The midterm elections aren’t quite over, as several House races have yet to be called. We know Republicans reclaimed the majority, but the GOP didn’t get the “red wave” they were looking for.
That’s why every last seat is critical right now, in order to establish at least a little breathing room. And Republicans are now celebrating one of those crucial late wins.
Perhaps surprisingly, it came in a very big Democrat stronghold.
California is arguably the biggest liberal haven in the country, even though we’ve seen some shifting in recent years. And the state holds the largest Congressional delegation with 52 members.
That’s where Republican Kevin Kiley squared off against Democrat opponent Kermit Jones in the race for the 3rd House district.
For a while, it looked as if Jones would claim a close victory but now the Associated Press – and other sources – are projecting that Kiley will be the winner.
And again, it’s an important win for the GOP. From Fox News:
The Associated Press projects that Republican nominee Kevin Kiley will win the open seat for California’s newly drawn 3rd House district, defeating his Democratic opponent, Kermit Jones, in a crucial victory for Republicans.
The GOP win in this district gives Republicans 220 seats, a slight majority when the 118th U.S. Congress convenes next January. Votes are still being counted in three House races.
If Kiley had lost, it actually might’ve been viewed as an upset, as the 3rd Congressional District is right-leaning.
It’s also interesting to note that it’s the largest district in California, as it runs from the greater Sacramento area all the way down to Death Valley. Democrats had hoped to flip this segment blue in the midterms.
But it looks like Kiley will hold on. He’s been a GOP State Assemblyman since 2016, and has often stood up against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s woke regime.
In fact, Kiley was one of the Republicans who led the charge to recall Newsom last year. And though that effort ultimately failed, Kiley managed to secure plenty of support from right-win citizens.
He’s also endorsed by former President Donald Trump, though that didn’t help a lot of candidates during this midterm season.
As for Jones, he’s seen as a somewhat moderate Democrat who didn’t support House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. By separating himself from the far left, he’d hoped to squeak out a victory.
It doesn’t look like it’ll happen, though, and Republicans now have just a bit more margin for error in the House.
Key Takeaways:
- Republican Kevin Kiley is projected to win his House race in California.
- It gives the GOP another critical seat in the chamber, bringing their total to 220 with 3 seats left in play.
- Democrat opponent Kermit Jones tried to distance himself from Democrats and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Source: Fox News
