‘Point of pride’: Dems revel in California House wins despite nationwide losses

That consolation prize was enough for Californian and third-ranking House Democrat Rep. Pete Aguilar to take a victory lap Wednesday after a caucus meeting, which featured newly-minted winner Adam Gray — who took his Central Valley race by just 187 votes — beaming in via FaceTime. “Netting three seats was a very big deal for California, a point of pride.” While precinct-level deep dives are still to come, Aguilar sketched out in broad strokes what he saw as the Democrats’ successful formula in his home state: better candidates, more resources and driving a message on “quality of life issues.” That combination helped reverse two consecutive cycles of setbacks for California Democrats, who swelled their ranks in the 2018 blue wave, only to lose four seats two years later and fail to reclaim them in 2022. “Ultimately, we had a better formula to win these races and defy the political headwinds blowing the GOP’s way, and now these dysfunctional Republicans will have to manage through the smallest House majority in nearly a century.” House Majority PAC also identified the California races early on as top priorities and set an initial spending target of $35 million. “George Whitesides was probably the Democrats’ most impressive new recruit that they got throughout the entire country,” said one national GOP strategist who was granted anonymity to speak frankly. “Mike Garcia and Michelle Steel have been survivors since 2020 and that’s impressive,” said CJ Warnke, spokesperson for House Majority PAC.