Santa Clarita Area Voters Face Redrawn 27th District as LA County House Races Near Election Day

As Election Day approaches, three storylines are drawing attention in Los Angeles County's U.S. House races: an ongoing House ethics investigation, an open seat created by a retirement, and the effects of mid-cycle redistricting that California voters approved last year. At least two new members will join the county's congressional delegation after the election.

One newcomer will succeed Rep. Julia Brownley, who is retiring, in the 26th District, which includes Westlake Village, Agoura Hills and Calabasas. The 38th District is also open because no incumbent is running there after the new boundaries took effect. It covers residents in Montebello, Baldwin Park and Diamond Bar.

Some races feature a candidate who won more than half the primary vote yet still faces a November contest. That is because California sends the top two primary finishers to the general election regardless of party, even when one candidate secured a majority.

In the Santa Clarita area, the 27th District pits Democratic Rep. George Whitesides against Santa Clarita Councilmember Jason Gibbs, a Republican. Gibbs took 41% in the four-person primary and Whitesides received 40.6%, while the remaining 18.4% went to other Democrats. The district includes Lancaster, Palmdale and Santa Clarita. Redistricting removed Acton and Quartz Hill and pushed the district south into the San Fernando Valley, adding neighborhoods such as Reseda and Lake Balboa.

Voters there have swung between the parties in the past. Whitesides flipped the seat two years ago by defeating then-Rep. Mike Garcia in one of the nation's most competitive House races. Under the new lines, Democrats hold a 15 percentage-point registration advantage, and the nonpartisan Cook Political Report now rates the district as solidly Democratic.

In the 26th District, Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, a Democrat endorsed by Brownley, faces Republican business executive Sam Gallucci. They advanced from a nine-person June primary. The district currently covers most of Ventura County and a small part of northwestern L.A. County, and it will extend east to Quartz Hill when the new session begins in January. In the 38th, county Supervisor Hilda Solis, a Democrat, faces Republican forensic psychologist Pedro Antonio Casis. The seat is considered open because Rep. Linda Sánchez chose to run in the 41st District, where her Whittier home was redrawn. She faces Republican Mitch Clemmons.

The ethics investigation involves Rep. Jimmy Gomez of the 34th District, who is seeking a sixth term against fellow Democrat Angela Gonzales-Torres. Gomez denies the alleged sexual misconduct under review. He has acknowledged making "personal mistakes" outside his marriage but says they were consensual and broke no law or House Ethics rule.

Elsewhere, Democratic incumbents are running in most of the county's districts. Rep. Laura Friedman of the 30th faces Republican Scott Meyers, and the district gained Acton and Agua Dulce. Rep. Brad Sherman of the 32nd, finishing his 30th year in office, faces Republican Larry Thompson. Rep. Robert Garcia of the 42nd faces Brian Burley, a Republican, and his district now takes in Huntington Beach and part of Newport Beach. Rep. Maxine Waters, first elected in 1990, faces Republican Cristian Torres in the 43rd.

Other matchups include Rep. Judy Chu against Republican April Verlato in the 28th, Rep. Gil Cisneros against Republican Eric Ching in the 31st, and Rep. Ted Lieu against Republican Houston Brignano in the 36th. Rep. Derek Tran faces Republican Chuong Vo in the 45th, and Rep. Nanette Barragán faces Republican Genevieve Angel in the 44th. Republican Rep. Jay Obernolte, who is seeking a fourth term in the 23rd, faces Democrat Tessa Lynn Hodge.