{"id":110567,"date":"2026-06-02T14:30:45","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T14:30:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/02\/california-primary-2026-key-congressional-races-to-watch-on-election-day\/"},"modified":"2026-06-02T14:30:45","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T14:30:45","slug":"california-primary-2026-key-congressional-races-to-watch-on-election-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/02\/california-primary-2026-key-congressional-races-to-watch-on-election-day\/","title":{"rendered":"California Primary 2026: Key Congressional Races to Watch on Election Day"},"content":{"rendered":"


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California\u2019s 2026 primary is the first since voters passed Proposition 50, which redrew congressional maps to give Democrats a shot at flipping up to five Republican-held seats. From the Central Valley to San Diego, here\u2019s what\u2019s at stake.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Claire Morgan and Queena Kim, The California Newsroom<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Monica Holguin places her ballot at a drop box outside City Hall in San Francisco on May 15, 2026. NPR member stations across California have been tracking these changes to the state\u2019s congressional map, the candidates and the issues in their communities. <\/span>\u00a0(Martin do Nascimento\/KQED)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Republicans currently control both chambers of Congress, but by small margins \u2014 if they lose two House seats, Democrats will reclaim power in at least one chamber of government.<\/p>\n

California uses a top-two primary system, in which the two candidates with the most votes \u2014 regardless of party preference \u2014 proceed to a runoff race in November\u2019s general election.<\/p>\n

NPR member stations across California have been tracking these changes to the state\u2019s congressional map, the candidates and the issues in their communities.<\/p>\n

Congressional District 48<\/h2>\n

Republican Rep. Darrell Issa has represented the San Diego area in Congress for about a quarter century. Democrats have long dreamed of ousting Issa, and Proposition 50 may have given Democrats the edge they\u2019ve long needed.<\/p>\n

With the passage of the controversial measure, Issa\u2019s reelection race flipped from a double-digit Republican advantage to a 10-point lead for Democrats. In March, Issa announced he wasn\u2019t seeking reelection.<\/p>\n

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U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa speaks to media outside of a House Republican meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 14, 2023. (Graeme Sloan\/Sipa USA via Reuters)<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Despite Proposition 50, the question remains: Can the Democrats flip the 48th Congressional District?<\/p>\n

Twelve candidates are in the race for Issa\u2019s seat, including San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond, who\u2019s running as a Republican; San Diego City Councilmember Marni Von Wilpert, who is running as a Democrat; and former Obama official Ammar Campa-Najjar, also a Democrat.<\/p>\n

Read more from KPBS:<\/strong><\/p>\n

48th Congressional District campaigns find ways around campaign finance rules<\/a><\/p>\n

California\u2019s 48th Congressional District race: Ammar Campa-Najjar<\/a><\/p>\n

California\u2019s 48th Congressional District race: Marni Von Wilpert<\/a><\/p>\n

California\u2019s 48th Congressional District race: Brandon Riker<\/a><\/p>\n

Congressional District 22<\/h2>\n

One of the country\u2019s most competitive primary races for Congress this year \u2014 and the only California race rated as a toss-up by the Cook Political Report \u2014 is a swing district in the Central Valley, where Democrats are hoping to flip a seat long held by Republican Rep. David Valadao.<\/p>\n

While District 22 has been trending purple, Valadao has held his seat. But since the passage of Proposition 50, former dairy farmer Valadao faces another headwind: Californians voted to redraw his district narrowly in favor of Democrats.<\/p>\n

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Rep. David Valadao of California speaks at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 17, 2021. (Graeme Sloan\/Sipa USA via Reuters)<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While Valadao is the last remaining House Republican who voted to impeach President Donald Trump in 2021, he did vote in favor of Trump\u2019s \u201cBig Beautiful Bill.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bill slashed Medicaid funding, and Valadao\u2019s congressional district has one of the highest Medicaid enrollment rates in the country. Democratic opponents are trying to rally voters to hold him accountable for his vote to cut healthcare.<\/p>\n

This congressional race is also one of many emerging around the country where progressive Democrats are challenging their party\u2019s establishment.<\/p>\n

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Democrat Randy Villegas has been endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.<\/p>\n

Villegas is a political science professor at a local community college and an elected trustee of the Visalia Unified School District.<\/p>\n

Also vying for the number 2 spot in California\u2019s top-two primary is state Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains. She\u2019s been endorsed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.<\/p>\n

Read more from KVPR:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2018A tug of war for the identity of the party\u2019: Why a Valley congressional race is key for Democrats<\/a><\/p>\n

Read more from CalMatters:<\/strong><\/p>\n

National Democrats said they\u2019d stay out of this California race. Then they picked a side<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2018Valleycrat\u2019 or Mamdani wannabe?: California Democrats are split on how to win swing votes<\/a><\/p>\n

Congressional District 11<\/h2>\n

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi has held her seat representing San Francisco for nearly 40 years. But with the former House speaker retiring<\/a>, all eyes are on the race to succeed her. The frontrunner is state Sen. Scott Wiener, a moderate Democrat by San Francisco standards. He\u2019s polling at about 40% with likely voters.<\/p>\n

The race to face off against Wiener includes two Democrats appealing to more progressive voters in the liberal city: San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan and former tech engineer Saikat Chakrabarti.<\/p>\n

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(From left) San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, Saikat Chakrabarti and State Senator Scott Wiener. (Martin do Nascimento\/KQED; Beth LaBerge\/KQED)<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pelosi has endorsed<\/a> Chan. Chan was born in Hong Kong and moved to San Francisco\u2019s Chinatown as a child. She has centered her campaign on her background as an immigrant, mother and longtime civil servant.<\/p>\n

Chan is running neck and neck with Chakrabarti, who has poured nearly $10 million of his own money into the race. Chakrabarti was the former chief of staff to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and a key organizer of Sen. Bernie Sanders\u2019 2020 presidential campaign.<\/p>\n

Read more from KQED:<\/strong><\/p>\n

After Pelosi, young SF voters want change. 2 progressives are competing to offer it<\/a><\/p>\n

Big money pours into San Francisco race to replace Rep. Nancy Pelosi<\/a><\/p>\n

SF House Candidates Clash on Taxes, Transit in Debate to Replace Pelosi<\/a><\/p>\n

Congressional District 1<\/h2>\n

When longtime Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa unexpectedly died<\/a> in emergency surgery earlier this year, he left his seat vacant. Gov. Gavin Newsom called for a special election to replace LaMalfa, which also falls on the day of California\u2019s primary election.<\/p>\n

Because LaMalfa\u2019s seat was set to expire in January 2027, the winner of the special election will serve only the remaining months of his term. Some voters in the district will see these candidates on their ballots twice: once for the special election to fill the vacancy, and again in the regular primary to determine who represents the redrawn district for the full term when Congress begins in January 2027.<\/p>\n

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Sen. Mike McGuire speaks during a press conference, before Gov. Gavin Newsom signs the Election Rigging Response Act in Sacramento on Aug. 21, 2025. (Miguel Gutierrez Jr.\/CalMatters)<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This district \u2014 which covers much of rural, inland Northern California, including Chico and Redding \u2014 has historically voted red. But the redrawn lines bring in more liberal areas like Sonoma County.<\/p>\n

One long-tenured Democrat has thrown his hat into the race: Mike McGuire, who currently represents a stretch of coast from the North Bay up to the Oregon border in California\u2019s state Senate. He\u2019s running against fellow state Assemblymember James Gallagher, a Republican who represents the northern Sacramento Valley.<\/p>\n

Democrat Audrey Denney, an educator from Chico, is also running in District 1 \u2014 for the third time. (She ran in 2018 and 2020.)<\/p>\n

Read more from North State Public Radio:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

What to know about James Gallagher\u2019s run for Congress<\/a><\/p>\n

Gallagher targets rising cost of living in 1st Congressional District<\/a><\/p>\n

McGuire says healthcare is at a \u2018crisis point\u2019 in 1st Congressional District<\/a><\/p>\n

Denney links affordability crisis to corporate influence in 1st Congressional District<\/a><\/p>\n

Congressional District 7<\/h2>\n

Democrat Doris Matsui has represented California\u2019s 7th Congressional District for over two decades. She stepped into the role in 2005, winning a special election after her husband, Robert T. Matsui, died and left the seat vacant. Prior to his death, Robert Matsui represented the district \u2014 which covers the Sacramento County area \u2014 for over 25 years.<\/p>\n

Doris Matsui has easily won in past elections, but now faces her most serious challenge. Mai Vang, a Sacramento City Council member and more progressive Democrat, has pledged not to take donations from corporations or political action committees.<\/p>\n

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Rep. Doris Matsui listens during the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy hearing on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Bill Clark\/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Several other candidates hope to unseat Matsui, including faith-based housing nonprofit employee and Sacramento State student Zachariah Wooden, who is running as a Republican; small manufacturing business owner Robby Morin, who is running as a Democrat; and entrepreneur Enayat Nazhat, also running as a Democrat.<\/p>\n

The 7th Congressional District has also shifted under Proposition 50 to include some rural areas in El Dorado and San Joaquin counties, which could shift the district more red.<\/p>\n

Read more from CapRadio:<\/strong><\/p>\n

How campaign money is shaping Sacramento\u2019s 7th Congressional District race<\/a><\/p>\n

Read more from CalMatters:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

California Democrats back establishment candidates despite progressive pushback<\/a><\/p>\n

The California Newsroom<\/a> is a statewide public media collaboration that includes NPR, CalMatters, KQED in San Francisco, LAist and KCRW in Los Angeles, KPBS in San Diego and other partner stations across California.<\/em><\/p>\n

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