Politics

California’s Midterm Elections Set to Redraw Congressional Landscape

By Al Jazeera Staff

California’s 2026 midterm elections will be held on Tuesday, November 3, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. Mail ballots must be postmarked by election day.

The state’s new congressional district maps, drawn under Proposition 50, a 2025 ballot measure that temporarily suspended the nonpartisan redistricting commission until 2030, aim to net at least five additional Democratic seats in the House. The maps were created in response to partisan redistricting in seven Republican‑led states and were approved by California voters.

California has 52 House seats, the most of any state, with Republicans holding eight. Several races are now highly competitive:

* The 22nd district, covering the Central Valley, was redrawn and is now a close contest between incumbent Republican Rep. David Valadao and Democratic challenger Randy Villegas. Valadao presents himself as a moderate, while Villegas has criticized him on cost of living, healthcare and Trump‑era immigration policies.

* The 48th district, a former Republican stronghold in San Diego County, is open after long‑time Rep. Darrell Issa retired. Republican Jim Desmond and Democrat Marni von Wilpert are vying for the seat.

* Representatives Ken Calvert and Young Kim, both Republicans, find themselves in the same district after redistricting, forcing a head‑to‑head race.

In the gubernatorial race, Republican commentator Steve Hilton faces Democrat Xavier Becerra, a former attorney general and Biden‑era secretary of health and human services. Becerra is heavily favored in polls, with a recent Emerson poll showing a 27‑point lead.

Voters will also decide on several ballot initiatives. Proposition 40 proposes a one‑time tax on about 200 of California’s wealthiest residents to fund healthcare and education. The measure has faced opposition from industries and tech leaders, including Google co‑founder Sergey Brin, who has spent more than $102 million to defeat it. Supporters include the Democratic Party and some progressive figures such as Senator Bernie Sanders and Rep. Ro Khanna.

Propositions 41 and 42 would effectively nullify Proposition 40 if passed. Proposition 39 would require voters to present government‑issued IDs to vote. Proponents argue it would strengthen election integrity, while critics say it adds unnecessary barriers, noting that voter fraud is extremely rare.

California’s redistricting and ballot measures are expected to play a significant role in determining whether the Democratic Party can gain control of the U.S. House of Representatives, where the Republican Party currently holds a slim majority.