2 days ago
The blimpish California organization of Huntington Beach, known for banning nan Pride emblem from metropolis spot and fighting nan authorities complete pandemic and lodging policy, could soon beryllium represented by a gay, Democratic congressman.
Robert Garcia, an incumbent two-term Democratic LGBTQ+ congressman, migrant and Donald Trump critic, is considered nan starring contender successful Tuesday’s superior title for nan US House seat. Thanks to a successful restricting effort that redrew California’s voting maps to favour Democrats, Huntington Beach is now portion of Garcia’s legislature territory 42.
California’s redistricting effort, known arsenic Proposition 50, was overwhelmingly approved by voters successful November. Trump group disconnected a activity of caller mid-decade redistricting aft urging Texas to adopt changes to favour Republicans during nan midterm elections. California soon followed, arsenic person a number of different states, reshaping practice crossed nan US.
Since 2025 Dave Min, a mean Democratic, has represented nan territory that includes Huntington Beach. Conservative officials successful nan metropolis person expressed vexation astir nan changes underway.
“It’s conscionable California ugly-ass politics, and they are each astir their schedule and not astir nan people. They don’t attraction astir nan group of California 1 bit,” Pat Burns, a Huntington Beach metropolis councilman, told Reuters.
The Orange region metropolis of conscionable nether 200,000 group has immoderate 56,367 Republican voters, and 41,156 Democrats. Its metropolis assembly is wholly Republican, a group that refers to itself arsenic nan “Maga-nificent Seven”, according to SFGate.
The Huntington Beach metropolis assembly has go importantly much blimpish successful caller years arsenic nan metropolis moved rightward during and aft nan pandemic. The metropolis often fought pinch nan authorities complete Covid restrictions – thousands of group protested successful 2020 aft nan politician ordered nan closure of section beaches.
In 2024, voters approved an inaugural to prohibition non-government flags, including nan Pride flag, from metropolis property.
Meanwhile, nan metropolis was been successful a years-long conflict pinch nan authorities government complete its nonaccomplishment to comply pinch California lodging mandates.
Garcia’s positions, including connected issues specified arsenic migration and healthcare, are astatine likelihood pinch overmuch of nan Maga agenda. Garcia, nan erstwhile politician of Long Beach, is nan ranking Democrat connected nan House oversight committee which acts arsenic legislature watchdog complete nan executive branch. He was nan first cheery migrant to beryllium sworn into Congress.
Garcia has said he has represented group pinch whom he does not agree, and told Reuters: “That’s OK. That’s America.”
“Huntington Beach whitethorn person a blimpish metropolis assembly – but nan group I’ve met successful their homes and successful nan neighborhoods want precisely what folks successful Long Beach want: bully infrastructure, affordable healthcare and taking connected corruption successful government,” he said successful connection complete nan weekend.
“And that’s precisely what we are going to do. I’m looking guardant to repping HB.”
Reuters contributed to reporting
