GOP adds two House seats in California

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Republican Kevin Kiley, a state legislator who became a conservative favorite for his criticism of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, captured a U.S. House seat Tuesday in northeastern California.

With 83% of ballots counted, Kiley received nearly 53% of the votes to defeat Democrat Kermit Jones, a doctor and Navy veteran.

The win will pad the margin of Republican control in the House. With Kiley’s victory, the tally stands at 220 Republicans and 212 Democrats.

In the Central Valley, Rep. David Valadao overcame a strong Democratic registration advantage and fallout from his vote to impeach then-President Donald Trump.

With 98% of the ballots counted late Monday, Valadao had 52% of the vote to 48% for Salas — a margin of about 4,500 votes.

Valadao joined Rep. Dan Newhouse of Washington as the only House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump after the Capitol riot to be reelected. Others retired or were defeated by Trump-endorsed primary challengers.

Republicans will remain a small minority within the state’s congressional delegation. Of the 52 seats, GOP candidates captured 11 districts with one race still too early to call.