Victories declared as Dems flip California congressional seats

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(The Center Square) – Midterm election numbers were all but finalized Wednesday morning with 100% of precincts across California reporting results.

Results showed Democrats flipping several Republican seats in the U.S. House, which was the Democratic Party's goal when it redrew districts under voter-approved Proposition 50.

The hotly-contested congressional races in California included District 1, which saw U.S. Rep. James Gallagher, R-Nicolaus, losing his seat to state Sen. Mike McGuire, a Democrat. Gallagher, the former California Assembly minority leader, was elected earlier this year in a special eleciton to represent the rural Northern California district after longtime U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a Republican, died in  January.

As of 8:08 a.m. on Wednesday, 88,089 voters, or 57%, voted for McGuire, compared to 66,369, or 43%, for Gallagher.

“Two words: Thank YOU!,” McGuire wrote on Facebook late Tuesday night. “Folks from every corner of Northern California spoke up, turned out, and delivered an overwhelming message — they’re tired of the constant chaos and an economy that works against them. They want bold leadership that delivers on a promise to make life better for working families, saves healthcare for millions of Americans and fights for an economy that works for all.”

McGuire's win meant an additional seat for Democrats, who took control of both houses of Congress in Tuesday's midterms.

Gallagher did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday and did not issue any statements after numbers showed he would lose his seat to McGuire.

In House District 6, which also includes parts of Northern California, Rep. Kevin Kiley, a Rocklin independent who caucuses with Republicans, lost to Democrat Richard Pan. Kiley got 64,143 votes, or 42.5%, while Pan came out ahead with 86,732 votes, or 57.5% of the vote. That meant another seat flipped by Democrats.

“Thank you to all our volunteers and supporters who put in the work to help make this possible,” Pan wrote on Facebook on Tuesday night. “I couldn’t have done it without you. I’m ready to fight for California’s 6th District in Congress!”

Pan and Kiley could not be reached for comment, and Kiley did not issue a statement on social media as of noon Wednesday.

In Central California’s District 13, U.S. Rep. Adam Gray, D-Merced, won re-election against former Stockon Mayor Kevin Lincoln II, a Republican. Gray won 58,217 votes – 61.3% – against Lincoln’s 36,724 votes - 38.7%.

“Valley voters have once again placed their trust in me, and I don’t take that responsibility lightly,” Gray wrote in a statement on social media on Wednesday morning. “People here in the valley want their leaders focused on what matters: lowering costs, reliable water, good-paying jobs and affordable health care. They expect us to put people ahead of politics and work together to solve problems.”

Lincoln did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday, but conceded the election to Gray in a statement he put on social media late Wednesday morning.

“I want to congratulate Congressman Adam Gray on his re-election and wish him well as he continues serving the people of our Valley,” Lincoln wrote. “I have had the privilege of serving our country as a United States Marine, our communities as a pastor, and the people of Stockton as Mayor. Running for Congress and meeting so many incredible people across our Valley has been an honor of a lifetime.”

In another one of Central California’s congressional districts, District 22, Democrat Randy Villegas declared victory over Republican incumbent David Valadao, coming out ahead 54,337, or 66.4% of the vote, to Valadao’s 27,480 votes, or 33.6%. That was another seat Democrats flipped.

“This victory belongs to the voters, hundreds of volunteers, tens of thousands of grassroots donors, and working families who believed we could build something better together,” Villegas wrote late Tuesday. “Central Valley, we're going to Washington – together!”

Valadao did not respond to The Center Square's request for comment on Wednesday and did not issue any statements conceding the election as of publication time.

In District 40, which includes parts of Southern California, voters chose between two Republican incumbents – Rep. Young Kim of Anaheim Hills and Rep. Ken Calvert of Corona. Election results show Calvert received 70,550 votes, putting him at 54.5% versus Kim’s 58,817 votes, or 45.5%.

The redistricting by the Democratic Party put the two Republican incumbents in the same district.

Calvert wrote on social media on Wednesday morning that early results gave his campaign a significant lead.

“Our campaign has led in both early arriving vote-by-mail ballots as well as in-person voting in both Riverside and Orange Counties,” Calvert wrote. “These results show voters want a proven, consistent, and effective leader representing them in Congress. I look forward to seeing the rest of the results.”

Kim did not issue a statement as of publication time on Wednesday.

Two other Southern California districts, 41 and 48, also saw Democrats pull ahead of their Republican opponents. District 41’s voters elected Linda Sánchez 109,542, or 64.9% of the vote, to Republican Mitch Clemmons’ 59,126 votes, or 35.1% of the vote. Marni von Wilpert won District 48’s House seat with 92,924 votes, putting her at 59.6% versus Republican Jim Desmond’s 63,015 votes, putting him at 40.4%. Von Wilpert is a member of the San Diego City Council, and Desmond sits on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.

The two candidates were running to succeed U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, a Vista Republican who chose not to seek reelection after the district was redrawn. Von Wilpert's victory meant another new seat for Democrats.

“Voters showed up to the polls and made their voices HEARD!” Sánchez wrote on social media around noon on Wednesday. “Their message was clear: lower costs, root out corruption, and protect our communities. Democrats are fired up and ready to get to work!”

Clemmons did not issue a statement conceding the race and did not respond to requests for comment.