What to know about California’s midterm elections
Redistricting in California, the most populous US state, could flip control of US House from Republican to Democrat.
As voters across the United States head to the polls for the midterm elections – widely seen as a referendum on President Donald Trump’s second term in office – the state of California is set to play an important role.
Several races across the country’s most populous state could help determine whether the Democratic Party takes control of the US House of Representatives, where Trump’s Republican Party currently holds a slim majority.
California’s ballot initiatives – or policy decisions made by voters – have also received national attention.
Incumbent Republican Representative David Valadao is locked in a tight race with Democratic challenger Randy Villegas. Valadao has portrayed himself as a moderate, while Villegas has hammered him over issues such as the rising cost of living, healthcare and Trump’s immigration crackdowns – a key issue for the area’s immigrant farm-working communities.