Several contests are taking shape in districts significantly reshaped by Proposition 50, while others are drawing attention because of open seats, prominent candidates or potentially competitive November matchups.
In the race to succeed former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in California’s 11th District, CBS News has projected two Democrats will advance: State Sen. Scott Wiener and San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, who was endorsed by Pelosi. As of Wednesday’s count with 50% of the vote in, Wiener was leading Chan by more than 12 percentage points in the San Francisco-based district.
Republican James Gallagher and Democrat Mike McGuire are projected by CBS News to advance in California’s 1st Congressional District, with Gallagher leading the primary vote. The race is being closely watched after the district was redrawn to be more favorable to Democrats.
California’s 6th Congressional District race has not yet been projected by CBS News, but no party preference candidate, Rep. Kevin Kiley, is leading the field. Kiley, who currently represents California’s 3rd Congressional District, is ahead of Republican Michael Stansfield and Democrat Richard Pan.
Longtime Sacramento-area congresswoman Doris Matsui is holding a slim lead over fellow Democrat Mai Vang in the race for California’s 7th Congressional District. CBS News has not yet made a projection in this race.
Democratic Rep. Adam Gray is projected to advance in California’s 13th Congressional District, with Republican Kevin Lincoln II in a distant second. The contest in the Central Valley district is notable because Gray’s last two races were among the closest House contests in the country, including a 187-vote win over Republican John Duarte in 2024.
In California’s 34th District in Los Angeles County, another Democrat-on-Democrat matchup appears to be taking shape in November with Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez projected by CBS News to advance, with Democrat Angela Gonzales-Torres in second.
In a newly competitive district, California’s 48th in eastern San Diego County, Republican Jim Desmond and Democrat Marni von Wilpert were projected to advance to the general election by CBS News. The winner is set to replace retiring Republican Rep. Darrell Issa.
CBS News projects that longtime Rep. Brad Sherman will survive a challenge from fellow Democrat Jake Levine in California’s 32nd District, representing parts of LA’s San Fernando Valley. Sherman, who has held office since 1997, was projected by CBS News to face Republican Larry Thompson.
In California’s newly redrawn 40th Congressional District, incumbent Rep. Young Kim is facing a stiff challenge from fellow Republican Rep. Ken Calvert. Calvert opted to run in the 40th District after the boundaries for his current Inland Empire district were significantly changed under Proposition 50 to include LA County. The newly drawn lines for the 40th Congressional District span from eastern Orange County to deep into Riverside County, consolidating two Republican-leaning districts into one. CBS News projected Calvert to advance to the general election, while Kim is fighting off a pair of Democrats for the second spot.