Republicans one seat away from winning control of House of Representatives in US midterms

Kevin McCarthy becomes party's nominee for Speaker of the House

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy holds a press conference with members of Republican House leadership on the January 6 committee. AFP

Mr McCarthy, a US representative from California, is the leader of the Republican Party in the House. Reuters

Andy Biggs, a US representative from Arizona, questions Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas as he speaks before the House Judiciary Committee. AFP

House Minority Whip Steve Scalise speaks as Mr McCarthy listens during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington. AFP

Mr McCarthy heads to his office surrounded by reporters after House investigators issued a subpoena for him and four other Republicans as part of their probe into the violent January 6 insurrection. AP

Republican Matt Gaetz speaks during a rally with former president Donald Trump before the midterm elections. Reuters

Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican representative from Georgia, attends a rally for Ohio Senate candidate JD Vance. AP

Mr Scalise speaks to supporters as he celebrates his re-election in Metairie, Louisiana. AP

Jim Jordan, a US representative from Ohio, arrives to speak before former president Donald Trump at a rally in Ohio. AP

An image of Mr Scalise and former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson during a January 6 committee public hearing. Bloomberg

Elise Stefanik became chairwoman of the Republican Conference after Liz Cheney was ousted. Bloomberg

Mr Biggs and others spoke out against the committee investigating the January 6 attack and the conditions of the jail where many prisoners arrested in connection to the attack are being held. AFP

Mr Biggs stands next to Ms Greene during a press conference. AFP

Michael McCaul, a Republican representative from Texas, questions Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing in Washington. AP

Republicans on Tuesday were on the cusp of a slim majority in the US House of Representatives after a week in which Democrats defied predictions of being swamped by a “red wave”.

A party needs 218 seats to win control of the 435-member lower chamber of Congress. As of Thursday morning, Republicans were in control of 217 to the Democrats' 206 seats. Results from 10 races were still pending.

The Republican Party was expected to make broad gains in the House during the midterm elections, but Democrat victories in moderate districts blunted the hopes of conservatives.

That has resulted in some Republicans pointing fingers over the party's lacklustre showing. Some have blamed former president Donald Trump, who propped up candidates that backed his debunked claims of fraud in the 2020 election.

But even with a slim majority, House Republicans could derail President Joe Biden's legislative agenda.

Control of the lower chamber would also allow Republicans to launch investigations into Mr Biden's family and administration. The withdrawal from Afghanistan and his son Hunter Biden are both expected to be targets of investigatory panels.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas could also be a target as Republicans continue to attack the White House for its handling of the nation's migration crisis.

Some far-right Republicans have even mused about the possibility of impeaching Mr Biden.

In the run-up to the midterm elections last week, Republicans campaigned on the inflation crisis and security on the US southern border.

Any significant legislation passed by the Republican-controlled House faces little chance of being passed in the Senate, where Democrats remain in control, though Mr Biden has said he would be prepared to work with his Republican colleagues.

Republicans select nominee for House speaker

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has received the backing of Republicans to continue as leader, even amid the party's underwhelming performance.

Members voted 188-31 to nominate Mr McCarthy as speaker of the House starting in January, when the Republican Party is expected to take control.

As House minority leader, Mr McCarthy has been the face of Republican opposition to the Democratic agenda and the January 6 committee. He also raised hundreds of millions of dollars during the midterm election cycle.

He faced one challenger, Andy Biggs of Arizona.

A slim majority for either party gives little room for dissent among its members. With the Republican Party divided into different factions of moderate conservatives, Trump loyalists, the Freedom Caucus and others, Mr McCarthy would have to secure near unanimity to pass any legislation.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democrats experienced the perils of a narrow majority last year, when the Progressive Caucus stalled Mr Biden's social spending and infrastructure bills.

The entire House of Representatives will vote on the next House speaker in January.