California’s Redistricting Paid Off in Blue Sweep
Preliminary returns show Democrats winning seats that retained Republican advantages after 2025 boundary changes, while state leaders position for a new congressional majority.
By Petra Murphy ·
Democratic candidates won nearly every contested House seat in California that retained a Republican voter registration advantage after the 2025 redistricting, according to preliminary returns released Wednesday morning.
The state’s political map shifted in 2025 when voters approved a partisan redistricting plan. The new boundaries redrew congressional districts to make several seats easier for Democrats to win. This effort aimed to counter similar map changes in Republican-led states.
Results from Tuesday’s election show the strategy worked in California. In the 22nd Congressional District, Randy Villegas unseated Republican incumbent David Valadao. Villegas is a progressive who received the endorsement of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Valadao had previously won close elections in a district covering Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, and Tulare counties.
In the 23rd Congressional District, incumbent Jay Obernolte held a slim lead over challenger Tessa Lynn Hodge as polls closed. The district includes parts of Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. Obernolte had nearly 24,000 more registered Republican voters than Democrats in his district. He reported holding nearly $1.4 million in cash on hand, while Hodge reported having just $12,000 in mid-October.
The race for governor concluded quickly. Xavier Becerra was declared the winner as soon as polls closed at 8 p.m., before final tallies appeared on the secretary of state’s website. His victory was expected to be decisive given the state’s deep Democratic base.
National results mirrored California’s gains. In Texas, Democrats retained the seats of Reps. Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez despite Republican redistricting efforts. In Alabama, Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures won reelection against a map favored by the state legislature. In Missouri, voters flipped a long-held Republican district.
Rep. Robert Garcia of Long Beach posted the words “Lawyer up” to his official X account after the election. The message signaled the direction of the incoming House Oversight Committee. Garcia is expected to lead that panel under the new Democratic majority.
Political experts noted the implications for the 2028 presidential cycle. Dan Schnur, a political messaging professor at USC and UC Berkeley, said the strong performance of left-leaning candidates makes the path more challenging for moderate figures like Gov. Gavin Newsom. The surge also boosted the influence of new officeholders, including Annie Andrews, who became the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from South Carolina since 1998.
