Jeffries: Still a 'clear pathway' for Democratic majority in House as votes are counted

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said Thursday that there is still “a clear pathway” for a Democratic majority in the lower chamber as votes continue to be counted nationwide.

“We still have a clear pathway to taking back the majority,” Jeffries said on Spectrum 1 News to the outlet’s Errol Louis. “Of course that runs through Arizona and Oregon and five races that are flip opportunities in California that are too close to call and too early to call.”

According to projections from Decision Desk HQ, Republicans are leading the race for control of the House with 216 seats to Democrats’ 204 as of late Thursday. Decision Desk HQ has not yet made projections for key House races including those in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, Oregon’s 5th Congressional District, Arizona’s 6th Congressional District and California’s 13th Congressional District.

“Well, certainly the biggest Democratic wins were right here in New York, and I’m so thankful to the coordinated campaign effort that was put together from the very beginning in the aftermath of the 2022 midterm elections…” Jeffries said of recent gains in the House by New York Democrats, which have been projected by Decision Desk HQ. “It was an all hands on deck effort.”

Democrats have looked to the House for a possible win as Republicans are set to gain control of the Senate and executive branch next year.

The Hill has reached out to Jeffries’s office for further comment.