California redrawn House map tested in primary elections
17 reported
California’s congressional primaries on Tuesday provided the first test of a Democratic-led redrawing of the state’s U.S. House map, a move intended to counter Republican redistricting gains elsewhere. Democrats persuaded voters to allow the map to be redrawn, aiming to gain up to five seats in the House. The primary results showed Democrats avoiding a shutout in one redrawn district near San Diego but facing uncertainty in a second district outside Sacramento. California’s top-two primary system, where the two highest vote-getters advance regardless of party, created risks for Democrats if too many candidates split the vote. The redrawn map is part of a broader redistricting conflict that began after President Donald Trump’s efforts to help Republicans retain House control, with Texas redrawing its map to make five more seats winnable for the GOP. The article notes that this is a single-source report and has not been cross-referenced.
What’s reported
California Democrats persuaded voters to let them redraw the state’s congressional map to potentially gain five U.S. House seats.
Tuesday’s primary was the first test of whether the redrawn map would pay off.
Democrats avoided a primary shutout in a San Diego-area district redrawn as a swing seat; Republican Jim Desmond and Democrat Marni von Wilpert advanced.
In a suburban Sacramento district, only one Democrat was in the top three late Tuesday, creating risk of no Democratic candidate on the November ballot.
California’s top-two primary system means if one party runs too many candidates, they can split the vote and all miss the general election.
The redistricting war was kicked off by President Donald Trump to help his party retain House control.
Texas redrew its map to make as many as five more seats winnable for the GOP.
When Virginia Democrats tried to replicate California’s map redraw, they were blocked by their state Supreme Court.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority gutted a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, letting Republicans eliminate some majority-Black congressional districts in the South.
In Sacramento, city council member Mai Vang is challenging 81-year-old Rep. Doris Matsui.
Rep. Brad Sherman advanced to the November ballot while fending off a challenge by Democrat Jake Levine.
In a redrawn Napa Valley district, 14-term Democratic Rep. Mike Thompson advanced despite a challenge from Eric Jones.
In San Francisco, Scott Wiener advanced to replace retiring former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi; Supervisor Connie Chan took the second slot.
Republican Rep. David Valadao made it to the general election in a redrawn Central Valley district.
Republican Reps. Ken Calvert and Young Kim were drawn into the same conservative district; Calvert advanced.
In the San Francisco suburbs, six Democrats and two Republicans are running for the seat formerly held by Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, who resigned amid sexual harassment allegations.
A special election for Swalwell’s current term will be held June 18.
Key figures
Rep. Darrell Issa (retiring)
Jim Desmond (Republican, San Diego County Supervisor)
Marni von Wilpert (San Diego City Councilwoman)
Rep. Kevin Kiley (independent, formerly Republican)
Mai Vang (Sacramento city council member)
Rep. Doris Matsui (incumbent)
Tamara Alton (voter, marriage and family therapist)
Khydeeja Alam (voter, small farmer)
Rep. Brad Sherman (incumbent)
Jake Levine (Democratic challenger)
Larry Thompson (Republican, lawyer)
Rep. Mike Thompson (incumbent)
Eric Jones (former venture capitalist)
Scott Wiener (state lawmaker)
Connie Chan (Supervisor, endorsed by Nancy Pelosi)
Rep. David Valadao (Republican)
Jasmeet Bains (state Assemblywoman)
Randy Villegas (political science professor)
Rep. Ken Calvert (Republican)
Rep. Young Kim (Republican)
Brett Christensen (voter, school safety monitor)
Rep. Eric Swalwell (resigned)
Saikat Chakrabarti (candidate, name corrected in article)
Sources: abcnews.com
