Republicans looking to 2020 census-driven redistricting efforts for help taking back the House of Representatives in 2022 may find aid coming from an unexpected liberal bastion — California.
Democrats currently hold a slim 218-212 advantage in the House, but Republicans are likely to benefit from the new congressional maps being drawn up, with California representing a particular opportunity, the Daily Wire reported on Monday.
In particular, the new map is expected to cut into California’s 45th district, currently held by Democrat Rep. Katie Porter, and bolster numbers in some of the neighboring districts in and around Orange County, although it is difficult to predict where these changes will exactly occur.
Republicans would benefit if the bottom of Porter's 45th district was drawn into Democrat Rep. Mike Levin's 49th — which is currently "narrowly blue" and stands a chance at being flipped, the Orange County Register reported. Former San Juan Capistrano council member Brian Maryott and current Oceanside City Councilman Christopher Rodriguez are viewed as two of the strongest Republican contenders for that seat, according to the Register.
The GOP also stands to gain if Porter loses constituents to the 46th District, which is currently represented by Democrat Rep. Lou Correa.
The Register said that although the portion that Porter would lose would most probably help Correa, it would also siphon off enough of Porter’s base to give the Republicans a real chance to oust her in the midterms.
If the Republicans do manage to take over the House, it would have national repercussions, as Democrats currently, by a narrow margin, control both chambers of Congress, as well as the White House.
Brian Freeman ✉
Brian Freeman, a Newsmax writer based in Israel, has more than three decades writing and editing about culture and politics for newspapers, online and television.
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