How many seats does the minority party needs to win in the next election to take power in the house of representatives?

Answer 1

There are, I think, 435 seats in the House of Representatives. One party does not "Win" the House, but certainly one party can "Control" the House. "Control" of the House is, as far as I know, by simple majority. "Control" in this scenario, is 218 seats. However, to be clear, many decisions made by the House, are in fact not decided by simple majority, such decisions require, I think, a 60% affirmative vote. This would include overriding a VETO: A change to the Constitution, and other significant "law making" efforts. In such a case a vote would require, 261 votes ( not necessarily seats ). Even so, and probably not to the point, cases that require a 60% majority, would also require the same of the Senate: thus making ~dominant~ control of the House ineffectual without ~dominant~ control of the Senate.

-Dejunai

Answer 2

The US house of Representatives currently has 435 members (if the US added another state, that could change but that is the current number). As of October 2011, the party split is 242 Republican and 192 Democrat with one vacant seat. In order to hold a majority in the House, a party must hold 218 seats. That would require a net gain of 26 seats by the Democratic party (which is currently the minority party in the House). Based on current projections of those seeking reelection, that means the Democrats would have to capture the vacant seat (previously held by a Democrat), field new candidates to hold on to the 13 seats held by retiring Democrats, re-elect the 179 Democrats running for re-election, and take 25 seats away from the Republicans.