Abstract
Long-time incumbent Dana Rohrabacher lost his bid for reelection in 2018 as Democrats successfully flipped seven seats in California, the epicenter of anti-Trump sentiment. The primary featured a serious Republican opponent and several Democratic candidates. Harley Rouda, a former Republican, was endorsed by national Democrats and narrowly advanced to the general election. Rohrabacher, a former Reagan speechwriter representing a region long known as Reagan Country, was relabeled as Putin’s Favorite Congressman and as being out of touch on immigration, healthcare, and climate change. Shifting demographics, high turnout, and high spending also contributed to a surprisingly comfortable win for Rouda.