Farmers and Fighters: Cali Congress Elections

In California, elections brought mix results. David Valadao, a Republican who's no stranger to tight races, won again in the Central Valley. He beat Democrat Rudy Salas, despite the district leaning Democratic. Valadao, a farmer, focused on water issues and working across party lines. Salas, meanwhile, painted Valadao as a Trump follower. In another race, Democrat George Whitesides, a former NASA chief, triumphed over Republican Mike Garcia in the 27th District. Garcia, a former Navy pilot, had earlier pulled off a surprise victory in a heavily Democratic area. Whitesides used his business background to convince voters he could handle problems. These wins matter. They're part of a bigger game — who controls the House next year? With every win, Republicans inch closer to holding onto power. But it's not over yet. Several close races in California could still swing either way. California might seem like a solid blue state, but Republicans hold onto certain areas. The Central Valley and some Southern California suburbs are their strongholds. Even in heavily Democratic districts, some Republicans manage to win.