Democrats and Republicans agreed on at least one thing before November's election: California would play a central role in determining which party controls the U.S. House.

California's reputation as a politically liberal state is being tested in a string of U.S. House districts that are expected to play into control of the chamber.

Heavily Democratic California might appear an unlikely national battleground.

Republicans are energizing GOP voters with ongoing U.S. House probes on Hunter Biden and the threat of an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden's family finances.

U.S. Rep. Mike Garcia has been reelected in California in a victory that hands Republicans control of the House.

Republicans have won control of the U.S. House.

A handful of closely matched California U.S. House races could determine which party controls the chamber.

A special election is being held in California's farm belt to complete the term of former U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes, who resigned to join Donald Trump's media company.

(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)LOS ANGELES – It had been over two decades since a Republican captured a Democratic-held congressional district in California. The stunning victories have California GOP leaders talking about a comeback after years of teetering on the brink of irrelevance in the heavily Democratic state. Still, California Republicans all too familiar with Election Day misery now see a template to make further inroads. Young Kim defeated Democratic Rep. Gil Cisneros in a rematch in the Democratic-leaning 39th District, anchored in Orange County. In Orange County “voters saw a different face to the Republican Party in Steel and Kim,” she said.

This photo, date and location not known, provided by the Garcia For Congress campaign shows Mike Garcia. In a statement, Garcia said “victory is clear,” given the votes remaining uncounted. Garcia, a former fighter pilot, captured the vacant swing district in a May special election following the resignation of Democratic Rep. Katie Hill in 2019. A Republican win in the Democratic-leaning district would mark another bright spot for Republicans in the heavily Democratic state. At the time, the 25th District had been the last GOP-controlled House seat anchored in Los Angeles County.

An updated tally from Los Angeles and Ventura counties showed his edge had grown to 422 votes. The post was left vacant after former Democratic Rep. Katie Hill resigned in 2019 amid a House ethics probe. The district, anchored in Los Angeles County but paired with a slice of Ventura County that is home to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, has a Democratic registration edge. When Hill captured the district in 2018, it was the last Republican-held House seat anchored in Los Angeles County. Last week, Republican Young Kim defeated Democratic Rep. Gil Cisneros in a district anchored in the one-time GOP stronghold of Orange County, and Republican Michelle Steel earlier claimed the 48th District in Orange County from Democratic Rep. Harley Rouda.

(AP Photo/Sait Serkan Gurbuz, File)LOS ANGELES Republican candidates eager for a turnaround in heavily Democratic California are spotlighting what they see as a dire threat to families and communities their own states policies. If Joe Biden says hes fighting for the soul of America, Republican candidates say they are fighting for the soul of California. Yet, in an election year that could produce a record Democratic turnout in California, Republican chances of gaining ground are uncertain at best. The California Republican Party was once a national powerhouse, and Orange County was a foundation block in the conservative revolution that sent the former California Gov. The numbers are witnessed at the ballot box: The GOP hasnt won a statewide election since 2006 and George H.W.

Citing its direct payments for immigrant workers in the U.S. illegally and other asinine provisions, the House Republican campaign arm all but promised attack ads. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll this month found 61% of suburban voters disapprove of Trump, little changed over three years. Garcia represents a nod toward diversity for the overwhelmingly white House GOP. Republicans have sought more female candidates, too, hoping to improve an embarrassing look: Just 13 of the 198 House Republicans are women, and two are retiring. All 53 remaining House Democrats in seats the GOP targeted last year, mostly from Trump-won districts and freshmen, have outraised their Republican challengers.

The two men stood side by side on the House floor as they were sworn into office by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., who leads the House GOP's campaign arm, has said it means his party can win the House. But Democrats are still favored to retain House control and seem likely to keep most contested suburban seats this November. He replaces former GOP Rep. Sean Duffy, who said he left office to spend more time with his family. With Garcia and Tiffany joining the House, Democrats control the chamber 233-198, with one independent and three vacancies.

Long-suffering California Republicans see hope for November after Garcia's special election victory in the 25th District. (AP Photo/Michael Blood, File)LOS ANGELES California Republicans have been waiting for a turning point and some think it's finally arrived. The same year, the number of registered independent voters eclipsed Republicans in the state, reducing the GOP to third-place status. His win was powered by reliable, older GOP voters, while it appears younger, more fickle Democrats stayed away. But Sam Oh, who is running campaigns for Republican House contenders Steel and Young Kim in Southern California, sees Garcias win as confirmation that voters are looking for a new direction.