Republicans currently hold a narrow 219 to 212 edge over Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives, with four vacancies: three from Democratic members who have died and one from a Republican who has resigned. This is the smallest House majority held by either party in nearly a century. The razor-thin margin means the stakes in the 2026 midterms could not be higher. With so few competitive seats left nationwide, both parties are turning to mid-decade redistricting as a way to secure advantages.
California voters are lucky. In 2026, when they choose their next governor, they will do so under a system that ensures no spoilers, no wasted votes, and a guaranteed majority winner. Thanks to the state’s nonpartisan top two primary, every candidate appears on the same ballot, and the top two finishers advance to November. No matter how crowded the field, Californians always end up with a winner who has earned a majority of the votes.