House GOP sees California comeback opportunity in special election
by Kerry Picket
| April 11, 2020 12:01 AM
After smashing wins in California by House Democrats during the 2018 midterm elections, Republicans are increasingly optimistic that a looming special election could help change their fortunes in the state.
The May 12 California special election House race to fill the seat vacated by former Democratic Rep. Katie Hill has become a more competitive contest for the GOP. The Cook Political Report shifted California's 25th Congressional District from “Lean Democratic†to a “Toss Up.â€
Republicans have not picked up a House seat in California since 1998, and Hill won the district back in 2018 by 7 points when she unseated Republican incumbent Rep. Steve Knight. Hill was among seven House Democrats who picked up seats from Republicans, giving their party a 46-7 edge in the state's delegation. Winning the district in the special election would help Republicans in their quest for a House majority, for which they need to win about 18 seats.
Hill resigned from office on Nov. 3 after nude photos of her surfaced, as well as news stories erupted detailing her relationship with a young female campaign staffer and an alleged relationship with a congressional staffer. Hill disputed the latter.
She had represented a district in northern Los Angeles County and a sliver of Ventura County that had long been a GOP stronghold, but like many suburban areas nationally, increasingly turned toward Democrats under Donald Trump's presidency.
Although Mitt Romney won the district in 2012, Hillary Clinton picked it up in 2016 with 50% of the vote, beating Trump by a 7% margin. Presently, Democrats outnumber Republicans by 6%, with 38% of registered voters.
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