California
Key primaries: Democrats made headway in their quest to retake the House of Representatives this week by claiming ballot spots in nearly all of California’s 53 congressional districts. Although Democrats dominate the state, party leaders feared that this year’s crowded primaries would backfire. In California’s unconventional “jungle primary” system, the top two vote getters advance to the general election regardless of their party. Some speculated that the high number of Democratic candidates would split the vote against less numerous Republicans, shutting Democrats out of key House races. But Democrats managed to snag general-election ballot slots in all seven GOP-held districts won by Hillary Clinton in 2016—seats they are targeting in this year’s midterms. Democrats need to pick up 23 seats nationwide to win control of the House. Republicans likewise avoided being shut out of the governor’s race, with John Cox advancing to face Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom.