House of Representatives Races 2006

The House is a little more difficult to make sense of since there are 435 seats and all of them are up for grabs. I'll keep trying over the next few weeks, but here's the low-down so far. Democrats have a much better shot at regaining the majority here than in the Senate. I'll try to keep you posted on seats that are likely to change hands. As in the Senate, very few Dem seats are threatened.

Total number of seats: 435

Current Breakdown
202 Dem seats
231 Rep seats
1 indep seat (VT)
1 vacant seat (TX22 Tom Delay's old seat)

Dems need to pick up 16 seats and not lose any to have a majority.

According to the New York Times:
189 Safe Dem seats
17 Leaning Dem seats

• 189+17=206 (remember, the Dems only currently hold 202 seats)
• Which four are seen as likely to change? VT, IN8, NC11, IA1
  

16 Toss Up Seats - all are currently held by Republicans with the exception of TX22 - the seat from which Republican Tom DeLay resigned under pressure.

• AZ8-Repub Primary Sept 12
• CO7
• CT2
• CT4
• FL2
• IL6
• IN2
• IN9
• NM1
• NY24
• OH15
• OH18
• PA6
• TX22
• VA2
• WA8

Of the remaining seats,
21 Lean Rep
192 Safe Rep