Elections Intelligence

California 43rd District

DEFENDED SEATSafe D

Maxine Waters (D) has held this seat since 2013 and is running for re-election. Before that: Joe Baca (D).

Maxine Waters Incumbent
98.3¢
Party market · checked 2:09 PM ETView on Kalshi ↗
3.5¢
Cristian Morales Challenger

FTP Race Signal

FTP Race SignalA composite of market, polling and money. The prediction-market price anchors it; a polling average moves it: the last 30 days, or the three most recent pollsters when fewer polled. Polls paid for by a candidate, party or allied group move 2 points toward the other side and count half. When the three most recent independent pollsters each have the race within three points, it is a Toss-up unless the market is already decisive. Fundraising counts only at a five-to-one gap. Past results are context, not inputs. A rating changes only when the evidence clears the line.

The market prices this seat about where its history left it: a 50-point Democratic hold in 2024, priced at 98.3¢ today.

Safe D
Safe DLikely DLean DToss-upLean RLikely RSafe R
Prior result · Safe DD+50.15 in 2024. Market · Safe DD 98.3¢: traders' price for a Democratic hold.

No public polls. The market favors Waters.

As of October 12.

Market

BandPRICEToss-up50¢ to 65¢Lean65¢ to 82¢Likely82¢ to 95¢Safe95¢ and above
D 98.3¢

Kalshi party market · checked 2:09 PM ET

View market on Kalshi ↗

Polling

BandPOINTSToss-up0 to 5Lean5 to 10Likely10 to 20Safe20 and above
—

Prior result

BandPOINTSToss-up0 to 5Lean5 to 12Likely12 to 25Safe25 and above
D+50.1

Maxine Waters (D)

75.1% to 24.9% · 2024 general election

def. Steve Williams (R). Margin verified against retrieved official results.

Fundraising

BandRATIO TO 1Parity1 to 5Lean5 and above
—

Raised 2025 to 2026 · thru Jun 30

Maxine Waters$863.7K ↗$269.7K cash

No report on file with the Federal Election Commission for Cristian Morales as of October 4, 2026 · CRISTIAN MORALES FOR CONGRESS.

Total receipts in the 2025 to 2026 two-year cycle, through June 30, 2026; only Waters has a figure on file, so there is no ratio.

The general election is on November 3, which is 22 days away.