There were two states that derailed our shot at a majority in 2022 — New York and California. We lost quite a few seats in New York, and left so many seats that Biden won on the table in California. Through a strong showing in both states, we can recapture the House of Representatives!
The Top 2 California primary was in March, and it provided us with strong challengers in all of the districts Biden won in the state, along with the one reach seat that is still competitive. We also have to defend a tricky seat that is open. Our task is to devote the resources necessary to flip these districts and thus the House!
Before we look at each challenger, here are some fundraising efforts that will ensure that our California challengers are fully funded. These are better than donating to each one — especially since the fundraisers below DO NOT SEND YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION OUT. That’s right, no spammy e-mails and texts!
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Let's take back the House by targeting the 16 districts that Biden won in 2020 that have R reps! That brings us to the Beatable16 Fund! Please donate and then share a link to this site on your social media! #Beatable16
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We have raised over $18.8k of the $25k goal so far!
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Here is the Defeat the MAGA Dozen Fund on ActBlue! These 15 incumbent members of the GOP are MAGA Republicans residing in swing districts. The challengers are all strong and can win in these tougher districts. Please donate and then share a link to this site on your social media! #MAGADozen
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We have raised nearly $7.3k of the new $10k goal so far!
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Without further ado, below the fold are the challengers for each of the many California districts that are competitive!
California-3: Jessica Morse
Jessica Morse ran in 2018 and is using the lessons learned from that race to launch a serious challenge.
Our first challenger has the tough task of ousting Rep. Kevin Kiley in a seat that spans from the Sierra Nevada to the Sacramento suburbs. Jessica Morse has the right profile to wrest away a district that Trump won narrowly in 2020 having been working to combat forest fires in the state. She’s running hard on the issue of climate change and on abortion rights. I’ve already written about the race for California’s 3rd district.
California-13: Adam Gray
Adam Gray nearly held this district in 2022. He will flip this district back in 2024!
Our next challenger was involved in one of the closest races for the House in 2022. Adam Gray is a former member of the California Assembly from the Central Valley. He is strong on agricultural issues and issues surrounding water rights. He, like many in the Central Valley, is a moderate Democrat. Rep. John Duarte is pretending to be a moderate because he is scared that Gray will beat him. I’ve already written about the race for California’s 13th district.
California-22: Rudy Salas
Salas is another moderate Democrat from the Central Valley. He almost won in 2022 as well.
Next on the list is Rudy Salas. If he wins, he will likely be amongst the most moderate of the Democrats in our caucus. He will be an ally on agricultural issues and issues surrounding labor. As a former member of the California Assembly, he has the connections and receipts to oust moderate GOP Rep. David Valadao once and for all. I’m planning to write about the race for California’s 22nd district in the near future so keep an eye out for it!
California-27: George Whitesides
George Whitesides is a prominent aerospace CEO and first-time candidate in the Antelope Valley.
George Whitesides is the one challenging the walking ethics violation known as Rep. Mike Garcia. He’s the former CEO of Virgin Galactic — a prominent aerospace company. He’ll be strong on science and fire issues if elected to Congress. This Antelope Valley district north of Los Angeles voted for President Biden in 2020, so it is an attractive target for flipping. I’ve already written about the race for California’s 27th district.
California-40: Joe Kerr
Joe Kerr is struggling to gain traction right now. He needs the most help out of all of these challengers.
Joe Kerr is a long-time firefighter and first-time candidate for a seat in Orange County. He’s struggling to raise funds and get his name out there. Rep. Young Kim seems to be an electoral juggernaut which doesn’t help matters. Democrats likely feel that there are better options to devote their time and resources. That is a mistake as Biden won this district narrowly. I’ve already written about the race for California’s 40th district.
California-41: Will Rollins
Will Rollins is possibly the strongest challenger of the entire California slate.
This district is actually one that Trump won narrowly, but Will Rollins doesn’t care. He held do-nothing Rep. Ken Calvert to a narrow win in the horrible year of 2022 and is back to defeat him in 2024. This former prosecutor is trying to make the case that the corrupt Calvert has been in Congress too long. He is a fundraising super star having over $4.7M to spend on this race. I’ve already written about the race for California’s 41st district.
California-45: Derek Tran
Derek Tran has the right profile to flip a tough seat in Orange County. Let’s hope he can do it!
This Orange County based district is another tough target even though Biden won the district. Rep. Michelle Steel riles up the different Asian communities with misinformation to win. Derek Tran has deep roots in the Vietnamese community of Little Saigon which usually votes GOP. This may be the edge this consumer rights attorney needs to win over the incumbent. I will write about the race in California’s 45th district very soon, so keep an eye out for it!
California-47: Dave Min
Dave Min with his mentor Rep. Katie Porter. He is looking to replace her in Congress.
Another Orange County seat, this district will be the toughest out of all of the California districts to defend. Rep. Katie Porter decided to run for the open Senate seat, leaving this one open. Dave Min stepped in to contest this district, but he’s far from an ideal candidate to do so. Porter barely won this district in 2022 so we will have to expend resources to defend it. I’ve already written about the race for California’s 47th district.
Those are the serious challengers for our California districts, plus one endangered open seat. If we win these seats, we are already very close to winning back the House of Representatives! May our nominees have luck in doing that!
