Composition
215
49.4%
220
50.6%
A simple majority of 218 seats is required to control the House.
Delegations
House Delegation by State
Reapportionment
House seats are reapportioned among the states every 10 years based on the census. States can gain or lose seats depending on population changes. After the 2020 census, Texas gained 2 seats while California lost 1.
Party control
Wave Elections
"Wave elections" occur when one party makes significant gains. Notable examples include 2010 (Republicans gained 63 seats) and 2018 (Democrats gained 41 seats). These often reflect national mood shifts.
Elections
Republicans maintained control of House with 222-213 majority.
Slight Republican majority continued.
Republicans gained 9 seats and took House control with 222-213 majority.
Midterm Republican gains flipped House control.
Democrats lost 13 seats but maintained majority at 222-213.
Democrats retained House control despite losing seats.
Democrats gained 41 seats and took House control with 235-199 majority.
Major Democratic midterm wave.
Republicans held House control with 241-194 majority.
Republicans maintained House despite Trump controversy.
Republicans gained 13 seats and expanded majority to 247-188.
Significant Republican midterm wave.
Republicans gained one seat with 234-201 majority.
Republicans held House despite Democratic presidential victory.
Republicans gained 63 seats and took House control with 242-193.
Major Republican wave in Obamacare midterm.
Democrats gained 21 seats and expanded majority to 257-178.
Democratic wave during financial crisis.
Democrats gained 31 seats and took House control with 233-202.
Major Democratic wave against Iraq War.
Republicans gained 3 seats and expanded majority to 232-203.
Republicans strengthened House control.
Republicans gained 6 seats and held 229-204 majority.
Post-9/11 Republican advantage in midterms.
Democrats gained 2 seats but Republicans held 221-212 majority plus 2 independents.
House remained close between parties.
Democrats gained 5 seats in rare midterm gain with 211-223 minority.
Unusual Democratic gains following impeachment.
Republicans lost 3 seats but maintained 227-207 majority.
Republicans maintained House in Clinton reelection.
Republicans gained 54 seats and took House control with 230-204.
Contract with America wave flipped House.
Democrats held House with 258-176 majority.
Democratic House benefited from anti-incumbent mood.
Democrats held House with 267-167 majority.
Democrats maintained strong House control.
Democrats gained 3 seats with 260-175 majority.
Democrats held House despite Bush presidential victory.
Democrats gained 5 seats with 258-177 majority.
Democrats strengthened House control.
Republicans gained 14 seats but Democrats held 253-182 majority.
Democratic House held despite Reagan landslide.
Democrats gained 26 seats and took House control with 269-166.
Democratic midterm wave during recession.
Republicans gained 33 seats but Democrats held House control with 243-192 majority.
Reagan landslide included House gains but Democrats kept control.
Republicans gained 15 seats but Democrats held 277-158 majority.
Democrats maintained strong House control.
Democrats held 292-143 majority post-Watergate.
Watergate scandal strengthened Democratic House.
Democrats gained 49 seats with 291-144 supermajority.
Watergate scandal created major Democratic House wave.
Republicans gained 12 seats but Democrats held 242-192 majority.
Democratic House held despite Nixon landslide.
Democrats gained seats and held 255-180 majority.
Democrats held strong House majority in midterms.
Republicans gained 5 seats but Democrats held 243-192 majority.
Nixon victory did not flip House.
Republicans gained 47 seats but Democrats held 248-187 majority.
Major Republican midterm gains limited Democratic advantage.
Democrats gained 38 seats with 295-140 supermajority.
Johnson landslide created strong Democratic House.
Democrats lost 4 seats but held 258-176 majority.
Democrats held House despite minor midterm losses.
Democrats held House with 263-174 majority.
Democrats controlled House under Kennedy.
Democrats gained 47 seats with 283-153 supermajority.
Major Democratic wave in recession midterm.
Democrats won House with 234-201 majority.
Democrats controlled House despite Eisenhower reelection.
Democrats gained 18 seats and took House control with 232-203.
Democratic midterm wave.
Republicans gained 22 seats and took House control with 221-213.
Eisenhower victory included Republican House gains.
Democrats maintained House control with reduced 235-199 majority.
Democrats held House despite midterm losses during Korean War.
Democrats gained 75 seats and took House with 263-171 majority.
Truman upset victory created Democratic House wave.
Republicans gained 55 seats and took House control with 245-188.
Major Republican wave post-World War II.
Democrats held House during World War II.
Wartime stability maintained Democratic House.
Republicans gained 47 seats but Democrats held 218-217 majority.
Close House control during World War II.
Democrats held House with 267-164 majority.
FDR reelection maintained Democratic House.
Republicans gained 80 seats but Democrats held 261-174 majority.
Major Republican midterm recovery.
Democrats gained seats with 331-104 supermajority.
FDR landslide created overwhelming Democratic House.
Democrats gained 9 seats with 322-103 supermajority.
Unusual Democratic gains during midterms.
Democrats gained 101 seats and took House control with 313-117.
FDR wave created Democratic House supermajority.
Republicans lost 49 seats but held 218-216 majority.
Close House control during Depression onset.
Republicans held House with 267-167 majority.
Hoover victory maintained Republican House.
Republicans held House with 247-183 majority.
Stable Republican House in 1920s.
Republicans held House with 225-205 majority.
Coolidge election maintained Republican House.
Republicans held House with 225-205 majority.
Post-World War I Republican House control.
Republicans gained 63 seats and took House control with 303-131.
Harding victory created major Republican House wave.
How House elections work
Representatives are elected from single-member congressional districts by popular vote. The candidate with the most votes in each district wins that seat. District boundaries are redrawn every 10 years after the census through a process called redistricting.
District boundaries are redrawn every 10 years following the census, a process known as redistricting.
All 435 House seats are up for election every two years, making it the most frequently contested federal office. This short term was designed by the Founders to keep representatives closely accountable to the people.
This makes the House the most responsive to changes in public opinion among the three elected federal bodies.
Each state receives at least one representative, with additional seats allocated based on population. California has the most (52), while several states have only one.
Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution establishes the House. The Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929 fixed the number of seats at 435. Seats are reapportioned among states after each decennial census based on population.
Did You Know?
The number of House seats was not always fixed at 435. The House grew with the country until the Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929 capped it. Before that, seats were added as new states joined and the population grew.