Key takeaways from the 2026 midterm elections in California
Democrats easily hold on to governor's office and are on track to notch up wins in key congressional races.
While votes are still being counted in California, a handful of important races in the midterm elections have already been called or are pointing firmly in one direction.
Despite its status as a reliably Democratic stronghold, the Western state has played a dynamic role in Tuesday’s United States elections, acting as a testing ground for questions as varied as partisan redistricting and tax measures targeting billionaires.
While vote-counting was still under way, Democratic candidates have pulled decisively ahead in several contests seen as must-wins for the party’s effort to take control of the US House of Representatives.
While Republicans across the country have laboured to turn California into a symbol of liberal dysfunction, voters in the state remain unconvinced that conservatives offer a better alternative.