Republican leaders are expressing optimism about retaining control of the U.S. House, following decisions that have swung in their favor. Meanwhile, Democrats maintain they still have avenues to secure a majority, emphasizing the importance of ensuring every vote is counted.

In an earlier development, Republicans officially gained control of the U.S. Senate on Wednesday.

In the latest election updates, officials in Maine have announced that a crucial congressional race in the state will require ranked-choice counting to determine the winner.

Democratic Representative Jared Golden, known for his moderate stances, was leading by a narrow margin against Republican Austin Theriault on Friday, even as the race remained too close to call several days post-election. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows stated on Thursday that neither candidate achieved over 50% of the total vote, necessitating the implementation of ranked ballots to finalize the results.

Ranked-choice voting typically applies when there are more than two candidates on the ballot. In the 2nd Congressional District contest, only Golden and Theriault were on the ballot, although write-in candidates were permitted. Theriault indicated on Thursday that he intends to request a recount, even though the results had not yet been officially counted. Golden’s campaign spokesperson acknowledged that the recount was reasonable but argued that ranked counting was unnecessary.

“The state representative has claimed his right to a manual recount, and Congressman Golden is amenable to that. We should proceed with the recount instead of prolonging the process with ranked-choice runoff procedures,” the campaign expressed in a statement.

The Theriault campaign also indicated its support for the ranked-choice count. “There is a system in place, and we are eager for it to proceed in accordance with legal protocols,” stated campaign manager Shawn Roderick.

In ranked-choice voting, votes for candidates who do not secure enough support are reallocated to the remaining contenders based on voters’ second choices.

In terms of television viewership, the interest in following the election results on TV has significantly decreased compared to previous elections. According to Nielsen data, only 42.3 million viewers watched the election night coverage, which was a notable drop from 56.9 million in 2020 and even further from the 71.4 million who tuned in during the 2016 election.

Traditionally a highlight for news networks, election night this year failed to attract viewers, even falling short of numbers seen during the NFL’s conference championship games.

On the personnel front, with Donald Trump’s acceptance of the presidency, political strategist Susie Wiles has been appointed as his White House chief of staff. Wiles transitions from a major role in Trump’s campaign to this influential advisor position within the White House, marking her as the first woman to take on the role of chief of staff.

Recent updates from election officials regarding Nevada and Arizona races indicate ongoing uncertainty. In Nevada, the latest reports from Clark and Washoe counties did not substantially change the tallies for the presidential and Senate races. With mail ballots needing to be counted by Saturday, key races in Nevada remain uncalled due to a significant number of ballots still awaiting counting.

In Arizona, officials reported additional votes being counted Thursday, but still face hundreds of thousands left to tally, especially in Maricopa County where they are processing advance ballots submitted in October. The presidential and Senate races in Arizona are thus still in a state of uncertainty.
As Republican leaders anticipate holding onto crucial House seats, Democrats argue that they still have possibilities for a majority, urging assurances that all votes will be considered as they prepare for the political developments that lie ahead with Congress returning next week. The GOP managed to secure two competitive seats in Pennsylvania, while Democrats celebrated another victory in New York, defeating a third Republican incumbent in the state.

Both parties are actively assessing the new political dynamics as a highly polarized Congress looms on the horizon, with potential MAGA-driven power shifts following President-elect Trump’s ascent.