Democrats Reach 253 House Seats, Their Largest Majority Since 2008, With 27 Races Still Uncalled

The Democratic majority in the U.S. House of Representatives surged past 250 seats on Thursday and continued to grow as more races were called, reaching 253 seats to Republicans' 155 in The New York Times' tally on Friday morning, with 27 races still uncalled. The Times described the result as the party's largest House majority since 2008 and the biggest victory by either party in half a century, and noted that Democrats also won six redrawn districts in California and Utah.

The Associated Press's calls tell the same story on a slightly different clock. The AP had called 253 races for Democrats and 155 for Republicans as of Thursday afternoon, according to the New York Post, and the Democratic total reached at least 254 on Thursday when the AP called Virginia's 1st District - a seat Republicans had held for nearly half a century - for Henrico County Commonwealth's Attorney Shannon Taylor, who unseated Rep. Rob Wittman, in office since 2007. Among the other incumbents the AP confirmed out on Thursday was Rep. Mike Lawler of New York.

How large the majority finally gets is now a counting question. After the 2008 election, Democrats held 257 seats; with 27 races uncalled, they could surpass that level. CNN has reported the party could reach or exceed 260 seats, a majority of about 85. The remaining calls will also settle the last pieces of the congressional map the midterms redrew, while two Senate races - Mississippi, where Democrat Scott Colom leads by 1,813 votes in the AP count, and Alaska - remain too early to call.