Louisiana voters cast ballots Saturday for Republicans in the last two House races of 2008 and Friday Ohio finally finished counting votes in congressional district 15, awarding that seat to the Democrats.

Looking at the next Congress, it appears that Democrats will have 257 House seats compared to 178 for the Republicans. This means that if all representatives voted on a bill and all Republicans voted the same way, 40 Democrats would have to vote with the Republicans to pass a bill or defeat one. That is a very high hurdle, especially with a Democratic president.

Likewise, for Republicans to take control of the House, they would have to win a net of 40 seats or build a coalition majority with some Democrats, which is for now extremely unlikely.

This count is not yet official, as it awaits the final count in Louisiana 4, where Republican John Fleming appears to have won Saturday's contest by 356 votes.

In the Senate of course, Democrats are up to 58 seats with the Minnesota race still unresolved.