10 congressional races in history with the slimmest victories – Washington Examiner
The article discusses the tight margins of victory in historical congressional races, highlighting recent elections and important examples from the past. In the most recent 2024 cycle, the race in CaliforniaS 13th Congressional District saw a narrow victory for democrat Adam Gray, who won by just 187 votes against Republican incumbent John Duarte.This victory shifted the House’s power balance slightly, with Republicans holding a 220-215 edge.
The article compares this recent race to some of the closest congressional contests in history, noting that while modern margins are closer than those in prior centuries, many elections in recent decades have also concluded with very slim victories. Examples include Frank McCloskey’s win over Richard McIntyre by four votes in 1984, and Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ victory by just six votes in 2020.The article underscores the significance of these close races in the context of the current political landscape.
The 10 congressional races in history with the slimmest margins of victory
The final House race was called in California’s 13th Congressional District on Tuesday, cementing the party breakdown in the lower chamber at 220-215 in favor of Republicans.
The last district to be called, the race was decided by just 187 votes separating incumbent Rep. John Duarte (R-CA) and challenger Adam Gray, who flipped the seat into Democratic control in a big win for the party. The victory gives Democrats one net win and narrows House Republicans’ majority to just three seats at the beginning of next year.
The race was the tightest margin of all the House races in the 2024 cycle, and the results were not called by the Associated Press until nearly a month after Election Day.
Miller-Meeks had another close race in the 2024 cycle, winning by just under 800 votes, according to the latest vote counts. That puts her at the No. 3 slot for closest House races in 2024, behind California’s 45th Congressional District where Democrat Derek Tran defeated GOP incumbent Michelle Steel by 615 votes.
Here are some of the closest House races recorded in history, with several coming down to just a single ballot:
Modern-day close margins
Although not nearly as close as the single-vote margins in the 1800s, many nail-biter elections have occurred in the last two decades.
Frank McCloskey vs. Richard McIntyre: Four votes
One of the closest races in the last 40 years was the race between Democrat Frank McCloskey and Republican Richard McIntyre in 1984.
McCloskey defeated McIntyre by just four votes out of the 324,092 cast, giving him a near-zero percentage point advantage.
Mariannette Miller-Meeks vs. Rita Hart: Six votes
Duarte’s race was one of the closest races in the last few years but pales in comparison to some of the tightest margins in House history — even to Miller-Meeks’s first election bid when she won by just six votes in 2020.
It was the closest federal election of the 2020 cycle as she defeated Democratic challenger Rita Hart 196,964 votes to 196,958.
Howard Coble vs Robin Britt: 79 votes
Former Rep. Howard Coble narrowly won reelection by less than 80 votes in 1986, defeating Democratic challenger Charles Rob Britt.
The final vote margin was 72,409 votes to 72,327.
Joe Courtney vs. Rob Simmons: 91 votes
Former Rep. Rob Simmons (R-CT) was also locked in a tight race in 2006 when Democratic challenger Joe Courtney came so close it triggered an automatic recount.
The recount showed Courtney with a victory, defeating the Republican incumbent by 91 votes.
Mike Rogers vs. Dianne Byrum: 111 votes
One of the most contested House races was between Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Dianne Byrum, notably was not settled until even after the presidential election of that year (which was settled on Dec. 13, 2000).
Byrum demanded a recount after the vote totals showed them just 160 votes apart, refusing to concede until that was completed. A final vote count showed Rogers winning the race by 111 votes.
The race was certified on Dec. 15, 2000.
Lauren Boebert vs Adam Frisch: 546 votes
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) also had a historically close race in the 2022 midterm elections, defeating her Democratic challenger, Adam Frisch, by only 546 votes in the closest race of that cycle.
The margin was so close, that Boebert opted to switch districts in 2024 rather than face Frisch in a rematch.
Other historically close margins
Some of the closest races in history happened in the first few decades of Congress.
Parmenio Adams vs. Isaac Wilson: One vote
One of the closest races in House history occurred in New York’s 29th Congressional District in 1822 between Parmenio Adams and Isaac Wilson.
Initial results showed Wilson with the victory, prompting Adams to challenge the margins and request a recount. A recount later showed Adams’s defeating Wilson by just one point.
The final margin was 2072 to 2071 votes.
Nicholas Coleman vs. Adam Beatty: One vote
A similar margin happened just years later in Kentucky’s 2nd Congressional District when Nicholas Coleman won by just a single vote against Adam Beatty in 1829.
He only served one term before moving back to Mississippi to practice law.
Charles Smith vs. DeAlva Alexander: One vote
There was another one-vote margin in 1911 in the fight for New York’s 33rd Congressional District.
Charles B. Smith defeated incumbent DeAlva Alexander by just one vote, with the final margin coming out to 20,685 to 20,684 votes.
George Scott vs. T.J. Steele: Four votes
Just a few years later, another close race determined the victory in Iowa’s 11th Congressional District in 1918.
George Scott defeated T.J. Steele by just four votes, with the final margin coming out to 26,033 to 26,029 votes.
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