After years of partisan feuding, California’s new generation of Congress members tries to get along. Will it work?

Rep. Jay Obernolte, right, organized a bipartisan dinner party for California House members. “There’s maybe an opportunity there as there’s a generational shift in the California delegation … to have a fresh look at ways to actually build bridges,“ said Rep. Kevin Mullin, who was elected in 2022. “Even though it’s the largest delegation in the House of Representatives, the divisions are sufficiently strong that they don’t work together in a way that allows them to flex that power,” he said. “On choice, and on practically everything.” California’s representatives still team up to help the state even though they’re not socializing, she said, pointing out that the delegation frequently comes together to push the White House for disaster aid. Republicans rejected Lofgren’s invitation for an all-delegation meeting in a letter stating they were “confident that we can prevail upon the president.” Calvert said members work across party lines on regional issues within the delegation, but the longtime frostiness between California’s Republican and Democratic representatives is a matter of “philosophical differences.” He said social events like Obernolte’s dinner, rather than policy focused meetings, might be the way to build bridges.