Both parties had high hopes for California in the midterms. Neither saw their dreams fully come true

LOS ANGELES — The battles for California’s most competitive congressional races have effectively ended in a draw after months of campaigning and more than $100 million in advertising. Neither Democrats nor Republicans have so far ousted an incumbent or won new ground in their opponent’s territory — though with a handful of races unresolved, there remains a flicker of those hopes.

Each party had higher aspirations this cycle than a continuation of the status quo. Democrats saw California as a beacon, a rare opportunity to play offense in a season that appeared increasingly ominous. Republicans, giddy with confidence of an easy takeover of the House majority, sensed an opportunity to run up the score in the state’s blue-tinted districts.

Though neither best-case scenario came to pass, both sides say there were bright spots to be found in the stalemate.

For Democrats, it was triumphing over the factors stacked against them: President Joe Biden’s subpar approval ratings, which even dipped underwater in solidly blue California, persistent inflation