Republicans hope for US House turnaround in California
FILE - In this Sept. 8, 2018 file photo, then-California congressional candidates Josh Harder attends at the Take It Back California event where former President Barack Obama campaigns in support of California congressional candidates Anaheim, Calif. California is one of the most heavily Democratic states in the country, but Republicans this year are determined to regain a string of U.S. House seats the party lost to Democrats two years ago. President Donald Trump, who wants the House back under GOP control and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi demoted, has said that with hard work Republicans "…
This undated photo provided by the Howze for Congress campaign shows Republican 10th Congressional District candidate Ted Howze in Modesto, Calif. California is one of the most heavily Democratic states in the country, but Republicans this year are determined to regain a string of U.S. House seats the party lost to Democrats two years ago. President Donald Trump, who wants the House back under GOP control and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi demoted, has said that with hard work Republicans "can pick up seven seats in the state of California." (Howze for Congress via AP)
FILE - In this Jan. 17, 2019 file photo, Rep. TJ Cox, D-Calif., of California's 21sr Congressional district, speaks at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. California is one of the most heavily Democratic states in the country, but Republicans this year are determined to regain a string of U.S. House seats the party lost to Democrats two years ago. President Donald Trump, who wants the House back under GOP control and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi demoted, has said that with hard work Republicans "can pick up seven seats in the state of California." (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik,…
FILE - In this Jan. 6, 2015 file photo, then-Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., poses during a ceremonial re-enactment of his swearing-in ceremony in the Rayburn Room on Capitol Hill in Washington.California is one of the most heavily Democratic states in the country, but Republicans this year are determined to regain a string of U.S. House seats the party lost to Democrats two years ago. President Donald Trump, who wants the House back under GOP control and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi demoted, has said that with hard work Republicans "can pick up seven seats in the state of California." …
FILE - This Jan. 13, 2012 file photo shows Cenk Uygur, host of the television show "The Young Turks with Cenk Uygur," at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Pasadena, Calif. California is one of the most heavily Democratic states in the country, but Republicans this year are determined to regain a string of U.S. House seats the party lost to Democrats two years ago. President Donald Trump, who wants the House back under GOP control and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi demoted, has said that with hard work Republicans "can pick up seven seats in the state of Califo…
FILE - In this June 17, 2019, file photo, Assemblywoman Christy Smith, D-Santa Clarita, speaks in a session of the California Assembly in Sacramento, Calif. Smith is a candidate for the 25th Congressional District seat in the upcoming California Primary election. California is one of the most heavily Democratic states in the country, but Republicans this year are determined to regain a string of U.S. House seats the party lost to Democrats two years ago. President Donald Trump, who wants the House back under GOP control and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi demoted, has said that with hard work Repu…
FILE - In this Oct. 25, 2018, file photo, George Papadopoulos, the former Trump campaign adviser who triggered the Russia investigation, arrives for his first appearance before congressional investigators on Capitol Hill in Washington. The Republican is running for California's 25th Congressional District seat. California is one of the most heavily Democratic states in the country, but Republicans this year are determined to regain a string of U.S. House seats the party lost to Democrats two years ago. President Donald Trump, who wants the House back under GOP control and House Speaker Nancy …
FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Garcia For Congress campaign shows Mike Garcia. The former naval fighter pilot and Santa Clarita businessman announced Wednesday, April 10, 2019, that he will challenge first-term Rep. Katie Hill in 2020, arguing that the Democratic agenda is out of step with the district anchored in northern Los Angeles County. (Garcia For Congress via AP, File)
FILE - In this May 28, 2014, file photo, California state Sen. Steve Knight, R-Palmdale, speaks at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif. Kinght is a candidate for the 25th Congressional District seat in the upcoming California Primary election. California is one of the most heavily Democratic states in the country, but Republicans this year are determined to regain a string of U.S. House seats the party lost to Democrats two years ago. President Donald Trump, who wants the House back under GOP control and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi demoted, has said that with hard work Republicans "can pick …
FILE - In this Dec. 18, 2019 file photo, Rep. Gil Cisneros, D-Calif., speaks as the House of Representatives debates the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump at the Capitol in Washington. California is one of the most heavily Democratic states in the country, but Republicans this year are determined to regain a string of U.S. House seats the party lost to Democrats two years ago. President Donald Trump, who wants the House back under GOP control and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi demoted, has said that with hard work Republicans "can pick up seven seats in the state of Cali…
FILE - This Oct. 1, 2018 file photo shows Young Kim, a Republican candidate who is running for a U.S. House seat in the 39th District in California, speaks at a anti-gas tax rally in Fullerton, Calif. California is one of the most heavily Democratic states in the country, but Republicans this year are determined to regain a string of U.S. House seats the party lost to Democrats two years ago. President Donald Trump, who wants the House back under GOP control and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi demoted, has said that with hard work Republicans "can pick up seven seats in the state of Californi…
FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2018 file photo, Democratic then-congressional candidate Katie Porter speaks during an election night event in Tustin, Calif. She won the election for California's 45th district. California is one of the most heavily Democratic states in the country, but Republicans this year are determined to regain a string of U.S. House seats the party lost to Democrats two years ago. President Donald Trump, who wants the House back under GOP control and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi demoted, has said that with hard work Republicans "can pick up seven seats in the state of Californ…
FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2018, file photo, then-Democratic congressional candidate Harley Rouda speaks during a campaign event in Laguna Beach, Calif. Rouda win the race for California's 48th district. California is one of the most heavily Democratic states in the country, but Republicans this year are determined to regain a string of U.S. House seats the party lost to Democrats two years ago. President Donald Trump, who wants the House back under GOP control and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi demoted, has said that with hard work Republicans "can pick up seven seats in the state of California…
FILE - This Sept. 7, 2019 file photo shows Brian Maryott, Republican candidate for the 49th Congressional District, at the California GOP fall convention in Indian Wells, Calif. California is one of the most heavily Democratic states in the country, but Republicans this year are determined to regain a string of U.S. House seats the party lost to Democrats two years ago. President Donald Trump, who wants the House back under GOP control and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi demoted, has said that with hard work Republicans "can pick up seven seats in the state of California."(AP Photo/Chris…
FILE - This Nov. 30, 2018 file photo shows then-Rep.-elect Mike Levin, D-Calif., at a news conference to discuss their priorities when they assume the majority in the 116th Congress in January at the Capitol in Washington. California is one of the most heavily Democratic states in the country, but Republicans this year are determined to regain a string of U.S. House seats the party lost to Democrats two years ago. President Donald Trump, who wants the House back under GOP control and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi demoted, has said that with hard work Republicans "can pick up seven seats in …
FILE - In this Tuesday, June 5, 2018 file photo, Republican Orange County Supervisor Michelle Steel smiles as she visits Rep. Dana Rohrabacher's election night party in Costa Mesa, Calif. She's challenging first-term Democratic Rep. Harley Rouda in the coastal 48th District. California is one of the most heavily Democratic states in the country, but Republicans this year are determined to regain a string of U.S. House seats the party lost to Democrats two years ago. President Donald Trump, who wants the House back under GOP control and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi demoted, has said that with ha…
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A pair of California Republicans were leading Democratic incumbents Wednesday in battleground congressional districts as the GOP tries to position itself to win back a string of U.S. House seats it lost two years ago.
President Donald Trump, who wants the House back under GOP control and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi demoted, has said that with hard work, Republicans “can pick up seven seats in the state of California.”
Tuesday’s primary election set the stage for those November battles, which will play out in a state that is home to the so-called Trump resistance and where the president is widely unpopular outside his core GOP base.
Early returns showed some GOP successes in Orange County, where Republican Young Kim was the top vote-getter, setting up a rematch with Democratic U.S. Rep. Gil Cisneros. And in the 21st District, Republican David Valadao was leading incumbent Democrat TJ Cox.
In the strongly Democratic 53rd District in San Diego County, Democrat Sara Jacobs, a former State Department contractor and granddaughter of billionaire Qualcomm co-founder Irwin Jacobs, advanced to the November election. Among those seeking the second slot: San Diego City Council President Georgette Gomez, who has been endorsed by the state Democratic Party and Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Republicans hold a mere six of the state’s 53 House seats, with two vacancies. But the party wants to show it can bounce back, even in a state where Democrats control every statewide office, dominate both chambers of the Legislature and hold a 4.3-million edge in voter registrations.
The seven races in districts won by Democrats in 2018:
10TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Democratic Rep. Josh Harder and Republican Ted Howze, a veterinarian, were in a close race as they separated from the remainder of the field. Harder, a venture capitalist, grabbed this farm belt seat from Republican Jeff Denham in 2018. Democrats hold a registration edge in the district, though the state's agricultural centers have long been known for Republicans who vote reliably and Democrats who often do not. Other candidates lagged further back.
21ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Trump recently called former Republican Rep. David Valadao “an incredible guy” he wants back in Washington. But to get there, he’ll need to defeat the Democrat who narrowly beat him in 2018, Rep. TJ Cox. The district has a deceptively large Democratic registration edge — Valadao held the seat for several terms before Cox’s 2018 victory. They are among four candidates on the ballot. A tally of early votes showed the pair far ahead of two other candidates, setting up a potential rematch.
25TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
This swing district north of Los Angeles is vacant after Democratic Rep. Katie Hill resigned amid a sex scandal and House ethics probe last year. Democratic legislator Christy Smith advanced Wednesday in a special election to fill the remainder of Hill's term this year. Her rival in that race wasn't clear: She was followed by former combat pilot and defense industry executive Mike Garcia, a Republican. The outcome also remained unsettled in a second election for the term that begins in 2021. Other candidates in the mix include online news personality and progressive Cenk Uygur and former Rep. Steve Knight, a Republican who lost the seat to Hill in 2018.
39TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Voters in the closely divided, diverse district anchored in Orange County will see a rematch between first-term Democratic Rep. Gil Cisneros and Republican Young Kim. Cisneros claimed the seat in 2018, one of four Republican-held districts all or partly in Orange County that Democrats won. It was a stunning realignment in a county once known as a national GOP stronghold. Kim and Cisneros easily outpaced independent Steve Cox.
45TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Several Republicans who hope to face off against Democratic Rep. Katie Porter were closely bunched in early votes. Two years ago, Porter proved that even a progressive can win in the heart of what was once California’s “Reagan country” in a district with a Republican tilt. The law professor and protégé of presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren snatched the Orange County seat in 2018 from Republican Rep. Mimi Walters. This time, Porter is the sole Democrat on the ballot and a handful of Republicans are dueling for a chance to challenge her, including former fighter pilot Greg Raths, Laguna Hills City Councilman Don Sedgwick, Yorba Linda Councilwoman Peggy Huang and Lisa Sparks, dean of Chapman University’s School of Communications.
48TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
First-term Democrat Harley Rouda will have a November showdown with Republican Michelle Steel, who heads the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Two years ago, Rouda ousted long-serving Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher from the coastal district, which includes Newport Beach and other wealthy enclaves. The district retains a Republican registration edge, but Rouda exposed its shifting politics with his surprise win in 2018.
49TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
First-term Rep. Mike Levin is defending his seat against Republican Brian Maryott, the only candidates on the ballot. The district anchored in San Diego County has a small Republican registration edge but has been growing increasingly favorable for Democrats for years. Levin carried the district by nearly 13 points in 2018.