In California, a handful of closely contested races with pending results may determine whether Republicans seize control of the House of Representatives.
As millions of votes continued to be tallied on Wednesday in the nation’s most populous state, uncertainty loomed over about a dozen of California’s 52 House seats, particularly in the Los Angeles area and the Central Valley.
Notable battles included the neck-and-neck race between Democrats Katie Porter and Mike Levin in Southern California, despite a late campaign boost from President Joe Biden. Meanwhile, in East Los Angeles, Republican Ken Calvert trailed Democrat Will Rollins by a margin of 12 points, with a significant portion of early votes remaining uncounted.
In the Central Valley, Republican David Valadao, known for his vote to impeach former President Donald Trump, led with 54 percent of the votes tallied in his contest against Democrat Rudy Salas, although a substantial number of ballots were yet to be processed.
The outcomes of these undecided races could sway the balance of power in the House. If Democrats secure victories in crucial contests like the Calvert race and maintain leads elsewhere, they may mirror their 2018 success when they flipped seven Republican-held seats, regaining control of the House.
Conversely, if Republicans prevail in pivotal races like Calvert’s and overturn leads held by Porter and Levin while clinching open seats in central California, the scenario could resemble the 2020 election, where Republicans unseated four Democrats in a state traditionally favoring the Democratic Party.
Political analysts like Tad Kusser from the University of California, San Diego, suggest that if Democrats retain seats like those of Porter and Levin while defeating Calvert, it could signal a reversal of the so-called “red tide” that has recently swept the nation.
Despite these uncertainties, California maintained its liberal stance on Election Day, reaffirming support for Democratic incumbents like Governor Gavin Newsom and Senator Alex Padilla. Additionally, voters overwhelmingly backed enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution, while the Democratic Party retained a firm grip on the state legislature.
With Republicans currently holding only 11 of California’s 53 seats, a number set to decrease to 52 next year due to stagnant population growth, the state’s political landscape continues to evolve amidst ongoing electoral dynamics.