TL/DR –
As the November elections approach, Democrats are aiming to win control of the US House of Representatives. However, a feud between two Democratic candidates in a traditionally Republican-held district in California may split the Democratic vote and leave the incumbent Republican representative to face another Republican candidate. This scenario is particularly crucial as five out of 16 House districts that are currently controlled by Republicans but were won by President Biden are in California, meaning the state is crucial for the Democrats’ objective of retaking the House.
Democrats in Battle With Themselves Ahead of Tuesday’s Primaries in California
Democrats are looking to regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the upcoming November elections, starting with Tuesday’s primaries in California. The party’s first major hurdle is not Republicans, but a division within their own ranks.
In the Republican-leaning Central Valley district from Bakersfield to Fresno, tensions between two Democratic candidates threaten to split the party’s vote. This could potentially leave the incumbent, Representative David Valadao, competing against a fellow Republican in November, Chris Mathys.
High Stakes in California Primaries
Control of Congress potentially hangs in the balance, with California playing a pivotal role. Of the 16 House districts that favored President Biden but are currently in Republican control, five are in California. The GOP currently holds a slim three-seat majority in the House.
Republican Advantage Outside Presidential Election States
Two-thirds of the fight for the House will occur in states largely unaffected by the presidential election, according to the National Republican Congressional Committee. This has led to a record 24 NRCC field offices being set up to defend the GOP’s majority.
Democrats Banking on Home Turf Advantage
Democrats insist they have the upper hand, owing to strong state-level organizations and weak Republican Party structures. An all-Republican government with former President Trump at its helm, they argue, would pose a threat to abortion rights and other freedoms, even in Democratic states.
Democratic Hopefuls Face Uphill Battle
Democrats face a numerical disadvantage in their quest to retake the House. Due to gerrymandering and the natural sorting of voters, there are few contested seats. According to the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, there are just 10 Republican seats considered tossups, nine of them in states with Democratic governors.
Tensions Rise as Washington Picks Sides
In the race for the Central Valley district, Washington Democrats have thrown their support behind former California Assemblyman Rudy Salas. House Majority PAC, the Democratic leadership’s super PAC, has begun airing Spanish-language ads promoting Salas’s record on healthcare. His opponent, State Senator Melissa Hurtado, relies on her name recognition within the district as she fights against more than $1 million worth of negative advertising campaigns.
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