U.S. Congress

LaMalfa was known for his dedication to water access and forestry management, key issues for his largely rural district. His death leaves House Republicans with an even more precarious majority that could struggle to pass Republican legislation.

Republicans and the Trump administration are hoping a panel of federal judges in Los Angeles will halt the new Prop. 50 maps from taking effect. But given the Supreme Court’s recent ruling greenlighting Texas’s redrawn maps, their odds are long.

President Trump and Republicans in Congress last week ignored Gov. Gavin Newsom's requests for fire aid. Newsom has been critical of them recently.

The recent retirements of Nancy Pelosi and other longtime House Democrats have led to more calls for aging members to pass the torch. Incumbents argue their experience is crucial as the executive branch is upending the balance of power in Washington.

Witnesses at a congressional hearing describe nightmarish experiences while in ICE custody, highlighting the cruelty and stupidity of federal detention.

If Proposition 50 survives the legal challenges, the new voting map could lead to the lone Republican seat in San Diego - the 48th Congressional District represented by Darrell Issa - flipping to the Democrats.

McGuire, who terms out of the Legislature next year, hopes to capitalize on Democrats’ new voter registration advantage in LaMalfa’s post-Prop. 50 district to flip a congressional seat from red to blue. His launch video appears to preemptively address the criticism that he’s out of touch with rural Californians.

Her retirement, which comes amid Democrats’ cries for a new generation of leadership, sets the stage for a showdown between a progressive challenger and a well-known moderate state senator.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has been looking for a way to win national attention. Proposition 50 puts him “light-years ahead.”

Potential challenges in the courts and in Washington may affect whether Prop 50 influences the 2026 political races.