How much damage is done at the federal level to the progress we have made will... depend on the election outcomes in the House of Representatives and the role it will play," Chitra Kumar, managing director of the Climate & Energy Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, [wrote](https://blog.ucsusa.org/kim-waddell/a-new-trump-era-lies-ahead-heres-how-ucs-is-responding/) Wednesday. Food & Water Action executive director Wenonah Hauter [said](https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/environmental-group-weve-seen-trumps-playbook-before-were-prepared-to-confront-him-head-on) in a statement that "control of the House is still undetermined, and it's critical that every vote be counted." "If Democrats retake the House, it will be essential that they stand strong against Trump's reactionary agenda," Hauter stressed. "We've seen Trump's playbook before and we're prepared to confront him head-on—through the courts, in Congress, and through determined grassroots organizing that has been responsible for great progress in the face of adversity for generations." Even if Democrats don't win a House majority, progressive organizers remain determined to combat the far-right agenda. *"Our story does not end with this election result; we have a lot of work ahead of us. The future we are dreaming of is worth fighting for."* "Despite the deeply disappointing results of the election yesterday, our work to build a better future for our families and our nation does not end here," [said](https://front.moveon.org/breaking-moveon-statement-on-election-results/) MoveOn Political Action executive director Rahna Epting in a statement. "Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans will continue to try and divide us in hopes we give up and clear the path for them to dismantle our democracy and take away our freedoms." "As exhausted and defeated as we all may feel right now, giving up is not an option. The organizers, change-makers, and heroes before us have sacrificed far too much for us to drop the baton and surrender now," she continued. "Our story does not end with this election result; we have a lot of work ahead of us. The future we are dreaming of is worth fighting for." Acknowledging the tens of millions of people who voted for Vice President [Kamala Harris](https://www.commondreams.org/tag/kamala-harris) and a Democratic Congress, Epting added that "together, we can defeat the far right by staying engaged, mobilizing our communities, and remaining defiant guardrails against their fascist vision for our country." *(Jessica Corbett is a senior editor and staff writer for Common Dreams where this article was first published.)* [![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/ME%20DENTAL%20SPA/me%20dental%202026%20final.jpg)](http://medentalspa.com/) ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/banners/signup-for-cw.png) ## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays Name [ ![LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20level%20pay%205-7-25.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)") [ ![Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/HHR/AHF-rent-too-high.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/104 "Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2") --- ## Featured CityWatch Stories [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/fd/064h-fdb0b507.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29355:remembering-ken-draper-citywatch-and-transparency-are-his-legacy&catid=12) ### [Remembering Ken Draper: CityWatch and Transparency Are his Legacy](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29355:remembering-ken-draper-citywatch-and-transparency-are-his-legacy&catid=12) LA WATCHDOG - Ken Draper, the editor and publisher of CityWatch for more than 20 years, passed away on August 8, 2022… [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/0f/061a-0f1ada2f.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398) ### [Brace Yourself For A Worse Housing Crisis](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398) PLANNING WATCH - The California State Legislature will soon vote on the following draft legislation. Please carefully… [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/54/064j-54f0ecbd.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33204:be-prepared-to-protect-our-democracy-in-november-from-a-trumpian-plot&catid=9) ### [Be Prepared to Protect Our Democracy in November From a Trumpian Plot](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33204:be-prepared-to-protect-our-democracy-in-november-from-a-trumpian-plot&catid=9) BE AWARE - Back in the days when conservatives were so hungry for media platforms that they’d come on progressive shows… [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/ab/063e-ab3b1ba1.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33174:nithya-raman-loses-the-homelessness-gavel-her-record-explains-why&catid=396) ### [Nithya Raman Loses the Homelessness Gavel — Her Record Explains Why](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33174:nithya-raman-loses-the-homelessness-gavel-her-record-explains-why&catid=396) THE BOTTOM LINE - Raman wants Los Angeles voters to promote her to mayor. Before handing her the keys to City Hall, v… [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/75/064a-75d5dbb3.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33199:your-boss-owns-your-workday-not-your-brain&catid=425) ### [Your Boss Owns Your Workday—Not Your Brain](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33199:your-boss-owns-your-workday-not-your-brain&catid=425) THE NEURAL WORKPLACE - California must protect workers before workplace surveillance crosses the final frontier: the hu… --- ## [ POLITICS ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=396) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/May-2026/038m.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32722:californias-homeless-disaster-is-exploding-which-governor-candidate-has-the-courage-to-stop-it&catid=396)### [California’s Homeless Disaster Is Exploding Which Governor Candidate Has the Courage to Stop It?](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32722:californias-homeless-disaster-is-exploding-which-governor-candidate-has-the-courage-to-stop-it&catid=396) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/May-2026/041m.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32762:tim-gaspars-political-problem-the-more-voters-learn-the-worse-it-gets&catid=396)### [Tim Gaspar’s Political Problem: The More Voters Learn, the Worse It Gets](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32762:tim-gaspars-political-problem-the-more-voters-learn-the-worse-it-gets&catid=396) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/July-2026/053a.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32987:if-nithya-raman-cant-explain-socialism-why-is-she-asking-los-angeles-to-vote-for-it&catid=396)### [If Nithya Raman Can't Explain Socialism, Why Is She Asking Los Angeles to Vote for It?](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32987:if-nithya-raman-cant-explain-socialism-why-is-she-asking-los-angeles-to-vote-for-it&catid=396) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/July-2026/060a.png) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33130:an-interview-with-steve-hilton-candidate-for-governor-of-california&catid=396)### [An Interview With Steve Hilton – Candidate for Governor of California](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33130:an-interview-with-steve-hilton-candidate-for-governor-of-california&catid=396) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/July-2026/059g.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33115:how-city-hall-contributed-to-the-decay-of-downtown-los-angeles&catid=396)### [How City Hall Contributed to the Decay of Downtown Los Angeles](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33115:how-city-hall-contributed-to-the-decay-of-downtown-los-angeles&catid=396)