Rep. Suzan DelBene, who leads the House Democrats’ campaign operation, has cautioned that it may take a week or more before the official determination of control of the House is made. With an increasing number of voters opting for mail-in ballots, DelBene highlighted the possibility of a prolonged process similar to the 2022 midterms, which took eight days to ascertain the winning party.
During an Election Day phone interview, DelBene emphasized the likelihood of delayed results in closely contested races. She pointed out that in states like Washington, where ballots can still be received postmarked, the final outcome may be subject to a longer waiting period.
Referring to the previous election cycle, DelBene mentioned that the results were not officially declared until November 16, 2022. In that instance, Republicans secured victory in the House by a narrow margin of approximately 6,675 votes, with the outcomes of the five closest races being decisive. Some races were determined by less than 1,000 votes, underscoring the significance of every ballot cast.
Given the potential for tight races and the influx of mail-in ballots, DelBene is preparing her Democratic colleagues for the possibility of a delay in the final tally. The need for accuracy and thoroughness in counting all votes is paramount, ensuring that the outcome reflects the will of the electorate.
