The vibe shift in Cali
If you’ve been following the drama in California’s House districts, it’s giving major 'eat the rich' energy. Thanks to the state’s jungle primary system, we’re seeing a string of Democrat-vs-Democrat runoffs that have nothing to do with flipping seats and everything to do with shifting the party’s center of gravity. Established incumbents—like Reps. Mike Thompson, Doris Matsui, and Jimmy Gomez—are being hunted by younger, more anti-establishment candidates who are lowkey vowing to make House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ life a total nightmare.
Who wants what
Take the 4th District, where 35-year-old venture capitalist Eric Jones is taking on Rep. Mike Thompson. Jones isn't playing the party game, telling Axios he wouldn't vote for any current member as speaker. Then there’s the 7th District: Rep. Doris Matsui is sweating after trailing Sacramento Councilmember Mai Vang in the primary. Vang, aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), has made it clear she’s over the current leadership.
In San Francisco, the race to replace Nancy Pelosi between state Sen. Scott Wiener and Supervisor Connie Chan is getting spicy. Wiener is backing Jeffries, but Chan is playing hard to get, saying the speaker role has to be 'earned.' Meanwhile, Rep. Jimmy Gomez—who is currently under an ethics investigation—is facing off against neighborhood councilor Angela Gonzales-Torres, who is running on a platform of rejecting corporate PAC cash.
Why it matters
Even if Hakeem Jeffries secures the speakership, he’s going to have a massive headache if these insurgents make it to the Hill. The bigger this bloc of skeptics gets, the more they can disrupt the status quo. Real talk: leadership is going to be spending a lot more time playing defense within their own ranks than actually passing legislation. It’s a total L for party unity.
