NBC News is projecting Democrats will emerge from the midterm elections with 258 seats in the U.S. House, giving the party an 81-seat advantage over Republicans after victories across a battleground map stretching from Arizona to Pennsylvania and Texas.

The NBC News Decision Desk estimates Republicans will finish with 177 seats in the 435-member House. Democrats need 218 seats for control.

The projection represents considerably more than the change in control NBC News projected Tuesday night. Its latest estimate points to a Democratic majority large enough to give the party significant breathing room when the new Congress convenes in January.

NBC’s battleground results show how Democrats are building that projected majority.

Villegas Projected to Beat Valadao

In California’s 22nd Congressional District, Democrat Randy Villegas was projected to defeat Republican incumbent David Valadao, with NBC showing Villegas at 66.4% to Valadao’s 33.6%.

Democrats also scored projected victories in several Midwestern battlegrounds. Christina Bohannan was projected to win Iowa’s 1st Congressional District with 52.8%, while Democrat Sarah Trone Garriott was projected to win the state’s 3rd District with 53.7%.

Pennsylvania was another major source of Democratic strength. NBC projected Democrats winning battleground races in the state’s 1st, 7th, 8th, and 10th congressional districts. In the 10th District, Democrat Janelle Stelson was projected to defeat Republican incumbent Scott Perry, 55% to 45%.

Democrats were also projected to win competitive districts in Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey, North Carolina, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Democrats Have Victories in Texas

NBC projected Democratic victories in two Texas battleground districts, with Democrat Henry Cuellar taking 65.8% in the 28th District and Democrat Vicente Gonzalez receiving 55.6% in the 34th District.

In Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, Democrat Denise Powell was projected to win with 56.4% of the vote. Democrats also lead both Arizona battlegrounds displayed by NBC, including the state’s 1st and 6th districts.

The size of the projected Republican minority is already having consequences for House leadership.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday that he will not seek a leadership position in the next Congress, reversing his pre-election position that he expected to remain the top House Republican even if the GOP lost its majority. His decision opens a fight over who will lead Republicans as they prepare to enter the next Congress with what NBC projects will be just 177 seats.

NBC cautions that the 258-177 breakdown remains an estimate as its Decision Desk continues projecting individual House races.

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