Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis (D) and psychologist Pedro Casas (R) emerged from Tuesday's primary as the two finalists for California's 38th Congressional District, setting the stage for a November election in a district widely seen as safely Democratic. Solis topped a four-candidate field with 44.4 percent of the vote, while Casas secured 40.1 percent, according to Decision Desk HQ. Councilmembers Monica Sanchez (D) and Erik Lutz (D) trailed and were eliminated.
The race is one of several contests shaped by California's redistricting overhaul, with the newly drawn 38th District stretching across parts of Los Angeles County. The seat opened after incumbent Rep. Linda Sánchez (D) opted to run in the state's 41st Congressional District, which covers southern Los Angeles County and dips into Orange County, rather than defend her current seat following the passage of Proposition 50.
California's jungle primary system—where all candidates appear on a single ballot regardless of party—allowed Casas, the lone Republican in the race, to advance despite the district's Democratic lean. The top two vote-getters move to the general election, a dynamic that has often squeezed out GOP contenders in heavily Democratic areas but here gave Casas a spot.
Solis entered the contest as the highest-profile candidate, bringing extensive political experience. She currently serves on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and previously represented California's 31st and 32nd districts in Congress before serving as Labor secretary under former President Barack Obama. Her campaign has focused on economic equity, healthcare access, and climate action, themes that resonate in a district where Democratic voters dominate.
Casas, a psychologist, has centered his campaign on public safety, education reform, and fiscal responsibility. While he faces long odds in a district that election handicappers rate as solidly Democratic, his primary performance—narrowly trailing Solis—suggests he could mount a competitive challenge, particularly if turnout dynamics shift in November.
Redistricting has been a defining factor in California's 2026 House races, with several open seats and competitive primaries reshaping the electoral map. In the neighboring 40th District, a similar showdown is unfolding between Rep. Ken Calvert (R) and challenger Will Rollins (D), reflecting the state's broader partisan jockeying. The 38th District race, however, is expected to remain in Democratic hands, with Solis heavily favored to reclaim a seat she once held in Congress.
Mail ballot counting delays, which have slowed the release of final results in several California primaries, could extend the timeline for official certification. But the top-two outcomes in the 38th District were clear by Wednesday morning, giving both campaigns a clear path to November.
Solis has already begun pivoting to the general election, highlighting her record on housing and transportation investments in Los Angeles County. Casas, meanwhile, is working to expand his appeal beyond the Republican base, hoping to tap into voter frustration with crime and cost-of-living issues. The contest will test whether Democratic dominance in this district holds steady or if a GOP challenger can make inroads in a year shaped by redistricting and shifting political tides.
