California Democrats Sweep Statewide Offices, Flip 5 US House Seats

California Democrats delivered an exhaustive midterm victory, winning Governor, maintaining every statewide constitutional office, and flipping five congressional seats, ratcheting down Dem control of state government.

The five lost Republican seats reduced California’s Republican U.S. House delegation from 9 to 4.

Pre-election, the 119th Congress California delegation was 43 Democrats and 9 Republicans.

These changes align with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s and Democrat’s Redistricting scheme, Proposition 50, and their goal of netting Democrats up to five additional seats via mid-decade redistricting. It is reminiscent of the 2018 ballot harvesting slaughter of California Republicans in Congress.

The key flips from Republican-held seats included:

• CA-1: Democrat Mike McGuire defeated Republican incumbent James Gallagher. 
• CA-6: Democrat Richard Pan defeated Kevin Kiley, who had left the Republican Party to run as an independent after redistricting. Kiley was previously elected as a Republican and caucused with Republicans.
• CA-22: Democrat Randy Villegas defeated Republican incumbent David Valadao with a large lead 66.4% to 33.6%.
• CA-41: Democrat Linda Sánchez won the redrawn district that had been held by Republican Ken Calvert, who ran and won in CA-40 instead, beating Republican Young Kim 54.5% to 45.5%.
• CA-48: Democrat Marni von Wilpert won the open seat previously held by Republican Darrell Issa, who did not seek reelection after the redraw, over Republican Jim Desmond, 59.6% to 40.4%. 

The Statewide Constitutional offices were won/maintained by Democrats, with 59% – 60% of the votes counted:

• Insurance Commissioner: Democrat Jane Kim defeated Democrat Ben Allen, 52% to 48% for.
• Attorney General: Incumbent Democrat Rob Bonta defeated Republican Michael Gates, 63.8% to 36.2%.
• Controller: Incumbent Democrat Malia M. Cohen defeated Republican Herb Morgan, 63.8% to 36.2%.
• Lieutenant Governor: Democrat Fiona Ma defeated Republican Gloria Romero, 63.8% to 36.2%.
• Secretary of State: Incumbent Democrat Shirley Weber defeated Republican Don Wagner, 64.7% to 35.3%.
• Superintendent of Public Instruction: No Party Preference Richard Barrera vs. NPP Sonja Shaw – race has not been called yet, with Barrera 57.2% to Shaw 42.8%.
• Treasurer: Democrat Eleni Kounalakis defeated Republican Jennifer Hawks, 64.0% to 36.0%.

Results are still being finalized in some close races the day after the election, with mail ballots continuing to arrive. The Globe will update election results as they come in.