Democrat Hakeem Jeffries stumps in California in a bid to reclaim House control
Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries crisscrossed Southern California over the weekend as his party works to wrest control of the U.S. House from Republicans
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries crisscrossed Southern California over the weekend in communities far from the presidential battlegrounds — Little Saigon in Orange County and the high desert of Antelope Valley — as he works to wrest control of the U.S. House from Republicans.
The Golden State is a Democratic stronghold but the party lost House seats here in recent elections, giving the speaker's gavel to Republicans. Jeffries, who is in line to become the next House speaker if Democrats regain control in November, needs to pick up four GOP-held seats to win back the majority — and there are five being eyed here in California, more than any other state in the nation.
“California is an incredibly important state at all times, but particularly this cycle given the volume of races that will help decide control of the House of Representatives,” Jeffries told The Associated Press in between stops.
With the race for control of Congress as tight as ever, Democrats are trying to reverse what they view as the shortcomings of recent election cycles when Republicans scored victories in unexpected places, including districts President Joe Biden had just won in 2020.
