Democrats keep Prop. 50 promise alive through primary, with momentum heading toward November

This is read by an automated voice.Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.

California Democrats made it out of last week’s primary election having kept the promise of Proposition 50 alive — advancing candidates to November runoffs in all five Republican-held Congressional districts that last year’s redistricting measure targeted.They now head into November bullish about turning those districts blue, wresting control of the U.S.House from Republicans and delivering their party important leverage to challenge President Trump through the remainder of his second term.“As Democrats, we are united in our fight to flip this seat and to take back the House for Democrats here in ‘26,” progressive college professor Randy Villegas told The Times on Wednesday after besting his Democratic challenger to advance and take on Rep.

David Valadao (R-Hanford) in the redrawn 22nd Congressional District.“We know the path to taking back the House runs through the Central Valley.”Robert Jones, a Valadao campaign strategist, said Valadao “is always humbled to receive the support of Democrats, independents and Republicans across the Central Valley,” and that his “brand of independent, bipartisan leadership is all too rare in Congress and California.”“We look forward to a campaign that puts the Central Valley ahead of any political party and wins again in November,” Jones said.In a social media post Wednesday, former state Sen.

Richard Pan, who advanced in the redrawn 6th Congressional District in the Sacramento suburbs to take on Rep.Kevin Kiley (I-Rocklin), cheered his race being added to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s “Red to Blue” program highlighting winnable seats.

He said his race is “one of the top chances to flip a House seat and take back the majority.” Kiley did not respond to a request for comment, but wrote on X that the November race between him and Pan “will be a choice between the extreme partisan policie...