The two-term California Democratic congressman is suddenly in a tight race against Republican challenger Brian Maryott, who only had 19 percent of the primary vote.
in 2018 when the district was considered a major battleground. The district had historically been one of Southern California's more Republican districts but redistricting made it much more competitive. That year, the congressman won with 56.4 percent of the vote.Redistricting has once again upended California's 49th District.
estimate that Biden would have won by a smaller margin, 54.6 percent of the vote instead of 55.2 percent if the 2020 election occurred within the new congressional map.would still have lost the district, he would have received wider support, 43.2 percent of the vote, instead of the 42.5 percent seen in 2020.Earlier this month, a SurveyUSA poll showed Levin with a massive 20-point advantage over his Republican challenger.
A month ago, FiveThirtyEight projected that Republicans had a 68-in-100 chance of controlling the House. On Thursday, those odds were up to 82 in 100. The nonpartisan election forecast currently has Levin with an 81-in-100 shot of beating Mayrott in this year's rematch.