Democrats are targeting Rep. Mike Garcia’s (R-CA) California House seat as a key opportunity to flip in November in their quest to regain control of the lower chamber. The Democratic candidate, George Whitesides, is confident in his chances, with internal polling showing him slightly ahead of Garcia. 47% of voters in California’s 27th House District support Whitesides over Garcia, according to the poll commissioned by Whitesides’ campaign.
Whitesides’ campaign spokesperson, Emma Harris, stated that the poll reflects voters’ rejection of Garcia and his conservative legislative record. The survey also revealed Garcia’s unfavorable rating at -2, with 42% of voters viewing him negatively. The race for Garcia’s seat is expected to be highly competitive and is rated as a “toss up” by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.
Whitesides has a significant cash advantage over Garcia, with over $3 million on hand compared to Garcia’s $1.7 million. Despite Garcia’s victory in the state’s primary election, Whitesides is positioned to gain support as a third candidate, Steve Hill, siphoned Democratic votes in the primary.
With both candidates now in a head-to-head race, the outcome remains uncertain heading into November. The race for Garcia’s seat is just one of the many competitive races in the 2024 election cycle, with Republicans aiming to maintain their majority in the lower chamber. The landscape of competitive seats favors the GOP, with 18 vulnerable Republican-held seats compared to five Democratic-held seats in districts won by former President Donald Trump. This indicates a tough battle for control of the House in the upcoming elections.
