Redistricting Opens an Opportunity in Los Angeles and Creates Another Battleground

There are no sweeter words in the English language to Democratic consultants than “a new congressional seat in Los Angeles County.”

The rejiggering of the Southern California map opens the door to an additional district that cuts into the expensive media market and provides a new landing spot for ambitious Los Angeles-area Democrats.

The 38th congressional seat, currently occupied by Orange County Democratic Rep. Linda Sánchez, would move north to include the San Gabriel Valley cities of Baldwin Park and El Monte. Meanwhile, the 41st district, which is now an Inland Empire-centered seat occupied by Calvert, would take on more Southeast Los Angeles County cities such as Downey and Whittier before jutting into parts of Orange County.

Sánchez, who lives in Whittier, could opt to run in the new 41st district that would include her hometown. Meanwhile, Los Angeles Supervisor Hilda Solis is rumored to be eyeing a potential House bid, according to several reports.

Rep. Darrell Issa will have a fight on his hands if California adopts the proposed map and if he decides to run for reelection in 2026.

The new 48th district dilutes the Republican hold over a seat that now sprawls across rural portions of eastern San Diego and Riverside counties. It would add a portion of deep-blue Palm Springs along with purple-trending Escondido and San Marcos and take out GOP-heavy Poway.

Issa, one of the wealthiest members of Congress, won with nearly 60 percent of the vote in 2024. He last faced real competition in 2020, when he ran against Ammar Campa-Najjar in what was then the 50th district. Now, voters are likely getting a rematch.

Campa-Najjar, who since his election defeat ran for mayor of Chula Vista and became an officer in the Naval Reserves, said in a statement that he is “seriously considering” a run against Issa after he clears it with his chain of command and Georgetown University, where he was scheduled to teach in the fall. “Having run against Rep. Issa, I know he’s formidable,” he said. “A Democrat will easily carry Palm Springs, but winning this seat will require competing – and winning – in the battleground portions of San Diego, including Escondido and San Marcos, cities I’ve carried before and helped elect new local leaders.”