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Disappointed Democrats are trying to extend their control of the House of Representatives for two more years, but with a potentially reduced majority as they lost at least seven incumbents and failed to oust any Republican lawmakers in initial results.
By midmorning Wednesday, the only gains for Democrats were two North Carolina seats left vacant by Republican rulers after a court-ordered reassignment made the districts more Democratic.
Although it seemed likely that they would retain control of the House, their performance was an unexpected disappointment for the party, which was expecting modest gains of perhaps 15 seats.
After decades of trying, Republicans defeated 15-term member Collin Peterson from a rural Minnesota district who backed Donald Trump in 2016 by 31 percentage points, the largest margin for the president in any Democratic-controlled district.
Peterson, who chairs the House Agriculture Committee, opposed Trump’s impeachment and is one of the most conservative Democrats in the House. He was defeated by Republican Michelle Fischbach, the former lieutenant governor.
In Iowa, Republican Ashley Hinson defeated Democratic incumbent Abby Finkenauer to win a close race for the Northeast state congressional seat. Ms. Hinson is a former television news anchor.
Also lost were first-year Democrats Debbie Mucarsel-Powell and Donna Shalala, President Bill Clinton’s health secretary, in adjoining South Florida districts, where Trump appeared to consolidate support among Cuban voters.
Others lost were first-year Democrats Joe Cunningham of South Carolina, Xochitl Torres Small of New Mexico and Kendra Horn of Oklahoma, who all had surprising victories in 2018 in districts that Trump decisively led in 2016.
The fight for Ms. Torres Small’s seat cost about $ 35 million, making it one of the most expensive races in the country, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Policy. She was defeated by Yvette Herrell, a former state legislator.
Before the votes were counted, both parties said Republicans would be lucky enough to limit Democratic gains to modest digits. Democrats control House 232-197, with five free seats and one independent. 218 seats are needed to control the camera.
A smaller Democratic majority would make it harder for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to rally her lawmakers as a handful of progressive freshmen arrive in the new Congress.
By retaining control of the House, Democrats would mark only the second time in a quarter century that they led the House for two consecutive two-year Congresses.
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