When people think of 2024, they tend to think of the presidential election.
It is true that media coverage of this election is more extensive. However, let me remind you that we live in a republic. We are not electing kings.
Instead, we abide by a system of checks and balances, which ensures that the House and the Senate –which make up our legislative branch– are essential components of our political landscape.
The 2024 House of Representatives race will be very exciting, even if you make the lame choice of deciding not to bet on the outcome of this race at the political betting sites.
Here are three main reasons why this race will be so exciting.
Firstly, I will discuss how close the race is – and here I will defend the fact that BetOnline (find out more with our BetOnline Review) has the Democrats favored somewhat heavily at -140.
Secondly, I will explore what is at stake politically, focusing on what a GOP-led House could investigate and perhaps accomplish.
Third, I will talk about what control of the House means for one of the nation’s most pressing issues, border security and mass migration.
Status Quo
As of right now, Republicans have a historically unusually thin control over the House. They hold 219 seats while the Democrats hold 213.
Republicans’ margin has just been slimmed by the victory of Democrat Tom Suozzi. With the expulsion of disgraced Republican George Santos, his seat was up for grabs. Suozzi went up against Republican Mazi Pilip.
Suozzi defeated Pilip, having received 53 percent of the vote before the end of the day.
As I will talk about, Pilip’s defeat spells bad news for Republicans looking to maintain control in the House.
Let me emphasize that this race took place in New York, where migrants are being relocated at rates that are straining the state’s resources, to the extent that even schools have been used to house migrants.
Despite the issue of immigration being so prominent in voters’ minds, Suozzi performed very well.
While Suozzi’s victory helps dispel Democrat concerns over Republicans’ ability to use the current border crisis as a means to motivate voters to vote Republican, the Republicans will also point to Pilip’s lack of funding and her refusal to endorse Trump.
Stronger and more well-funded campaigning in other districts in New York and elsewhere will help create an exciting House of Representatives race.
First Reason: It Is Very Close
While Republicans currently hold a slim lead in the House and would like to extend their control in the House, the fact is that their lead could plausibly evaporate.
No matter which side triumphs in 2024, there are reportedly only twelve seats in the House that can be rated as true toss-ups. It is of course unlikely that either side wins all of those toss-ups. So we are probably going to see a slim lead – for either party – remain in 2024.
The House of Representatives race is so exciting because each party is vying for control – and investing a lot of money to maintain or regain that control – in order to have a majority.
There are several races worth watching out for, especially in blue states.
The fact that heavy blue states New York and California in particular are critical to the outcome of the 2024 House race – because of how many competitive seats they have – helps give Democrats, favored by BetOnline at -140 to win the most seats, an edge.
Redistricting
However, one race that is fascinating because of some larger issues that it ties into will take place in Alabama.
An issue that this race is bringing to the fore is minority participation in the voting process.
With the race so close, every seat matters. Redistricting is allowing black voters to have a larger say in specific districts and, as a consequence, they can really tip the scales in Democrats’ favor.
In Alabama, redistricting is going to give Democrats a favorable opportunity to earn a seat because of the tendency of blacks to vote Democrat.
Second Reason: What the GOP Would Love to Do
The House race is so exciting because a lot is at stake politically.
If the Republicans maintain or grow their control in the House, then they would love to engage on some interesting paths.
A GOP-led House would mean more power for Trump’s policies, as many Republican House members would look to exercise their loyalty to him.
Among other things, we could specifically look forward to investigation of the origins of the coronavirus. Republicans are spearheading inquiries into conspiratorial possibilities.
Third Reason: The Border
House Republicans seem to be lax, as opposed to proactive, when it comes to fixing the border.
They want Joe Biden to carry responsibility for the ongoing border security crisis, and they want his responsibility to be as visible as possible.
With Republicans in control of the House, less is getting done to fix the border.
At stake, then, in the House of Representatives race, is the management of the border, which ties into further issues like drug and sex trafficking and national security.
It is also tying into issues such as whether or how much continued aid should be sent to fund Ukraine’s war effort.
