Democrat from Marin could represent Shasta County in Congress under new Prop. 50 district lines
As Prop. 50 lines come into play at the midterms, Shasta County will join California’s second congressional district, currently represented by Jared Huffman of San Rafael. His representation would mark an immense shift for Shasta’s conservative voters.
2.18.26 9:27 am: We have updated this story to correct important information about the need for a November run-off election, regardless of the outcome from the California primary.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had its final say on the legality of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s congressional redistricting. SCOTUS’ unambiguous ruling, without a single judge dissenting, halted California Republicans’ last-ditch effort to prevent Prop. 50 gerrymandering from officially going into effect this year.
Voters in the North State will be among the most affected by California’s redistricting, as what were previously deeply red congressional districts are likely to shift blue in early 2027. That plausible shift is based on simple math: newly-drawn district boundaries that give Democrat candidates a significant advantage in both areas, due to voter demographics.
Who could represent Shasta under the new District 2?
In the new District 2, which will soon include Shasta under redrawn Prop. 50 lines, Marin-based Democratic incumbent Jared Huffman, who currently represents the coastal counties north of San Francisco, is the clear frontrunner in terms of money raised, with about $1 million in cash on hand.
Most other candidates have yet to report funds, according to the FEC database. They include Shasta County Democrat Penelope Rose Yee, Novato Democrat and former army medic Kevin Eisele, Republican and Redding mental health professional Paul W. Saulsbury, Marin County public health specialist Gregory Burgess who listed no party preference, and Cody Nikolas Poludiak whose statement of candidacy was filed from San Diego, also without party preference. Another candidate, Humboldt educator Colby Smart, recently withdrew his name from the race.
In 2024, Huffman won the seat in his current district with 72% of the vote against Republican competitor Chris Coulombe. Huffman is a ranking member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, and has enacted multiple pieces of legislation addressing environmental conservation and Native land stewardship. According to the Heritage Action — the sister organization to the Heritage Foundation behind Project 2025 — Huffman was given a 8% rating in their “how conservative is your congressman?” scoring system, as opposed to LaMafla’s 76%.
Who might represent the new District 1, an area that includes Tehama County?
In the newly laid out District 1, the candidates include California State Senator Mike McGuire of Sonoma, Chico-based educator Audrey Denney, Democratic labor attorney and Santa Rosa-native Kyle Wilson, Republican businesswoman Angelita Valles whose statement of candidacy was filed from Lakehead, and California Republican assembly member James Gallagher. Siskiyou Democrat James Salegui officially suspended his campaign after Prop. 50 passed.
Who will hold the current District 1 seat for the remainder of Doug LaMalfa’s term?
Within California’s current District 1, the congressional representation situation has become complicated after the sudden passing of Rep. Doug LaMalfa in January. A special June 2 primary election, that may be followed be a special Aug. 4 general election, will determine who fills in his vacancy until the end of 2026. In early 2027, that role will transition as congressional representatives elected under new Prop. 50 district lines take their seats.
Gallagher and Denney have also both announced their intention to run for LaMalfa’s vacancy. If successful, either one could win both this race and the following race, to represent both the short-term District 1 seat and the longer-term District 2 seat. Gallagher has received the endorsements of the president himself, as well as several other Republican lawmakers at both the state and national level. Denney’s endorsements come mostly from North State Democratic organizations and some local politicians from Chico and Davis.
For the short-term District 1 vacancy, if any one candidate for each position wins more than 50% in the primary, they’ll be declared the winner without the need for a run-off in the August 4 special election. For the new District 1 and 2 seats, the two candidates who receive the highest number of votes in the primary will move on to the general election regardless of political party.
What the next congressional election in California means for national politics
California has 52 congressional districts, and with the passage of Prop. 50, five of those are expected to flip from Republican congressional representation to Democratic during elections this year.
Given the razor-thin majority that Republicans currently have in the House of Representatives — made even more slim by the death of LaMalfa — the potential of an additional five Democrats coming out of California could have a monumental impact on national decisions.
That’s because the passage or rejection of many pieces of legislation can come down to just a few votes in either direction. For example, the Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act passed by just five votes on Feb. 11 and the passage of the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act by just six votes on Jan. 22.
Prop. 50 changes come amid a slew of other, somewhat contradictory political shifts. Various polling metrics suggest Democratic candidates nationwide may have a slight edge in the midterm but also that the overall number of independents is growing. Other polls indicate that Americans seem to have a pessimistic outlook about both political parties while documenting the way President Trump’s approval rating has dipped as he’s floated the idea of nationalizing elections.
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This is GOOD news! Most of the Republican Party is now the PPP, Protect Pedophiles Party (or Protect Putin Party) that is morally bankrupt, and laMalfa, like good ol Wally before him, and much of the Republican Party are complicit in supporting a 34 Count convicted felon – racist white nationalist – wannabe dictator court ajuducated rapist. The ajudcated rapist administration has fleeced our congressional district and has cut healthcare, education and law enforcement to the bone and his approval rating is at historical lows. It’s past time to move on!
I will have to support MAGA even if im holding my nose, because open borders, dei, and enabling drug addicts makes me throw up in my mouth. It will be interesting to see where gerrymandering on both sides takes us. This is an old trick. Newsom and Trump dont have enough brain cells between them to think it up.
How has that worked out with the execution pardon the pun with locking the border down ? Then invading states with ICE under the guise of getting the illegals that are criminals( less than 15% of dentitions) did you see the Field Marshal coat the DHS commander? The corruption thru Cryto? I too agreed that immigration was broken but congress needs to change it!
How long can you hold your nose? Most of those ideology’s you spoke of don’t effect you personally in the county but MAGA has effected us? Crye, Jones and Kelstrom recent disasters who try to blinds us with distractions.
With any luck all the rednecks will leave and go to Idaho or Montana.
Just wait till the pricks vote in the gas mileage tax! This will be their Waterloo! The mileage tax is popular with no one except the pompous assholes in Sacramento. The Democrats lust for greed and stolen money runs deep in the party. Eventually, they will pay the piper.
You do understand that with your scapegoating you’re influencing people to vote blue, don’t you?
People are tired of the scapegoating.
Relax. It will replace the gas tax. In the end it may be cheaper since EV’s will pay the tax too. Currently they pay nothing. The cup is not always half empty.
Mouth-breathers prefer the current system where those who can afford EVs pay nothing for the ongoing upkeep of our highways and local roads other than registration fees. But we get it. Change of any kind is hella scary.
I suspect California’s gerrymandering will only partly counter the gerrymandering that’s occurring in red states. But that said, I expect the Demos to retake the House with room to spare. Maybe even the Senate. The backlash against MAGA failures and Trump’s repugnant megalomania, fearmongering, divisiveness, capitulating to Putin, and contempt for the US Constitution is coming. That will be our short-term victory against proto-fascism. It may take a generation to re-establish the institutional norms that Trump has lit on fire and pissed out. MAGA has proved that those norms are not as robust as we once trusted.
Gee…we might get somebody who cares more about his, or her constituents than they do for the Dear Leader…
Go figure…
The only thing that surprises me in this tragic loss of our right to choose who represents us in Congess is that there’s been no public outcry about it.
Oh noo, we have to voooote. We lost our right to voooote, by vooooting!!!1! 🫨 😭 Why won’t daddy trump save us?? Tread on us harder daddy.
Agreed. Californians have not suffered enough to change their minds. We must suffer in order to stand as one. So more lack, more suffering and loss must occur.
I couldn’t imagine saying this as a parent, a Christian, or just a generally decent person.
Agreed. I think the reason there is no outcry is the person responsible for mid-decade redistricting was overwhelmingly supported by the majority of voters in Northern California. They only have themselves to blame but will never admit it.
Agreed!
Yeah, I bet money you didn’t give a shit about any of the Red state moves that they did without votes. They still red districts, by all means, go check it out, report back
You have not lost your right to choose any more than I lost my right to choose when I moved to Shastanistan. Safe districts are safe districts by design, no matter which side possesses them.
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Welcome to how I’ve spent the last 25+ years, with absolutely zero chance for a Democrat to carry this House district and represent my political point of view. To quote The Kinks: “It is time for you to stop all of your sobbing.”
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By the way, it’s Congressional Republicans who have adamantly opposed efforts to restrict gerrymandering. The GOP is the party that most strongly favors resisting will of the people by gerrymandering, voter disenfranchisement, and rejecting election results when they lose.