President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney are not the only Democrats and Republicans competing in the upcoming election. Both parties are hoping to gain control in the House of Representatives as they fight for 81 seats. Here are five key races to pay attention to. 

TX-23

Rep. Francisco Canseco, a first-term Republican from Congress, talks about the "tidal wave of debt" at a Feb. 2011 event. (Bexar Republican/Flickr)

Texas Congressional District 23 is the 10th in the nation for outside spending in congressional races with more than $6 million in independent expenditures, according to the L.A. Times. 

First-term Republican representative Francisco Canseco, a strong proponent of closing deficit, is up against Democratic candidate Pete Gallego.

He serves on the House Financial Services Committee. 

In the past 10 elections, District 23 has only elected a Democratic candidate twice, voting Ciro Rodriguez to the House in 2006 and 2008. Rodriguez lost in the primary this year to Gallego and lost the seat to Canseco in 2010. 

Both the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and National Republican Congressional Committee have invested more than $1.5 million into ads opposing the other candidate. Both sides have reason to believe their candidate could win the election according to the National Journal. 

NV-3

Incumbent Republican Rep. Joe Heck is trying to hold his ground amid heavy criticism from opposing candidate John Oceguera over Heck’s decisions during his past term. Heck and Oceguera recently disagreed in a debate, especially regarding one ad Oceguera supported which attacked Heck’s position on women’s health. Oceguera criticized Heck for voting against funding for Planned Parenthood and rape crisis services.

The district is ranked 16th in outside spending on Congressional races with more than $5 million pouring in.

DCCC has spent just over $2 million on ads opposing Heck compared to the $1.5 million NRCC has spent opposing Oceguera. 

Neither group has spent any money on ads in support of their own candidate. National Right to Life PAC, a pro-life political group, has invested a small, but not insignificant $4,000 in support of Heck. Heck has gained support from the medical community. He's a former doctor who dedicated much of his time towards improving the medical field. 

Groups such as the American Medical Association PAC have collectively invested over $400,000 on ads in support of Heck. 

The Washington Post reports that Heck is still likely to win despite being a constant Democratic target since he won the seat in 2010. 

UT-4

Six-term Utah Rep. Jim Matheson has a tough competitor in Republican candidate Mia Love. 

Matheson has served for Utah’s second district, but due to redistricting Utah has now added a 4th district. 

Saratoga Springs Mayor Mia Love has gained national attention because her win would be a historic one. If she wins, she would be the first African-American woman from the Republican Party in Congress. 

Both candidates have spent a great deal of time and money attacking each other during the race. 

Matheson has accused Love of being a right-wing extremist while Love has criticized him for saying one thing in Utah but acting differently in Washington, reported Deseret News. 

District 4 ranks 17th nationally in outside spending at about $5 million. 

The NRCC has spent almost $2 million on this race, over four times as much as the DNCC. 

The Washington Post reported that Love has recently taken a small lead, but the race is still very close. 

NC-8

Redistricting in North Carolina has left Republican candidate Richard Hudson as the front-runner against incumbent Rep. Larry Kissell.

The district ranks 48th in spending on the campaign at almost $2 million. 

99 percent of this has been spent to oppose Larry Kissell. The other $18,000 has been spent to support Richard Hudson. 

Democrats have canceled all their ads in this race because Kissell seems like the obvious underdog, according to HeraldNet. 

NV-4

Steven Horsford, Nevada’s first African-American state Senate majority leader is having trouble gaining support from African-Americans in his district against opposing candidate, Republican Danny Tarkanian. 

The district is ranked 28th in spending for the congressional race with more than $4 million spent. Almost 70 percent of this money has been spent to oppose Horsford. 

The NRCC has spent about $1.5 million opposing Horsford, while the DCCC has not spent any money on this particular race.

One reason for this could be that Horsford was considered a shoo-in just six months ago, according to Politico.

The Democratic candidate has a clear lead in this district with 36,000 more Democratic voters registered than Republicans. It could be a tough loss for Democrats if they are hoping to take back the House.

The National Journal reports that current polls are showing Tarkanian in the lead, but Real Clear Politics says it is still a close race. 

Reach Staff Reporter Anna-Catherine Brigida here.