Despite its reputation as a deep blue state, California has some seriously swing districts and a handful of exciting congressional battles to watch during Tuesday's primary.
Polls are now closed in California, and results are expected to come in over the coming hours and days.
A handful of Southern California districts have gone back and forth between Democrats and Republicans over the past several election cycles. In 2020, Republicans captured two seats that Democrats would very much like back in their column this year. Meanwhile, Democrats will be playing defense in purple districts as they face strong political headwinds due to rising inflation and President Joe Biden's low approval ratings.
California is also home to the House's two most powerful politicians: Democrat Nancy Pelosi and Republican Kevin McCarthy. One of them is very likely to be the House speaker next January.
California has a nonpartisan, top-two primary system. The pair of candidates who are the top vote-getters move on to the general election, regardless of party affiliation. That means California often sees general elections that feature two Democrats, or two Republicans, as well as more traditional contests pitting candidates from both parties running against each other.
By all accounts, 2022 is likely to feature plenty of heated general election contests between Democrats and Republicans. The most intense partisan battles will likely play out in Orange County, which is situated south of Los Angeles and features several swing districts.
The state's districts have been reshuffled after the last census in 2020 docked California one House seat, meaning some sitting members are running on different terrain than before. The state now has 52 seats.
Because California allows its citizens to vote by mail, it could take several days for officials to finalize the vote in each of these contests and declare a winner. Here are 10 key races to watch on election night.
Congressional District 11
Incumbent: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D)
Pelosi, the country's first female speaker of the House, is running for re-election in this Bay Area district. She will likely have a smooth re-election process, but faces a challenge from the left from Democrat Shahid Buttar. Buttar is making his third attempt to challenge Pelosi, and has attacked her for supporting the practice of lawmakers buying and selling stocks.
Congressional District 20
Incumbent: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R)
McCarthy may very well be the next speaker of the House if Republicans capture enough seats in November to take back the lower chamber. But first, the Bakersfield-area congressman first has to win re-election in 2022.
His most serious challenger is Democrat Ben Dewell, but McCarthy represents a reliably conservative swath of California, giving him the upper hand in this race.
Congressional District 22
Incumbent: Rep. David Valadao (R)
David Valadao is one of just 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Donald Trump. Valadao sided with his Democratic House colleagues on charges that Trump incited the deadly Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021.
Trump has sought to punish Republicans who defected during his second impeachment trial, and Valadao's race will be a litmus test for whether a conservative can defy Trump and survive re-election. Two other Republicans have jumped into the race and are running to Valadao's right: Chris Mathys, a former Fresno city councilman; and Adam Medeiros, of the Kings County Board of Education.
The central-California district is increasingly purple, and state Assemblyman Rudy Salas is making a bid on the Democratic ticket to unseat Valadao.
Congressional District 27
Incumbent: Rep. Mike Garcia (R)
Democrats are eyeing this district north of Los Angeles as a possible pickup in 2022.
Incumbent Rep. Mike Garcia will face former Assemblywoman Christy Smith, who he has defeated twice before. Smith defeated veteran John Quaye Quartey to run against Garcia for a third time.
Congressional District 37
Incumbent: Open seat
Longtime Los Angeles Rep. Karen Bass opted to run for mayor of Los Angeles instead of another term in Congress, leaving this heavily Democratic seat wide open. Seven candidates have thrown their hats in the ring so far.
Two prominent frontrunners have racked up big endorsements. Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry has won the endorsement of 16-term Rep. Maxine Waters. Meanwhile, state Sen. Sydney Kamlager has the blessing of Bass herself.
Congressional District 40
Incumbent: Rep. Young Kim (R)
Young Kim, a Republican, swiped this Southern California seat from Democrats in 2020 and became one of the first two Korean-American women to ever serve in Congress. Now, Democrats are hoping to win it back.
Kim's top challengers include Asif Mahmood, a Democrat and physician, and Mission Viejo City Councilman Greg Raths, a Republican whose politics closely aligns with Donald Trump and is hoping to unseat Kim as the top GOP choice in the primary.
Congressional District 42
Incumbent: N/A, this is a new seat
The contest for California's 42nd Congressional District is the race between two dueling Garcias: Robert Garcia, the mayor of Long Beach and a rising star in California Democratic politics, and Cristina Garcia, a state assemblywoman who has made women's issues central to her work in Sacramento.
While Republicans will also vie for the seat, the new district was carved out during the state's redistricting process, and its voting base skews heavily Democratic and Latino.
Congressional District 45
Incumbent: Rep. Michelle Steel (R)
Republican Congresswoman Michelle Steel is running for her second term representing the Orange County seat. Along with Rep. Young Kim, she was one of the first Korean American women ever elected to Congress when she was elected in 2020.
The new 45th district is slightly different from the seat Steel won in 2020, and was drawn to feature a large Asian American voting bloc in order to politically empower the community.
Steel faces Democratic challengers, most notably Jay Chen. The two have traded rather personal blows; Steel has accused Chen of mocking her accent, which he denied in an op-ed.
Congressional District 47
Incumbent: Rep. Katie Porter (D)
Katie Porter is one of the most high-profile Democrats in Congress, thanks to her ability to generate viral moments during hearings through her sharp questions and use of a whiteboard. She's a powerful fundraiser and rising Democratic Party star.
However, the newly drawn 47th district is almost perfectly split between Democratic and Republican voters. Porter first won election to Congress in 2018 by flipping a swing seat, but this contest could be her toughest yet.
Four Republicans have so far lined up to take on Porter. Scott Baugh, a former state assemblyman and former chairman of the Orange County Republican Party, is emerging as a leading candidate. Baugh is running on a staunchly conservative platform, and promises "lower taxes, more freedom and strong borders."
Congressional District 49
Incumbent: Rep. Mike Levin (D)
Rep. Mike Levin is running for re-election in a redistricted seat with a very narrow Democratic advantage, and Republicans are lining up for the chance to oust him.
The most viable Republicans in the race are Brian Maryott, former mayor of San Juan Capistrano; Lisa Bartlett, Orange County Supervisor; and Christopher Rodriguez, an Oceanside city councilman.