The 2024 elections are fast approaching. Here are the key House races to watch

The U.S. House of Representatives, which consists of 435 members and is elected at a dizzying pace of two years, is divided by just one or two votes in 2024, with the GOP holding on by a proverbial thread. Of the 435 voting seats in the House, 217 are held by Republicans. Democrats hold 213 seats with five vacancies.

A May 7 Cook Political Report on U.S. House race ratings has pinpointed 22 toss-up seats in the 2024 US House elections. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the National Republicans Congressional Committee released their target lists of vulnerable seats, with the DCCC reporting 33 and the NRCC reporting 37, featuring several states, including Arizona, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

A look at some of the tossup races in swing states, identified in a May 7 CPR U.S. House ratings report, that could decide control of the House:

Arizona

In Arizona's 1st District, Republican David Schweikert, first elected in 2010, is considered one of Democrats' top targets as they seek to gain control of the House. Schweikert narrowly won his reelection bid in 2022. Juan Ciscomani of District 6 is also a vulnerable target.

A dozen candidates, including eight Democrats, have filed to challenge Schweikert. Among them are a first-time candidate who works in finance, a former White House speechwriter and former chair of the Arizona Democratic Party, and a doctor and state lawmaker.

Arizona's primary elections are on July 30.

Michigan

Campaign strategists from both the DCCC and the NRCC and the in its May 7 CPR report have identified the Michigan District 7 seat as a crucial battleground and a tossup seat, with polls suggesting that Michigan is very much in play and the election is highly contested.

Former state senators Curtis Hertel (D) and Tom Barrett (R) are vying for this seat in the August 6 primary, where they are the sole candidates from their respective parties. Democratic U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin is set to leave her position in District 7 to pursue a candidacy for the U.S. Senate, following Senator Debbie Stabenow's retirement announcement.

The NRCC is focusing on another competitive Michigan seat that will open in January 2025. Matt Collier, Daniel Moilanen, Pamela Pugh, and Kristen McDonald Rivet are the Democratic primary candidates for Michigan's 8th District on August 6.

In the Republican primary, Mary Draves, Anthony Hudson, Paul Junge, and Nikki Snyder are vying for the same seat. Paul Junge leads Nikki Snyder by 36% in the Republican primary, according to a FiveThirtyEight poll.

Pennsylvania

The GOP has targeted two tossup seats in the swing state of Pennsylvania. Democratic U.S. Representatives Susan Wild and Matt Cartwright are defending their incumbencies. Wild, of District 7, faces challenges from Ryan Mackenzie (R) and Lewis Shupe (I), while Cartwright, of District 8, is up against Rob Bresnahan Jr. (R).

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US House elections to watch in 2024: These swing states are key