California’s congressional map has changed. In November 2025, voters approved Proposition 50, replacing the district lines drawn by the state’s independent Citizens Redistricting Commission with a new map passed by the Legislature. Many new California districts are now viewed as more favorable to Democrats than in previous elections.
Since the House of Representatives is expected to be decided by a narrow margin, here are some key races like this one that play a crucial role in determining which party holds the majority. This district breakdown will explain what’s different in your district and who’s on your ballot.
CA-13: Adam Gray (D) vs. Kevin Lincoln (R)
Adam Gray secured a place in the general election after winning 40.9% of the primary vote. CA-13 covers the northern San Joaquin Valley — stretching from northwestern Fresno County up through San Joaquin County, taking in much of Merced County and part of Madera County.
Gray co-sponsored two bipartisan bills to expand federal support for groundwater storage and recharge efforts in California. In a statement regarding his bipartisan record, Gray said, “We need results. I’ve proven I’ll work with anyone, Democrat or Republican, if it means lowering costs, strengthening our farms and small businesses, and making life better for Valley families.”
Republican candidate Lincoln is the former mayor of Stockton. He is running on a platform focused on public safety, reducing violent crime, and increasing funding for law enforcement. Additionally, he has stated that national security is closely tied to stricter border security and immigration enforcement.
CA-21: Jim Costa (D) vs. Kyle Kirkland (R)
Jim Costa held a strong lead, securing 42.2% of the vote and advancing to the general election. He represents California’s 21st Congressional District, which includes parts of Fresno and Tulare counties. Costa is a political veteran with a two-decade record spanning healthcare, veterans’ affairs, infrastructure, and water policy. He played a key role in passing the Affordable Care Act and the PACT Act, expanding Department of Veterans Affairs benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances.
Kirkland, his opponent, is the owner of Club One Casino in Fresno and president of the California Gaming Association. His stated campaign priorities include government accountability, border security, water and agriculture, safe communities, and improving education.
CA-22: Randy Villegas (D) vs. David Valadao (R, incumbent)
Democratic candidate and college professor Randy Villegas will face off against Republican Rep. David Valadao in the general election. Villegas positions himself as a “political outsider” who champions issues such as health care, immigration, labor rights, and corporate accountability. He also defines himself as an economic populist who embraces his reputation as an anti-establishment candidate and has consequently surged in popularity.
Rep. David Valadao is considered a “moderate Republican” known for being one of the few House Republicans who voted to impeach President DonaldTrump after Jan. 6, and he has prioritized agricultural and water issues important to his farming constituents. Despite this, he backed the broader GOP megabill “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” that cut funding to Medi-Cal.
The region is a predominantly agricultural district where the economy relies heavily on farmworkers. Although the area has previously held largely conservative positions across social and economic issues, the redrawn district is turning toward more progressive candidates like Villegas.
CA-25: Raul Ruiz (D) and Joe Males (R)
California’s 25th Congressional District is currently represented by Raul Ruiz (D), who is strongly favored to win. Ruiz secured his general election spot with 59.2% of the vote against Republican opponent Joe Males.
Ruiz has held the seat since January 2013 and was born in Zacatecas, Mexico, he grew up in the Coachella Valley and earned degrees from UCLA and Harvard, including a medical degree. He practiced as an emergency medicine physician before entering Congress, and still often goes by “Dr. Ruiz.
Males is a Marine Corps Veteran, small business owner, and Hemet City Council District 4 representative in California. Barring a major turn of events between now and the general election, it is unlikely that Males will make significant gains in the polls.
CA-45: Derek Tran (D, incumbent) vs. Chuong Vo (R)
Derek Tran and Chuong Vo are advancing to the general election for the District 45 U.S. Representative seat. Tran secured 52.5% of the primary vote, but this race is expected to become highly competitive heading into November.
Tran is the son of Vietnamese refugees. A former consumer rights attorney and policy analyst, he has also spent eight years as an Army reservist. His platform advocates for raising the minimum wage, safer working conditions, and gun-safety measures, including universal background checks and an assault weapons ban. He introduced the Protect Veteran Jobs Act, which aims to reinstate veterans who were removed from federal jobs during the workforce cuts in the DOGE era.
Vo, who was also born in Vietnam, is a former law enforcement officer with 28 years of experience and a retired member of the Torrance Police Department. He served on the Cerritos City Council from 2020 to 2025. His platform focuses on fiscal responsibility — cutting wasteful spending and auditing for fraud instead of raising taxes.
CA-47: Dave Min (D) vs Jenny Rae Le Roux (R)
California’s 47th Congressional District includes key areas of Orange County: Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Newport Beach, and Seal Beach. The redrawn version of his Orange County district voted for former Vice President Harris by 10 points, making it slightly more favorable to Min than before redistricting.
Min secured the lead in the primaries with 45.4% of the vote. He is a former Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement attorney and law professor who has made strong criticism of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement tactics a central issue of his campaign. He has positioned himself as the anti-corruption candidate, vowing to implement financial regulations and consumer protections, including stronger safeguards for working families and a crackdown on predatory lending practices.
Le Roux is an entrepreneur and first-time congressional candidate. She is a two-time former gubernatorial candidate (in the 2021 recall and 2022 elections) and a cousin of Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger. She’s also the current director of the “Cal DOGE,” A private sector initiative — not an official state agency — that brands itself after the federal Department of Government Efficiency to target alleged waste and “hidden taxes” in Sacramento’s Democratic-controlled budget. Democrats have dismissed the effort as a scam designed to look official.
CA-48: Marni Von Wilpert (D) vs Jim Desmond (R)
Come November, Republican County Supervisor Jim Desmond will face Democrat and San Diego City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert in the race for California’s 48th Congressional District.
In the primary, Desmond led the field with 41.2% of the vote. Von Wilpert advanced to the general election in second place with 20.2% of the vote, a smaller share reflecting the fact that Democratic votes were split among several candidates in the race.
Democrats aim to flip the Republican seat vacated by former Rep. Darrell Issa, who retired after Prop. 50 redrew his district. The new map hands Democrats a structural edge by excluding Republican-leaning cities east of San Diego and including heavily Democratic Palm Springs.
The race is considered one of the most important races in the state and could hold national consequences. Although the district leans Democratic, a Wilpert win would likely validate Democrats’ redistricting strategy.
Von Wilpert’s campaign is focused on affordability and healthcare–including calls to expand the Affordable Care Act. She has championed reproductive rights and advocated for codifying Roe v. Wade into federal law, as well as safeguarding providers like Planned Parenthood.
Desmond, an outspoken anti-immigration Republican, has built a reputation as the most reliably conservative member of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. He is consistently a skeptic of public spending and maintains firm positions on border security and immigration enforcement.
In February 2025, Desmond joined other Southern California Republicans in an attempt to repeal a San Diego County Board of Supervisors policy that restricts the use of county resources to enforce federal immigration policies, but the board rejected the repeal effort.
