House Democratic leader admits Republicans will have majority in chamber next year

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries acknowledged Tuesday that Democrats won’t regain control of the chamber, in his first post-election meeting with his shell-shocked caucus.

Mr. Jeffries, of New York, delivered a mea culpa to Democratic lawmakers in the closed-door meeting in the U.S. Capitol that signaled he’s not holding out hope that the few undecided House races will give them the majority.

Later that evening, he acknowledged publicly that Republicans would remain in charge of the House next Congress, in addition to taking control of the White House and the Senate. 

“While we will not regain control of the Congress in January, falling just a few seats short, House Democrats will hold Republicans to a razor-thin majority,” Mr. Jeffries said in a statement. “That is unprecedented in a so-called presidential wave election.”

Earlier in the private meeting with his caucus, Mr. Jeffries was more humble and took the blame for the election results that, while incomplete, are on track to return Republicans to a slim majority next year.

Mr. Jeffries told lawmakers, “It’s all on me.”

But lawmakers in the room don’t blame him, they said. Democrats booed when Mr. Jeffries tried to take blame for the party coming up short in the House, according to those in the room.

Mr. Jeffries, 54, is on track to be reelected by the caucus to serve as minority leader, said one of his predecessors — Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, of Maryland.

“One of the cheers you heard in there was for Hakeem,” Mr. Hoyer said as he left the meeting.

Democratic lawmakers elected Mr. Jeffries to the top post in 2023, when Rep. Nancy Pelosi, of California, stepped aside.

As of Wednesday evening when Mr. Jeffries issued his public statement acknowledging Democrats would not take back the House, the Associated Press had called 217 races for Republicans, one shy of the majority, and 207 for Democrats. That left 11 uncalled races, and Republicans are leading in five of them.

Mr. Jeffries said he and his caucus members “gave it our all, running aggressive, forward-looking and people-centered campaigns,” but still felt short of their goal to flip the House.

“In an adverse electoral climate, House Democrats overperformed the national political environment, re-electing at least 27 of our 31 Frontline incumbents, with one race too close to call, holding four competitive open districts and flipping at least eight Republican-held seats this year,” he said.

Mr. Jeffries credited House Democratic incumbents and candidates for ensuring “the nationwide Trump surge did not materialize in the House,” but said they have work to do moving forward to improve. He promised “a clear-eyed, candid and comprehensive family conversation about how and where” changes should be implemented. 

The Democratic leader also offered congratulations to Republicans and House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana.

“In the new Congress, House Democrats will continue to seek bipartisan common ground on any issue, whenever and wherever possible, to make life better for the American people, while pushing back against far-right extremism whenever necessary,” Mr. Jeffries said.

• Lindsey McPherson contributed to this report.