What’s Next in California’s 2026 Congressional Races

Proposition 50 has taken some of the drama out of this year’s congressional elections — it’s almost certain that Democrats will pick up seats here as they try to flip the House.

But under that headline, last week’s primaries set the stage for several contentious contests, including ones that reflect generational tensions in the Democratic Party.

Here’s a look at the matches:

• The races that could flip Congress: Only two seats in California are actually contested between the parties. One in the San Diego area will field Republicans Jim DesmondCounty Supervisor, v. Democrat Wilpert’s mothermember of the municipal council. The other in the southern San Joaquin Valley will permanently imperil Republicans. David Valadao defending his place against a progressive newcomer Randy Villegas.

• Dire threat: In Sacramento, an intra-party competition took shape. Democratic president Doris Matsui faces his first serious challenger in his two-decade congressional career. The 81-year-old will face the Sacramento City Council member May Wanga progressive almost half Matsui’s age. Wang won more votes than Matsui in the primary, but Republicans in the district may swing the race back to Matsui in the fall.

• Another Boomer vs. Millennial battle? It still is too close to call whether an investor Eric JonesDemocrat, will move on to the general election for the North Bay Area congressional seat held by the incumbent. Mike Thompson. Jones Depicts Thompson as Outdated and Ineffective in Campaign Ads, But Jones Is Behind Republicans Ray Riel.

• Some Prop. 50 Shuffle: After a dramatic reshaping of its terrain by Prop. 50, GOP Rep. Kevin Kiley traded both district and party for a chance to stay in Congress. Kylie successfully ran as an independent candidate for the Sacramento-area 6th District and will face a physician and former Democratic senator. Richard Panwho beat a Republican candidate in the primary. Meanwhile, in Orange and Riverside counties, voters will see a Republican vs. Republican race after Prop. 50 changes with Rep. Ken Calvert facing Rep. Young Kim for the new 40th district.

Read more by Maya C. Miller of CalMatters.

For California students in short-term work study programs, a recent change in financial aid policy is history good news and bad newswrites Adam Echelman of CalMatters.

The good news: The U.S. Department of Education is giving states until July 1 to create a new financial aid program that will provide federal Pell Grants to students enrolled in short-term work-study programs. Historically, students who underwent training for programs such as automotive mechanics and information technology were ineligible for federal aid. But with this new extension, students can receive up to $3,000 for tuition and living expenses.

The bad news: California isn’t ready to create the new system.

At a legislative hearing in May, Daisy Gonzalez, executive director of the state agency tasked with the task, said financial aid systems are “extremely complicated.” The California Student Aid Commission has repeatedly said the money won’t be available to students until weeks or months after the federal government’s deadline.

It will also take planning to make sure students know about the opportunity and how to take advantage of it.

• Gonzalez: “You can’t just introduce a new tool and then say, ‘Students apply.'”

Read more.

Many California politicians owe their careers to Governor Gavin Newsom.

He has held more statewide elected offices than any California governor in living memory, a record that could stand him in good stead during probably running for the presidencywrites CalMatters contributor Robert Green.

In addition to filling vacancies on at least eight county boards of supervisors and three state Supreme Court justices, Newsom made three appointments to the U.S. Senate. It began after then-U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris resigned her Senate seat to run for vice president in 2021. The governor then tapped Secretary of State Alex Padilla to fill Harris’ seat.

Then in 2023, after the death of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Newsom tapped Harris ally Lafonza Butler to fill the vacancy. When Butler declined to run for a full term, Newsom appointed Adam Schiff — who won the election to succeed Feinstein — to fill the brief period between the end of Butler’s short term and the start of Schiff’s own full term.

The cascade of vacancies since Harris left the Senate also allowed Newsom to appoint then-Assemblymen Rob Bonta and Shirley Weber as attorney general and secretary of state, respectively.

Why does this matter?

In addition to making a lasting impression on major elective offices and the state, Newsom will likely run for president. If there is a contest between other Californians for the Democratic nomination, say Harris, having a deep bench of incumbents beholden to him can only improve his chances.

Read more.

After finding widespread problems with State Farm’s handling of fire claims in Los Angeles County, California regulators are seeking penalties and a possible suspension of the insurer’s license. CalMatters’ Levi Sumagasai and Director of Video Strategy Robert Meeks have a video segment on violations found by the investigators as part of our partnership with PBS SoCal. Watch it here.

SoCalMatters airs at 5:58pm on Fridays on PBS SoCal.