Reform California Releases List of Target 26 ‘Toss-Up’ Seats in Congress, Assembly and Senate

Recently elected Assemblyman Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego), who serves as Chairman of Reform California, announced his organization will wage a statewide campaign to recruit and support quality candidates to run in what he says are the top target seats in California.

DeMaio says in 2020, 2022 and again in 2024 California Republicans won enough Congressional seats to take ultimate credit for giving the House Majority to Republicans. And in 2024 Republicans won 3 state legislative seats – the best performance for the party in a presidential cycle since 1984.

DeMaio now has compiled a target list of 9 congressional seats and 17 state legislative seats statewide that he says that could be flipped in each county.

“There’s no doubt that California has been a tough state for center-right candidates to compete in, but as we showed with our wins in 2020, 2022 and 2024,  we have opportunities to turn the tide and make gains to end the Democrats’ extremist policies and one-party stranglehold on California,” said DeMaio.

“We absolutely must compete aggressively for these 26 seats — and try to pick up as many local seats as possible in 2026,” DeMaio said.

The List of 26 Seats – “Do You Live in One? Want to Run in One?”

US CONGRESS – 9 Targets Will Be Selected

1. CA-9 (Central Valley) – TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
2. CD-13 (Central Valley) – TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
3. CD-21 (Central Valley) – TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
4. CA-22 (Central Valley) — David Valadao (Defend)
5. CA-27 (Los Angeles County) – TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
6. CA-41 (Riverside County) — Ken Calvert (Defend)
7. CA-45 (Orange County/Los Angeles County) — TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
8. CA-47 (Orange County) — TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
9. CA-49 (San Diego/Orange County) TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)

On the Watch List (5 seats):

1. CA-3 (Central Valley) — Kevin Kiley (Defend)
2. CA-25 (Riverside County) – TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
3. CD-26 (Ventura County) – TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
4. CD-39 (Riverside County) – TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
5. CD-40 (Orange County) – Young Kim (Defend)

STATE SENATE – 4 Targets Will Be Selected

1. SD-16 (Central Valley) – TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
2. SD-36 (Orange County) – Tony Strickland (Defend)
3. SD-38 (Orange County/San Diego) – TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
4. SD-40 (San Diego) – Kristie Bruce-Lane (Defend)

On the Watch List (5 seats):

1. SD-4 (Central Valley) – Maria Alvarado-Gill (Defend)
2. SD-6 (Sacramento) Roger Nielo (Defend)
3. SD-14 (Central Valley) – TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
4. SD-18 (San Diego/Imperial/Riverside) – TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
5. SD-34 (Orange County) – TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)

STATE ASSEMBLY – 13 Targets Will Be Selected

1. AD-7 (Sacramento) — Josh Hoover (Defend)
2. AD-22 (Central Valley) — Juan Alanis (Defend)
3. AD-27 (Central Valley) — TBD Candidate (Pick Up)
4. AD-35 (Central Valley) – TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
5. AD-36 (Riverside County) — Jeff Gonzalez (Defend)
6. AD-40 (Los Angeles County) — TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
7. AD-47 (Riverside County) — Greg Wallis (Defend)
8. AD-58 (Riverside County) — Leticia Castillo (Defend)
9. AD-60 (Riverside County) — TBD Candidate (Pick Up)
10. AD-67 (Orange County) — TBD Candidate (Pick Up)
11. AD-70 (Orange County) — Tri Ta (Defend)
12. AD-74 (Orange County/San Diego) — Laurie Davies (Defend)
13. AD-76 (San Diego) — TBD Candidate (Pick Up)

On the Watch List (8 seats):

1. AD-13 (Central Valley) – TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
2. AD-31 (Central Valley) – TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
3. AD-39 (Los Angeles/San Bernardino) – TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
4. AD-42 (Los Angeles/Ventura County) – TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
5. AD-50 (San Bernardino) – TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
6. AD-53 (Los Angeles County) – TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
7. AD-56 (Los Angeles County) – TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
8. AD-73 (Orange County) — TBD Candidate (Pick Up)

DeMaio said winning most or all of these 26 target seats would represent a “milestone” in shifting political dynamics in California.

“Winning the congressional seats would help ensure that Democrats continue in the House Minority,” said DeMaio. “For the State Senate and State Assembly, winning our target seats will allow us to end the Democrats’ Super-Majority and be relevant again in Sacramento and stop extreme Democrat policies.”

“The only thing limiting us right now is lack of resources — so we’re urging all concerned Californians to join us in fighting for these 26 target seats by contributing whatever they can today to the campaign.”

Go to Reform California for more info.