The question of How Many Democrats and Republicans Are in the House of Representatives is central to understanding the current state of U.S. politics. As of today, November 21, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives features a Republican majority with a delicate partisan balance, standing at 219 Republicans and 213 Democrats among the seated members. This count, which includes a handful of currently vacant seats, highlights the narrow political edge that defines the 119th Congress.
The Current Membership Breakdown (November 2025)
The U.S. House of Representatives is authorized to have 435 voting members, a number established by law over a century ago. The current composition shows how close the two major parties are to the 218-seat threshold needed for an outright majority.
| Party Affiliation | Seated Members | Majority Status |
| Republican | 219 | Majority |
| Democratic | 213 | Minority |
| Vacant | 3 | Seats pending special election |
| TOTAL | 435 |
The five-seat margin separating the two parties among seated members (219 to 213) is among the slimmest majorities in modern history. This narrow split has profound consequences for legislation, leadership, and the day-to-day operations of the chamber.
Understanding the House Vacancies
While the total number of representatives is 435, that number does not always reflect the seated membership. Resignations and deaths create temporary vacancies, which are filled via special elections. As of this writing, three seats are vacant. These elections represent crucial, near-term battles that could shift the power balance in Washington, D.C.
Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District (Formerly Republican)
The seat for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District became vacant following the resignation of former Representative Mark Green in July 2025. This district has historically favored Republican candidates.
- Former Affiliation: Republican (R)
- Status: Vacant since July 20, 2025
- Special Election Date: December 2, 2025
- Significance: This is the most immediate test for the Republican party to protect and maintain its current majority count. A loss here would further tighten the political race.
Texas’s 18th Congressional District (Formerly Democratic)
The seat for Texas’s 18th Congressional District has been vacant since the passing of former Representative Sylvester Turner in March 2025. In the initial special election held in November, no candidate secured a majority of the vote.
- Former Affiliation: Democratic (D)
- Status: Vacant since March 5, 2025
- Run-off Election Date: January 31, 2026
- Significance: This is a historically Democratic-leaning district. The outcome of the run-off between the two Democratic candidates who advanced will determine if the party recovers this seat.
New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District (Formerly Democratic)
This third vacancy is the most recent. The seat for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District became vacant when former Representative Mikie Sherrill resigned on November 20, 2025, to assume the office of Governor of New Jersey.
- Former Affiliation: Democratic (D)
- Status: Vacant since November 20, 2025
- Special General Election Date: April 16, 2026
- Significance: This election represents another opportunity for the Democratic party to recover its numbers, though the date is months away.
The Legislative Reality of a Narrow Majority
The current party breakdown dictates every facet of congressional life. This small margin empowers the majority party but simultaneously limits its operational flexibility.
The Speaker’s Challenge:
The Speaker of the House, currently Mike Johnson (R), must manage a caucus where near-perfect unity is often required to pass partisan legislation. With only five seats separating the two parties, the Speaker has very little room for error or dissent. Any single-party bill that faces opposition from just a few members of the majority can be defeated.
Committee Control:
The majority party controls all committee chairmanships and holds the majority of seats on every committee. This power allows Republicans to determine which bills are debated, which investigations are pursued, and which witnesses are called. However, the minority Democrats still wield significant power. They can leverage the narrow split to force concessions on legislation, especially in committees where the voting margin is particularly tight.
Impact on Key Policy Areas:
The slim majority directly influences the passage of high-stakes legislation, including:
- Appropriations: As all revenue bills must originate in the House, budget and spending negotiations become intense.
- Oversight: The current composition fuels intense oversight and investigation efforts directed at the Executive Branch.
- Political Messaging: Both parties use the tight numbers to frame their political message, highlighting either the power of the majority or the resilience of the opposition.
The Role of Special Elections in Shifting Power
Special elections are critical. If both parties win back their respective seats, the final tally would eventually settle at 220 Republicans and 215 Democrats, a slightly larger but still extremely slim margin. However, the true political drama comes from the possibility of a flip.
If the Democratic candidate wins the Tennessee seat, or if a Republican manages to win one of the two Democratic-held seats in Texas or New Jersey, the House’s majority could shrink further or even flip. This pressure means national political resources and attention are poured into these local races, turning them into high-stakes indicators of the national political mood.
The battle for these three vacant seats will define the next few months of the 119th Congress. The answers to How Many Democrats and Republicans Are in the House of Representatives are always fluid, but they offer a clear snapshot of a deeply competitive American political landscape where every single vote counts.
The congressional landscape is constantly shifting; stay tuned for the results of the upcoming special elections to see how the balance of power shifts in the U.S. House of Representatives.