NBC calls 11 more House seats for Democrats, reaching 242 to 150; the Alaska and Mississippi Senate races are still uncalled.
That was NBC News’s count at 5:15 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov. 4, with 43 House seats uncalled. Its model still puts Democrats at 258 House seats or more. Democrats hold 54 Senate seats, seven of them taken from Republicans, and AP had still not called Alaska or Mississippi by Wednesday night.
MississippiDemocrat Scott Colom leads Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, 464,926 to 463,788, with 96% counted.
1,138 Colom’s lead
About 44,000 ballots outstanding, a Fox estimate; the secretary of state gives no definitive number
AlaskaDemocrat Mary Peltola leads Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, 102,962 to 102,325 in first-choice votes, with 74% counted.
637 Peltola’s lead
More than 3,500 first-choice votes for Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., the second Sullivan on the ballot
Roughly 75,000 ballots uncounted, an AP estimate
If no one in Alaska wins a majority, the ranked-choice count runs Nov. 18. A Sullivan campaign memo projects he would then win by 328 votes, counting only ballots in hand on Wednesday. Mississippi has no formal recount, so any dispute would go to a ballot-box exam and the courts.
242 called for Democrats43 uncalled150 called for RepublicansRinged: called since NBC’s 9:30 a.m. ET count of 231 to 144
One mark per House seat. Uncalled seats are not assigned to either party.
CBS estimates a final total of 251 to 268 Democratic seats. Democrats won 215 in 2024, so that range means a net gain of 36 to 53. The biggest midterm gain from 1946 through 2022 was 64, in 2010.
Democrats post three investigator and counsel jobs for a Senate committee they take over in January, and warn agencies to preserve records.
The listings went up on the Senate Employment Office site less than 24 hours after the election, for the “incoming Chair” of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Maggie Hassan is in line to take the gavel, Mother Jones reported.
Nov. 3–4Election, then the job posts and Scott’s letter
Nov. 18Written records assurance due
JanuaryThe new Congress is seated. Until then, the subpoena threats cannot be carried out.
Days to scale from Nov. 3. The story gives no day in January, so the whole month is shaded.
Bobby Scott led Democrats in writing to department and agency heads. They cited the Federal Records Act of 1950 and warned of criminal penalties for failing to preserve records. Ron Wyden posted one word on X: “Subpoenas.”
The recordFrom 2001 to 2024, the full House referred 11 people to the Justice Department for criminal contempt. The department prosecuted two: Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro.
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Trump weighs resuming Iran strikes, negotiating, or keeping the blockade and sanctions, Axios reports.
The military is finishing preparations to resume major combat, while CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent want the blockade and sanctions to play out longer. Even close aides are unsure which option he will pick.
“Whenever I wanted to. But it’s got to be done right, because they can’t have a nuclear weapon.”Trump, asked when he will end the war
The U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports began April 13. Washington wants cuts to Iran’s uranium enrichment, while Tehran wants sanctions relief and the blockade lifted first. Qatar, a mediator, confirmed on Nov. 3 that proposals were being exchanged but announced no breakthrough.
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Schumer says Democrats would cut Pentagon funding if necessary to end the Iran war.
Chuck Schumer said Democrats would use the “power of the purse” to starve the Defense Department of funding if necessary, and predicted some Senate Republicans would support it. The reports name no Republican backers and no bill.
What a cutoff would need
- New money
- Withholding it needs no presidential signature. An enacted spending ban needs Trump’s signature or a veto override.
- An override
- Thirteen Republicans would have to join a united Democratic bloc if all 100 senators vote. Democrats have won at least 54 seats for January.
- 1973
- The cutoff of money for bombing Cambodia became law July 1, and the bombing stopped Aug. 15, 45 days later.
Current government funding runs out Dec. 11.
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Trump says he isn’t looking to replace Hegseth; CBS, ABC and the Journal report he is asking advisers whether Hegseth should stay.
In public on Wednesday, Trump said Pete Hegseth is doing a “very good job.” One CBS source says Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is being floated as a replacement. The Pentagon says Hegseth is “100% committed” to serving through Trump’s term.
The Iran war has killed more than 20 U.S. service members and cost an estimated $47 billion, a figure the Washington Examiner says is believed to be an undercount.
Next weekThomas Massie plans to force a House vote on eight impeachment articles. The House is scheduled back Monday, Nov. 9, and can table the articles without voting on the charges.
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Vance says the Iran war cost Republicans the midterms and calls for ending it and changing U.S. ties with Israel.
JD Vance wrote on X on Wednesday that “the reason we lost is the war.” Politico reports he drafted the 614-word post himself and gave the White House advance notice. Trump called it “largely true.”
“If you’d like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so.”JD Vance, on X
Axios reports Vance had argued inside the White House for months for a deal to end the war. Trump says he does not know whether Vance will run in 2028.
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Brent crude settles at $94.62, its lowest close since Aug. 31, and the Dow closes up 1,569 points.
Ben Cahill of the Atlantic Council said the drop in oil is “entirely about the U.S. election.” The S&P 500 closed up 1.58%, per CNBC.
$94.62Brent’s close a barrel, down $8.98, per Reuters
+1,569Dow points, or 3%
$4.12average gas that morning, 39% above its level before the war began Feb. 28
Pavel Molchanov of Raymond James said a lasting decline needs “a durable off-ramp.” Markets “like gridlock,” said Andrew Slimmon of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, per CNBC.