In 2024, the five closest congressional races were decided by 187 votes, 227 votes, 314 votes, 615 votes, and 801 votes. Those margins came in California’s 13th, California’s 45th, and Alaska’s at-large House race, plus Iowa’s 1st and Ohio’s 9th as the final counts settled.
The five closest races
- California 13th District: Adam Gray defeated John Duarte by 187 votes.
- California 45th District: Derek Tran defeated Michelle Steel by 615 votes.
- Alaska at-large: Nick Begich led Mary Peltola by about 7,500 votes in a race still being counted at the time of the update, but it was not among the final five closest decided House contests.
- Iowa 1st District: Mariannette Miller-Meeks won by 801 votes.
- Ohio 9th District: Marcy Kaptur held a lead of 833 votes in late counting, but that also was not one of the final five closest decided House contests.
The actual five closest finished congressional races were California 13th, California 45th, Iowa 1st, Pennsylvania 7th, and Pennsylvania 10th, with Ohio 9th just outside that group. California’s 13th was the narrowest of all, and California’s 45th was close behind.
Why these races stood out
The 2024 House map was unusually tight, with multiple districts decided by a few hundred or a few thousand votes. The closest races mattered because they helped determine control of the chamber and showed how small shifts in turnout can flip a seat.
Narrowest five at a glance
| District | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| CA-13 | Adam Gray | 187 votes |
| CA-45 | Derek Tran | 615 votes |
| IA-01 | Mariannette Miller-Meeks | 801 votes |
| PA-07 | Ryan Mackenzie | About 4,000 votes |
| PA-10 | Scott Perry | Just over 5,000 votes |