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.

U.S. Reps. Kay Granger of Fort Worth, Tony Gonzales of San Antonio and Jake Ellzey of Midlothian were among 22 other Republicans and all Democrats voting against Jordan in a third attempt at electing a new speaker this week.

Jordan remained 18 votes away from becoming House speaker during a vote Wednesday. Meanwhile, activists in Texas are pressuring Republicans to fall in line behind Jordan’s effort.

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.