California congressional race could help tilt House control

LOS ANGELES » What could be one of the most competitive House races in the country is taking shape in California’s agriculturerich Central Valley, where a Democratic assemblyman Monday became the latest candidate to announce a bid to oust Republican U.S. Rep. David Valadao.

The heavily Latino, strongly Democratic 21st District has been a perennial battleground, and the outcome next year is likely to play into which party controls the House. Democrats have 220 seats in the chamber, Republicans 212, with three vacancies.

However, the shape of the district and its political complexion could shift, with a commission still working on adjustments to boundary lines as part of once-a-decade reapportionment, which accounts for population changes.

Five-term Assemblyman Rudy Salas formally announced he would enter the race during a kickoff event in his hometown of Bakersfield, where he had been the first Latino to serve on the City Council. He joins a lengthening list of Democratic candidates, including Delano Mayor Bryan Osorio, former Assemblywoman Nicole Parra and Angel Lara, a former aide to California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Valadao also is facing challengers from within his own party.

Salas said in a statement that he wants to “make sure that Washington once again delivers for the Central Valley.”