Young Progressive Candidates Look for Change of Guard in CA Congressional Races

Here are the morning’s top stories on Tuesday, May 26, 2026

• We’re just a week away from the June 2 primary and in California, several younger, more progressive-leaning candidates are looking to replace longtime incumbents. Two congressional races are highlighting this potential “generational change”– the District 7 race pitting Doris Matsui against challenger Mai Vang and the 32nd Congressional District with incumbent Brad Sherman facing off against Jake Levine. 
• Evacuation orders have been lifted for more than 30,000 Orange County residents who were ordered to leave their home, over concerns a damaged chemical tank in Garden Grove might explode. Many who were forced to evacuate are questioning how safe their neighborhoods are, in the wake of the scare.

Young California Democrats are challenging veteran House members in safe blue seats

California’s battleground House districts might get the lion’s share of national attention for their role in deciding which party rules Congress’s lower chamber.

But in a handful of California’s deep blue districts, an intra-party battle over the future of the Democratic Party is brewing in the wake of grim losses during last year’s presidential race. In Sacramento, Napa County and Los Angeles, three younger challengers are arguing that Democrats need to give voters fresh faces with bold new ideas to energize the party’s base, rather than aging incumbents who are entrenched more in Washington insider culture than in their districts.

“Status quo politics isn’t going to protect our communities,” said Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang, who is running against 10-term Rep. Doris Matsui. “We need leaders who can meet the moment. And that’s why I decided to step into the ring.” Vang is the first formidable primary challenge that Matsui has faced in the two decades since the congresswoman won her late husband’s seat in 2005. Former Rep. Bob Matsui held that seat for 26 years prior.

Two other senior California congressional Democrats have also attracted primary challengers. Rep. Mike Thompson of Napa County, a Vietnam veteran vying for his 15th term, faces a challenge from Eric Jones, a former San Francisco venture capitalist. And farther south, former Obama and Biden White House climate aide Jake Levine is challenging Rep. Brad Sherman of Los Angeles, who is seeking his 16th term. All three challengers have vowed not to take corporate PAC money as their incumbent opponents do.

Around California and across the country, younger challengers argue that Democratic incumbents in safe districts take their seats for granted since they so rarely receive serious challenges. That false sense of security, Vang said, results in out-of-touch members who have fewer incentives to show up in their districts and talk to voters.

Calls for generational change within the Democratic Party, while not new, have increased significantly as the party works to find its footing after 2024. The dynamic played out first in internal House leadership races earlier this year, where younger members like Rep. Robert Garcia of Long Beach leapfrogged more senior colleagues to lead powerful committees.

One risk of primarying veteran members of Congress is the loss of institutional wisdom, said Gale Kaufman, a Sacramento-based Democratic strategist, particularly with the Trump administration testing the limits of the law and boundaries of power. “Especially when you’re up against stuff like this, which we’re not familiar with, breaking every norm you could possibly imagine,” Kaufman said, “having some of those people around is not a bad thing.”

Evacuation orders lift for thousands of residents near Garden Grove chemical tank

Authorities rolled back evacuation orders Monday evening for tens of thousands of Orange County residents near a Garden Grove tank holding toxic chemicals. Around 16,000 residents still remain under evacuation orders, according to Garden Grove police.

TJ McGovern, interim fire chief for the Orange County Fire Authority, said Monday evening that the  most catastrophic and worst case scenario was mitigated, but that the incident was not over. “ We still have work to do,” McGovern said. “We still have to mitigate a fire and very small explosion concern, and also a spill potential.”

Officials reported Monday morning that an overnight operation was successful in finding a crack in the tank and taken the threat of an explosion “off the table.” McGovern said crews verified the crack and that the tank has released its pressure. He said the tank’s temperature is also reducing.

Nearly 16,000 residents near the tank in Garden Grove remain under evacuation orders. The new borders include Orangewood Avenue to the north, Dale Street to the east, Knott Street to the west and Garden Grove Boulevard to the south, according Garden Grove police. All off and on ramps of the 22 Freeway will now remain open. Evacuation centers will remain open for residents who cannot return home, Garden Grove Police Chief Amir El-Farra said. “Please understand that we are doing this for your safety, and we will continue to work diligently so that you will be able to return home hopefully soon,” El-Farra said Monday night.