A California town renowned for its MAGA identity is poised to gain a gay progressive congressman as a result of controversial redistricting measures designed to counteract President Donald Trump's own calls to redraw congressional districts.
Redistricting Battle
Robert Garcia, 48, a two-term Democratic representative, may come to represent Huntington Beach, a predominantly Republican town, following the November elections. This shift stems from California's efforts to push back against Trump's redistricting initiative, which aimed to create maps more favorable to the GOP.
Huntington Beach City Councilman Pat Burns expressed frustration, telling Reuters: "So, two wrongs make a right? It's just California ugly-a** politics, and they are all about their agenda and not about the people. They don't care about the people of California one bit."
After President Trump called for redrawing voting maps to benefit Republicans, California countered by targeting five Republican seats through its own redistricting process.
Huntington Beach's MAGA Identity
Huntington Beach, officially nicknamed Surf City USA, has long defied the Democratic leanings of California. Known as a MAGA-fied town, it has taken stances against voter identification and housing density policies favored by the state's Democratic majority.
The town is currently represented by Democratic Representative Dave Min, but due to gerrymandering that coupled Long Beach and Huntington Beach into one district, Garcia is set to become their new representative in November.
Garcia, born in Peru and raised in Long Beach, served as mayor of Long Beach before being elected to Congress in 2022. He won reelection in 2024 by a 35-point margin and is expected to advance through the primary election on June 2 and the general election in November.
Garcia's Stance and Challenges
Garcia has been a vocal critic of Trump and supports progressive policies on immigration, climate change, and healthcare—positions that clash with MAGA supporters. Despite facing homophobia throughout his life, Garcia remains undeterred.
"I've represented people I don't agree with on everything, my entire time as mayor, and currently as a member of Congress," he told Reuters. "That's okay. That's America."
In an interview with CalMatters, Garcia added: "The vast majority of Huntington Beach are good, hard-working, middle-class folks that want a just future for themselves. That's who I am gonna represent."
However, local conservatives are less enthusiastic. Domnic McGee, a Huntington Beach Planning Commission member and outspoken conservative, said: "The Democrats, now with redistricting, are set to take even more power in California." He vowed to "fight for traditional American values" and resist leftist "overreach."
Local resident Janet Jacobs expressed support for Trump, stating: "Trump is doing a hell of a job."
Potential for Cooperation
Despite ideological differences, Garcia sees opportunities for collaboration. "I expect actually there's going to be a lot of partnerships with the cities, especially communities like Huntington Beach and Newport Beach. While they might have a more conservative council, at the end of the day, they want the same thing that communities in Long Beach want," he said.
Garcia pointed to offshore oil drilling as a unifying issue: "Whether you're in Huntington Beach or Newport Beach or Seal Beach, that is a huge concern to everybody here."
Huntington Beach Mayor Casey McKeon believes Garcia will serve the town well, emphasizing professionalism over politics. He cited Republican Representative Michelle Steel, who worked with a liberal council on beach sand replacement, saying: "She still did what was right for Huntington Beach. She didn't let politics get in the way of that."
National Redistricting Context
The White House's push for aggressive redistricting policies nationwide aims to create GOP-friendly maps to maintain control of Congress ahead of the November midterms. However, this effort hit a snag in South Carolina, where the state Senate adjourned without voting on a measure to redraw congressional districts.
South Carolina has seven congressional districts, with only one held by a Democrat—Congressman James Clyburn. The proposed maps would have effectively ensured all seven seats remain Republican. However, at least a dozen Republican senators voted to adjourn until June 10, citing the ongoing primary elections.
"Republicans are trying to break apart South Carolina's 6th District. Not because voters demanded it, but because Donald Trump requested it," Clyburn's campaign posted on social media.
Trump had pressured Governor Henry McMaster to call a special session, but the gambit failed. Some Republican lawmakers blamed the governor for not acting quickly enough. State Senator Richard Cash stated: "Neither my conscience nor my common sense will allow me to stop an election that is already underway."
GOP opposition also emerged, with State Senate GOP leader Shane Massey opposing the Trump-backed effort. In Indiana, a similar redistricting plan failed after local GOP leaders bucked Trump, leading to political retaliation from his operation.
Additionally, a federal court in Alabama blocked new Republican-favored maps, ruling that they "intentionally discriminated based on race." The proposed map would have eliminated one of two Democratic-held congressional districts in the state.
Several Republican states have rushed to implement new maps following a Supreme Court decision in April that altered how race factors into district drawing. The Daily Mail reached out to Huntington Beach Council, Congressman Robert Garcia, and California for comment.
