Ken Calvert Holds CA-41, Moving the GOP Closer to a House Majority

Another California race is called in another pivotal district. Decision Desk HQ has called the race in conservative California 41 (CA-41) for Republican Rep. Ken Calvert. Calvert beat his opponent Democrat Will Rollins, a former federal prosecutor, to hold the seat, 51 percent to 49 percent.

Decision Desk HQ projects Rep. Ken Calvert (R) wins re-election to the U.S. House in California’s 41st Congressional District.#DecisionMade: 9:01pm EST

Follow more results here: https://t.co/erllKAE1oN pic.twitter.com/DiGzo80A2N

— Decision Desk HQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) November 15, 2022

Endorsed by former President Donald Trump, Calvert is one of the longest-serving California representatives. He was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992, representing California’s 43rd Congressional District. Will Rollins was activated to run for Congress after witnessing the January 6 protest at the U.S. Capitol. As a gay man, he also opposed Calvert’s “anti-LGBTQ” record.

District 41 had been a rock-ribbed conservative bastion for the three decades that Calvert has been in office. After this year’s redistricting, the more conservative areas of Temecula and Murrieta were removed from the district, and the more liberal areas of Coachella Valley, including Palm Springs, were incorporated. Calvert’s new district was targeted by Democrats as one to be flipped, and early returns looked as though this was a successful strategy. On Wednesday, November 9, Calvert trailed Rollins by over 10,000 votes. By the weekend, Calvert had gained a slim lead over Rollins, and Monday’s vote dump allowed Calvert to extend his lead from 1,598 to 2,108.

Some positive news for Republicans in #CA41, where Rep. Ken Calvert (R) just extended his lead over Will Rollins (D) from 1,598 votes (1.2%) to 2,108 votes (1.5%).

Dem path to majority gets extremely tough without this race in their column.

— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 13, 2022

This win brings the GOP House to 217, just one seat shy of the majority. Key California races yet to be called: CA-03 (Kevin Kiley v. Kermit Jones), CA-13 (John Duarte v. Adam Gray), CA-21 (David Valadao v. Rudy Salas), CA-27 (Mike Garcia v. Christy Smith), and CA-47 (Katie Porter v. Scott Baugh).