Proposition 50 took some of the drama out of this year’s congressional elections — it’s just about certain that Democrats will gain seats here as they try to flip the House.
But beneath that headline, last week’s primary election sets the stage for several contentious races, including ones that reflect generational tensions in the Democratic Party.
Here’s a look at the matchups:
- The races that could flip Congress: Just two California seats are actually competitive between the parties. One in the San Diego area will pit Republican Jim Desmond, a county supervisor, against Democrat Marni von Wilpert, a city councilmember. The other in the southern San Joaquin Valley will have perennially endangered Republican Rep. David Valadao defending his seat against progressive newcomer Randy Villegas.
- A formidable threat: In Sacramento, an intraparty matchup has taken shape. Democratic incumbent Doris Matsui is facing her first serious challenger in a congressional career that spans two decades. The 81-year-old will go toe to toe with Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang, a progressive nearly half Matsui’s age. Vang earned more votes than Matsui in the primary, but Republicans in the district could swing the race back to Matsui in the fall.
- Another Boomer vs. Millennial battle? It’s still too close to call whether investor Eric Jones, a Democrat, will advance to the general election for a North Bay Area congressional seat held by incumbent Rep. Mike Thompson. Jones cast Thompson as stale and ineffective in campaign ads, but Jones is behind Republican Ray Riehle.
- Some Prop. 50 scrambling: After having his turf dramatically reshaped by Prop. 50, GOP Rep. Kevin Kiley swapped both district and party for a chance to stay in Congress. Kiley successfully ran as an independent for the Sacramento-area 6th District and will face physician and former Democratic state Sen. Richard Pan, who outpaced a Republican candidate in the primary. In Orange and Riverside counties, meanwhile, voters will see a Republican vs. Republican race after Prop. 50 changes with Rep. Ken Calvert facing Rep. Young Kim for the new 40th District.
Read more from CalMatters’ Maya C. Miller.
CalMatters’ election results: Californians finished voting on June 2, but it could take days, even weeks, for winners to be declared in close contests. As the votes are counted, we’ve got you covered with continually updated results. Check it out.
Other Stories You Should Know
New financial aid for job training
For California college students in short-term job training programs, a recent change in financial aid policy is a story of good news and bad news, writes CalMatters’ Adam Echelman.
The good news: The U.S. Department of Education is giving states until July 1 to stand up a new financial aid program that would provide federal Pell grants to students enrolled in short-term job training programs. Historically, students who were undergoing training for programs such as automotive mechanics and information technology were ineligible for federal aid. But with this new expansion, students can receive as much as $3,000 for tuition and living expenses.
The bad news: California isn’t ready to create the new system.
In a May legislative hearing, Daisy Gonzales, the executive director of the state agency charged with the task, said financial aid systems are “extremely complex.” The California Student Aid Commission has said repeatedly that money won’t be available to students until weeks or months after the federal government’s deadline.
It’ll also take planning to make sure students know about the opportunity and how to take advantage of it.
- Gonzales: “You can’t just introduce a new tool, and then say, ‘Students apply.’”
Who owes Newsom a favor?
A lot of California politicians owe their careers to Gov. Gavin Newsom.
He has filled more statewide elected posts than any California governor in living memory — a record that could help him during his probable run for the presidency, writes CalMatters contributor Robert Greene.
In addition to filling vacancies on at least eight county boards of supervisors and three justices on the state Supreme Court, Newsom has made three appointments to the U.S. Senate. This began after then-U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris resigned her Senate seat to become vice president in 2021. Following that, the governor tapped Secretary of State Alex Padilla to take Harris’ spot.
Then in 2023, after the death of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Newsom appointed Harris ally Laphonza Butler to fill the vacancy. When Butler declined to run for a full term, Newsom appointed Adam Schiff — who won the election to succeed Feinstein — to fill the short period between the end of Butler’s brief term and the beginning of Schiff’s own full term.
A cascade of vacancies from Harris’ Senate exit also enabled Newsom to appoint then-Assemblymembers Rob Bonta and Shirley Weber as attorney general and secretary of state, respectively.
Why does this matter?
Besides leaving a lasting stamp on major elected offices and the state, Newsom is likely to run for president. If there is a contest among other Californians for the Democratic nomination, say Harris, having a deep bench of officials indebted to him could only help his chances.
And lastly: State Farm in the hot seat
After finding widespread problems in State Farm’s handling of Los Angeles County fire claims, California regulators are seeking penalties and a possible license suspension for the insurer. CalMatters’ Levi Sumagaysay and video strategy director Robert Meeks have a video segment about the violations investigators found as part of our partnership with PBS SoCal. Watch it here.
SoCalMatters airs at 5:58 p.m. Fridays on PBS SoCal.
California Voices
CalMatters columnist Dan Walters: Soft-spoken Xavier Becerra is a 180-degree departure from the ever-bragging Newsom, and if elected, Becerra’s governorship will likely deal with real issues rather than grandstanding.
Other things worth your time:
Postal Service won’t deliver mail ballots for states that don’t hand over voter lists, under plan for Trump directive // CNN
CA’s slow vote count faces changes as Supreme Court decision on late ballots looms // Los Angeles Times
How did the generational change movement do in CA’s election? // KQED
Will Steve Hilton bring back the death penalty? // San Francisco Chronicle
Inside the implosion of Matt Mahan’s governor’s race // The San Francisco Standard
State workers dig in against Newsom’s return-to-office mandate // Abridged
Fairfield mayor resigns just before meeting surrounding questions about her residency // San Francisco Chronicle
Kaiser stuck to its guns in a major strike, but what did it cost? // The Mercury News
A huge fire threatened to burn a pristine CA island. Inside the fight to preserve this oasis // Los Angeles Times
