California Primary: Its deja vu all over again for Rep. TJ Cox

SCREEN CAPTURE / C-SPAN

Rep. TJ Cox expects another close contest in November.

It will be two familiar foes facing each other in California's Congressional District 21, a seat held by TJ Cox, the first Filipino American member of Congress from California.
It will be a November rematch for incumbent Democrat Cox against the Republican he narrowly beat in 2018, David Valadao.

On Super Tuesday, Valadao had more votes than Cox (53% vs. 36%) but in California's "jungle primary," the top two vote-getters in the primaries will face off in the general election, regardless of party affiliation. 
It took a few days to count all the ballots in 2018 when Cox barely defeated Valadao, by just 862 votes. And now Valadao, who served three terms, is hoping to take his old seat back.

Republicans have targeted District 21 in hopes to turn it red in their effort to regain control of the US House of Representatives.

But Democrats have increased their registered voters and Donald Trump's onerous immigration policies will weigh heavily in the Central Valley with its strong agricultural industry. The 21st District covers all of Kings County and parts of Fresno, Tulare and Kern counties.

That seat has become a focus of Republican efforts to retake control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Donald Trump lent his endorsement to Valadao during a visit to nearby Bakersfield last month.

"We all know this race will be decided in November. Remember, just two short years ago Mr. Valadao beat me in the primary by 26 points," said Cox in a statement. In November 2018, with more Democrats going to the polls, Cox was able to turn the table.