As California’s primary approaches, competitive House races are heating up, setting up multiple rematches that could sway the Republican majority in the chamber. 

California is the nation’s most populous state, with 52 representatives. The state has often set the political agenda for the entire nation, from leading electric vehicle initiatives, to gun control, to shoring up abortion access and contraceptives. But red states have taken issue with California’s progressive policies, and the Republican candidates vying to hold or flip their seats are no different. 

Republicans took control of the House last year and are entering 2024 with one of the smallest majorities in history — outnumbering Democrats by 222-213. After a tumultuous year resulting in a flood of retirements, such as former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and the expulsion of former Rep. George Santos, Republicans in California hope to maintain or add to the House’s razor-thin majority. 

The Cook Political Report rates four House seats held by Republicans as a toss-up (13, 22, 27, 41), with one Democratic toss-up (08), and one leaning Democrat (47) with another leaning Republican (45). Here’s a look at some of the races to watch in the Golden State, featuring the same candidates as 2022. 

CA-13

California’s 13th Congressional District, encompassing the San Joaquin Valley, was the nation’s second closest election in November 2022, as Rep. John Duarte (R-CA) defeated his Democratic rival, Adam Gray, by only 564 votes. This year, a Duarte-Gray rematch is set to capture national attention yet again, with Cook Political Report’s Partisan Voting Index scoring the election a +4 advantage for Democrats.

This week, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added Gray, who served in the California State Assembly for a decade until 2022, to its “Red to Blue” program. The committee will fundraise for and support several Democrats who are aiming to flip Republican-held seats — Democrats need to win back five seats to take control of the House. 

“We have no doubt that Adam is the right person to replace extremist John Duarte and give Valley families the type of representation and advocacy they deserve,” DCCC Chairwoman Suzan DelBene (D-WA) said. 

Duarte represents a district President Joe Biden carried by 11 points in 2020. Despite his constituents rooting for Biden, Duarte told Axios that he expects “to ultimately endorse Donald Trump for president.”

Despite his stance on Trump, the California representative has not been shy in splitting with his party on controversial issues, including joining eight House Republicans in opposing a resolution to attempt to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in November. 

CA-22

California’s 22nd Congressional District is another where Biden beat Trump in 2020, and includes a Democratic candidate on the DCCC’s “Red to Blue” program — former state Rep. Rudy Salas. Currently, the district is held by Rep. David Valadao (R-CA), representing much of Kings County and parts of Tulare and Kern counties. The Cook Political Report ranks the district as the most Democratic-leaning represented by a Republican.

Valadao defeated Salas, a former assemblyman, in 2022 by a margin of about 4,500 votes, and the two will likely face each other again in November. Another prominent candidate in the race is Democratic state Sen. Melissa Hurtado.

DelBene said Salas is “the type of champion that hardworking California families deserve in Congress, and he’s the right person to oust MAGA enabler David Valadao — who has repeatedly sided with his party over the needs of his constituents.” 

Acknowledging wider implications of McCarthy’s retirement on House Republicans in California, Valadao said he could still rely on the former speaker despite his exit from Congress this year. 

“Well, McCarthy’s not in the House, but he’s still in my corner, and I still talk to Kevin quite a bit. And he’s a close friend, and he’s always going to be supportive,” Valadao told KGET in an interview. 

CA-41

After redistricting shifted the 41st District to lean more Democratic, the election in 2022 was a competitive race. The district has a partisan voting index of Republicans +3.

Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) defeated Democratic challenger Will Rollins in 2022 by more than 5,400 votes. The DCCC added Rollins to their program aimed at flipping red seats blue.

“In Congress, he’ll use that experience to fight against extremism, take on corporate price-gougers that are making life more expensive for Southern Californians, and deliver real solutions for his community. Rollins is more than ready to defeat Ken Calvert,” DelBene said.

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But Calvert, the longest-serving Republican member of California’s House delegation, and who has held his seat since 1993, said he feels confident he’ll emerge victorious in November. 

“With razor tight margins in the House, every race matters. No question. But Ken Calvert has already beaten Rollins once before and Democrats continuing to double down on their failed high-tax, open borders, soft on crime agenda is only going to make matters worse for them,” Calvert spokesman Calvin Moore said in a statement to the Washington Examiner.