LOS ANGELES (AP) — The result successful a drawstring of intimately matched California U.S. House races that could play into power of the enclosure remained unsettled Friday, arsenic millions of ballots remained uncounted successful the nation’s astir populous state.
More than a twelve races successful the authorities remained successful play, though lone a fistful were seen arsenic choky capable to spell either way. It takes 218 seats to power the House. Republicans had locked down 211 for far, with Democrats claiming 200.
It could instrumentality days, oregon adjacent weeks, to find who gets the gavel adjacent year.
Should Democrats neglect to support their slim majority, Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield would beryllium successful enactment to regenerate Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco.
In California, the superior battlegrounds are Orange County — a suburban expanse southeast of Los Angeles that was erstwhile a GOP stronghold but has go progressively divers and Democratic — and the Central Valley, an inland agelong sometimes called the nation’s crockery vessel for its cultivation production.
One of the tightest races matched Democratic Rep. Katie Porter, a prima of the party’s progressive wing, against Republican Scott Baugh, a erstwhile legislator, successful an Orange County territory astir arsenic divided betwixt Democrats and Republicans.
Returns showed Porter expanding her constrictive pb to 4,555 votes, oregon 51.2% to 48.8% for Baugh. Earlier, Porter’s borderline had been astir 3,000 votes.
In different adjacent contention successful a Democratic-leaning territory northbound of Los Angeles, Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Garcia saw his comfy borderline implicit Democratic challenger Christy Smith dip slightly. His borderline remained astatine 12 points, 56% to 44%.
Democrats person agelong dominated California’s legislature delegation, which is dropping to 52 seats adjacent year, from 53 seats, due to the fact that its colonisation maturation has stalled, though it remains the largest delegation successful Congress.
In the existent term, Republicans clasp lone 11 of the 53 seats successful the powerfully Democratic state.
With counting incomplete, Republicans claimed six races truthful acold and were starring successful six others.
Democrats tallied wins successful 30 seats and were starring successful 10 different contests. In 2 of those races, lone Democrats were connected the ballot, meaning the enactment volition clasp power of those seats.
But overmuch uncertainty remained. As of Thursday, astir 5 cardinal ballots remained uncounted statewide.
East of Los Angeles, Republican Rep. Ken Calvert regained the pb aft trailing Democrat Will Rollins. With astir fractional the votes counted, Calvert held a 1-point edge. Calvert, archetypal elected successful 1992, is the longest serving Republican successful the California legislature delegation.
In the Central Valley’s 22nd District, wherever astir fractional the votes person been counted, an update showed Democrat Rudy Salas cutting into the pb held by Republican Rep. David Valadao, who voted to impeach then-President Donald Trump. The 2 are divided by 5 points, aft Valadao earlier had a much than 8-point advantage.
In a competitory territory anchored successful San Diego County, Democratic Rep. Mike Levin saw his borderline turn somewhat against Republican businessman Brian Maryott. Levin holds a 4-point margin, with astir two-thirds of the votes tallied.
President Joe Biden was successful the district successful the campaign’s closing days successful hopes of boosting Levin’s chances.
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