Even as newly-elected lawmakers get ready to fly to Washington, D.C. for freshmen orientation meetings this week, there are still some races for the U.S. House and Senate that still haven't been settled, a week after voters went to the polls on Election Day.
As of now, Republicans have picked up seven seats in the U.S. Senate, and still have the chance to win two more. The GOP leads in one race in Alaska; the other is the runoff in Louisiana involving Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA).
In the House, the GOP has currently gained 12 seats, with 7 races still undecided.
In those 7 races, Democrats lead in the race to hold on to two seats and Republicans have the edge in three seats currently held by Democrats. Two other seats held by the GOP will have a runoff in Louisiana in early December.
Here's a rundown of where the races stand:
ALASKA SENATE -
Elections officials will begin on Tuesday to count the over 53,000 outstanding ballots in the biggest national race still not settled for U.S. Senate, where Republican challenger Dan Sullivan leads Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK) by about 8,100 votes.
Begich has refused to concede, arguing that absentee and provisional ballots should favor him, and shrink Sullivan's advantage.
As I said before last Tuesday, this kind of delay in Alaska is fairly typical when it comes to close elections, and may keep this seat in limbo for much of this month.
The Associated Press reported Monday that the goal is to certify the results by November 28; still to be counted are over 34 thousand absentee ballots, 2,651 early votes and almost 16,000 questioned ballots.
CALIFORNIA
Three different seats - all held by Democrats - remain on the board in the Golden State, as officials slowly go through votes still to be counted.
+ In California's 7th District, ex-Rep Doug Ose (R) leads Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) by 530 votes; Bera cut into Ose's lead on Monday and may hold the edge in outstanding ballots.
+ In California's 16th District, Republican Johnny Tacherra leads Rep. Jim Costa by 741 votes. This was a seat that no one thought was within the reach of the GOP, considered "solid" Democratic.
+ In Calfornia's 26th District, Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA) is still ahead of Republican Jeff Gorell by 1,130 votes.
ARIZONA
Elections officials continue to count provisional ballots in Arizona's 2nd District, where Rep. Ron Barber (D-AZ) now trails Republican Martha McSally by 179 votes.
The counting has been accompanied by some legal wrangling as well, which has spurred extra jabs between the campaigns.
"Martha McSally will do anything to win, even throwing out the votes of Southern Arizonans,” said a spokeswoman for Barber's campaign in a statement.
"This will be very very close!," McSally wrote to supporters on Facebook.
About 3,000 ballots still have to be counted in this race.
Next Monday, the new freshmen will gather on the steps of the U.S. Capitol for their official photo - we'll see if these races are in still in limbo at that time.
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