House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told cheering supporters late Tuesday that they would wake up to see Democrats and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the minority, on a night when a forceful 'red wave' hadn't materialized.
McCarthy made the comments while standing before a 'take back the House' banner, in Washington, DC early Wednesday, as the GOP appeared in sight of capturing the chamber – but networks held off on making a call as Republican hopes fell short of the tidal wave many elected leaders were banking on.
'Now let me tell you, you're out late. But when you wake up tomorrow, we will be in the majority and Nancy Pelosi will be in the minority,' McCarthy said.
McCarthy, who hopes to seize the gavel from Pelosi to become speaker, rattled off a series of Republican achievements, taking particular delight in claiming to have knocked off Democratic Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney in New York.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif., predicted Republicans would have won the majority by early Wednesday
'In New York, we defeated the Democrat campaign chair Sean Patrick Maloney,' McCarthy said, noting it was the first time in 40 years a head of the Democratic campaign arm had lost reelection.
The AP had not yet called the race, although Maloney was trailing his GOP opponent Mike Lawler 51-49 with 95 per cent of votes in.
'In Florida we gained four seats alone. We are poised to sweep the entire state of Iowa.'
He pointed to state Sen. Jennifer Kiggans, who defeated House Rep. Elaine Luria in Virginia, and a win by Monica De La Cruz in Texas' 15th congressional district, which will be held by a Republican for the first time in 15 years.
He also pointed to a likely win by Republican John James in Michigan's 10th District.
'If you believe in freedom, hard work and the American dream these results prove there is a place for you in the Republican Party,' said McCarthy. 'We are expanding this party.'
'Nancy Pelosi will be in the minority,' McCarthy predicted
Democratic Rep. Jennifer Wexton of Virginia also won re-election; above Jill Biden campaigned with Wexton on Monday
Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, a top Republican target, won re-election, staving off a red wave
President Joe Biden made a series of congratulatory calls to Democrats on Tuesday night
But McCarthy overlooked some setbacks, even in the states he mentioned.
Two other top GOP targets in Virginia, Abigail Abigail Spanberger and Jennifer Wexton won their races, even while Luria fell.
Ohio Rep. Marcy Kaptur survived a stiff challenge.
Rep. Elissa Slotkin held off a stiff challenge from Republican Tom Barrett in a district that includes Lansing, Michigan – after getting help from Republican Rep. Liz Cheney. 'If we want to ensure the survival of our republic, we have to walk away from politics as usual,' Cheney said on a campaign visit.
Democrat Greg Landsman defeated longtime Ohio Rep. Steve Chabot in a Cincinnati district, while fellow Democrat Hillary Scholten beat Trump-backed Republican John Gibbs in a Western Michigan district. They were running to succeed Rep. Peter Meijer, who lost the primary to Gibbs after voting for Trump's second impeachment.
Democrat Seth Magaziner won in a Rhode Island House seat that was heavily contested by both parties. And Democratic Rep. Andy Kim hung on in New Jersey in what was seen as a close race.
Those results came on a night when polls had Republicans salivating for big gains.
By historical standards, the party out of power usually gains seats – more so when the president's approval rating is deeply under water as Biden's is.
Donald Trump lost 40 seats in 2018, and Barack Obama lost 63 seats in 2010.
This year also featured a host of Democratic retirements amid Biden's poor poll numbers and portents of a GOP wave.
But as the results came in, even some top elected Republicans were admitting results were falling short of expectations.
'Definitely not a Republican wave, that's for darn sure,' said GOP Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina in comments to NBC News.
And Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said: 'It hasn't been as big of a wave as I'd hoped it would be. We've had some close races go the other way so far.'
With millions of votes outstanding, there was a chance Republicans would take the House, but by a narrow majority that would be certain to give McCarthy or any Republican leader headaches.
The conservative House Freedom Caucus was set to have more sway, with lawmakers like Rep. Marjorie Talor Greene of Georgia set to take outsized role.
One outspoken conservative Republican, Rep. Lauren Boebert, was trailing her Democratic opponent by 2 points in Colorado, with 83 per cent of the vote it.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has been dealing with the fallout of a hammer attack on her husband Paul Pelosi, released a statement in the early hours of Wednesday morning touting her party's ability to hold the line against an expected 'red wave.'
'While many races remain too close to call, it is clear that House Democratic Members and candidates are strongly outperforming expectations across the country,' she said.
'As states continue to tabulate the final results, every vote must be counted as cast,' she added.
As of just before 2am ET on Wednesday, Republicans have flipped four seats while Democrats managed to flip an open North Carolina district held by GOP Rep. Ted Budd, who vacated it for a successful run for North Carolina's Senate seat.
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