Audrey Denney's Progressive Campaign Faces Double Election Challenge in Rural California
Rural California is witnessing one of its most extraordinary and turbulent election cycles in recent memory, with progressive Democrat Audrey Denney at the heart of the political storm. The 41-year-old educator and consultant is attempting to secure a House seat not just once, but twice, in a district that has been a Republican stronghold for nearly half a century. This dual electoral battle unfolds against a backdrop of redistricting, the sudden death of the long-serving incumbent, and pressing local issues like wildfire insurance and healthcare costs.
A District Transformed by Redistricting and Tragedy
California's 1st Congressional District, stretching from the agricultural Sacramento Valley to the fire-prone Sierra Nevada foothills, was recently redrawn under a bold redistricting plan aimed at favouring Democrats. The new boundaries incorporate counties to the west and south, making the area competitive for Democrats for the first time in years. Doug LaMalfa, the Republican who had held the seat for seven terms, was preparing for a re-election bid when he unexpectedly died on 6 January.
This tragic event has created a unique electoral scenario. Voters will first elect a representative to complete LaMalfa's term using the old district map, followed by a fresh election in November under the new congressional boundaries. The outcome is crucial not only for local representation but also for the balance of Congress, where Republicans currently hold a narrow five-member majority in the House of Representatives.
Denney's Grassroots Campaign Against Corporate Influence
Audrey Denney, who has pledged not to accept corporate PAC money, is running a grassroots campaign focused on addressing the interconnected crises facing her constituents. "There's all kinds of huge threats happening at once," she explains. "The economic and political systems are serving corporate greed and billionaires at the expense of regular people. This is not the democracy we want to live in." Her platform emphasises:
- Establishing non-profit single-payer healthcare to save rural medical services
- Increasing and making permanent funding for rural schools
- Working with federal agencies to ensure ecological health in a district where 42% of land is federally owned
- Eliminating insider stock trading and overturning Citizens United through constitutional amendment
Denney spends her days making countless phone calls to constituents, discussing rising healthcare costs, astronomical wildfire insurance premiums, and benefit cuts. "Politicians take corporate PAC money because it's easy," she notes. "Meanwhile, I'm spending hours calling individuals for $50 at a time, asking them to believe we deserve representation accountable only to us." Her best day saw approximately 128 calls, a significant achievement for someone who jokingly describes herself as a "yapper."
Overcoming Historical Republican Dominance
The district has remained reliably Republican even as California has grown more Democratic overall. Doug LaMalfa, a fourth-generation rice farmer, won seven consecutive elections, and Donald Trump consistently carried the area since 2016, receiving 61% of the vote in 2024. LaMalfa was a trusted conservative figure, known for his work on water and forestry policy and his presence at community events across the sprawling district.
However, there were growing areas of discontent. LaMalfa challenged the 2020 election outcome, voted against certifying the result, and expressed climate crisis skepticism – positions that frustrated some constituents in a region repeatedly devastated by wildfires. Denney previously challenged LaMalfa twice, narrowing his lead significantly in 2018 but ultimately falling short both times.
The Republican Challenge and Democratic Prospects
Denney faces state lawmaker James Gallagher in the special election, who has been endorsed by Jill LaMalfa, the late congressman's wife. Republican political consultant Matt Rexroad argues that a Democratic victory in the special election is "an impossibility" given the district's overwhelming Republican leanings and strong Trump support.
Nevertheless, political scientist Christopher Witko suggests that while a Democratic candidate has only a "slight chance" in the special election, showing strength could improve prospects for November. "If Denney does surprisingly well, that's going to cause a lot of concern among Republicans in Washington DC," he observes.
Addressing Local Crises While Campaigning Nationally
The region faces severe challenges including a housing shortage exacerbated by wildfires that have destroyed thousands of homes and scorched nearly 40% of county land in the past decade. Insurance costs have skyrocketed, and one community recently lost its sole emergency room after federal designation changes. Residents across the political spectrum approach Denney at events to share their struggles, a response she attributes partly to her former bartending experience.
Denney argues the country is at a perilous moment with a president she describes as "an adjudicated sex offender and war criminal who treats the constitution like an annoyance." She seeks to elect Democrats "not bought and paid for by corporate interests" who will confront authoritarian tendencies.
With two elections ahead, Denney's schedule is packed with events, forums, and relentless phone banking. "In the economic condition we live in, people are still willing to say, 'Here's my $10 a month contribution because I'm playing my part.' I think it's beautiful and inspiring, and I'm honoured," she reflects before returning to her calls, continuing her uphill battle to turn California's rural north state blue.
