One of the defining storylines of California’s congressional primaries this year was a generational battle within the Democratic Party driven by a wave of young, often progressive, challengers who took on their own party’s aging incumbents.
This rebuke of the so-called gerontocracy targeted Congress members across the state: 75-year-old North Bay Rep. Mike Thompson, 81-year-old Solano and Sacramento Valley Rep. John Garamendi, 81-year-old Sacramento Rep. Doris Matsui, 87-year-old South Los Angeles Rep. Maxine Waters and 71-year-old San Fernando Valley Rep. Brad Sherman.
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How did they do?
Challengers to Sherman, Waters and Garamendi fell short of the second-place finish needed to advance under California’s top-two primary system. Each incumbent represents a safe blue district, setting them up for a smooth path to reelection in November.
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