How Prop 50 and Governor’s Race Are Shaping Early Midterm Projections

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KQED

News, Politics, News Commentary

4.2 • 726 Ratings

🗓️ 29 January 2026

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The 2026 midterm elections may be in November, but they’re top of mind for California voters who will elect a new governor this year and who passed Proposition 50 last fall – redrawing congressional districts to favor Democrats in their bid to retake the House. We look at how redistricting is shaking out in races across the state. And we examine whether Democrats have gained an edge nationally as new polling shows voters souring on Trump’s immigration and economic agenda, but concerns about election interference mount. What races are you watching? Guests: Guy Marzorati, correspondent, KQED's California Politics and Government Desk Erin Covey, editor, U.S. House of Representatives coverage for The Cook Political Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:15.6	From KQED.
0:19.1	Welcome to Forum.
0:20.6	I'm Mina Kim. It's not too early to be thinking about midterm elections.
0:25.3	With a June primary just a few months away and the November general here before you know it,
0:30.0	2026 will be hugely consequential for California voters, who last year passed Prop 50s congressional
0:36.2	maps to favor Democrats and counter Texas's redistricting
0:39.5	push to favor Republicans. This means many will be voting in new districts for congressional seats.
0:45.4	We'll also elect a governor, which just got a new candidate today. So listeners, what kind of governor
0:51.7	do you want for California? What races are you watching? And above
0:55.9	all, just how important are these midterm elections to you compared to years past? You can tell us
1:02.4	by calling 866-733-6786, emailing forum at kQED.org or finding us on Discord, Blue
1:09.4	Sky, Facebook, Instagram, or threads at KQED forum.
1:13.1	Starting us off with the latest news in the governor's race, Guy Marzerati, correspondent for KQED's
1:17.9	California Politics and Government Desk. Hey, Guy. Hey, Mina. So the news that broke this morning,
1:23.2	San Jose Mayor Matt Mayhan announcing his run for governor.
1:29.9	I think you may have seen this coming. What's his story?
1:38.4	Yeah, so Mahan has only been mayor of San Jose for three years, but he's already, you know, eyeing higher office in this case.
1:45.4	I think, you know, in his mind, feeling like he can build upon some of the successes that he's had in San Jose, most notably the drop in unsheltered homelessness in the city since he's taken office. But it'll be,
	...

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