In his radically redrawn new district, a Marin congressman gets thrown to the wolves

[Auggie]

San Francisco Chronicle / Feb 3, 2026

NOTE: Article was published before the SCOTUS ruling on CA's redrawn congressional maps. So ignore the first sentence.

ALTURAS, Modoc County — The Supreme Court has not yet signed off on California’s Proposition 50, which redrew the state’s congressional boundaries in order to boost the number of Democrats in Congress. But Rep. Jared Huffman is not waiting. He’s already started visiting the most remote parts of his radically redrawn district, which is now set to include one of the most conservative corners of the state.

At times, it felt like a scene from a sitcom: A progressive congressman from Marin County trying to woo Trump-loving locals in California’s MAGA-iest corner. A place so right-leaning that the Democratic Party doesn’t even have a local chapter.

It is a district that, until his death last month, has been represented by Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa, who voted with President Donald Trump 100% of the time in 2025, according to the Center for American Progress. It is home to ranchers and megachurches. And it’s where 62% of voters supported recalling Gavin Newsom in 2021; 72% of the voters in Huffman’s current district opposed it. Now it is being stretched to include Marin County and the rest of Huffman’s far more urban and progressive Bay Area turf.

SNIP

Huffman’s old district was 53% Democratic, 19% Republican, and the no-party-preference voters leaned heavily left. The newly drawn district is 45% Democratic, 28% Republican, and the independents lean right.

Link (paywall): https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/joegarofoli/article/jared-huffman-prop-50-21305767.php

From the link: If he wins reelection in the new district, Huffman would represent a region where ranchers have campaigned for the gray wolf to be removed from the endangered list so they can more freely hunt them before they slaughter more of their cattle. State and federal laws prohibit people from shooting wolves, even when they eat livestock.

Wolves are a big issue in this area. Tough challenge for Huffman. He's the top Democrat on the House Committee on Natural Resources and a defender of the Endangered Species Act.

[JBTaurus83]

1. He may as well stick to his values

People don’t like a fake, and if he tries to be “pretend MAGA” someone who is an actual MAGA will run and get the rancher votes anyhow, while he alienates his main constituency.

[Journeyman]

4. "Given the choice between a Republican and someone who acts like a Republican, . . .

“Given the choice between a Republican and someone who acts like a Republican, people will vote for the real Republican all the time.”

— Harry S. Truman

[Stargleamer]

2. 45% Democratic, 28% Republican, and the independents lean right. . .

may be cutting it a bit close. OTOH, I think people in Marin County would be quite repulsed if the Republicans choose someone like LaMalfa.

Lassen County is even more red than Modoc county

[hunter]

3. The Republicans and Independents will be split three ways...

... by the MAGA cult deplorables, third party voters, and those who choose to abstain.

Too win this the Democrats simply have to turn up and vote. He won't get more Democratic votes by compromising.