Payam Javan: The Republican Party has officially retained control of the U.S. House of Representatives, ensuring a GOP trifecta by securing majorities in both chambers of Congress and the White House. At 10:30 p.m. on November 13, the Associated Press projected that Republicans had surpassed the 218-seat threshold needed to claim a majority in the 435-seat House. Key victories in battleground areas, including California and New York, helped the GOP achieve the necessary seats, reinforcing its position across federal governance. With this outcome, Republicans now have the political leverage to advance their legislative agenda with minimal opposition.

This unified control enables President-elect Donald Trump and Republican leaders to pursue core policies prioritized during the campaign. Key agenda items are expected to include sweeping reforms in areas such as immigration, tax cuts, and other conservative policy goals highlighted by Trump and GOP candidates during the 2024 election. Trump returned to Washington shortly after the win, meeting with House GOP leaders ahead of a scheduled Oval Office meeting with outgoing President Joe Biden. Expressing enthusiasm, Trump acknowledged the GOP’s substantial victory, describing the party’s performance as achieving “historic numbers” in the election.

In response to this unified government structure, House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed optimism, indicating the GOP’s readiness to begin governing cohesively across the executive and legislative branches. Johnson, who was nominated by his peers to lead the GOP conference, will be meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago to strategize on priorities, including government funding, as they prepare for the January session. Both the House and Senate will formally begin the new term on January 3, 2025, marking the start of a Republican-led administration and Congress poised to enact their legislative goals.