The Buzz is the Register’s weekly political news column.

When the venerable Washington, D.C., political news site Roll Call released its list of the top 10 most vulnerable House members, it was yet another sign of the key role Orange County plays in Democratic efforts to take control of the lower chamber after next year’s elections.

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, topped the list and Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Costa Mesa — despite winning reelection last year by more than 16 percentage points — was the fifth most vulnerable in the country, according to the ranking published Nov. 6.

The two are among 12 Republicans House seats nationwide rated “toss-ups” by the Cook Political Report, and among 13 listed as toss-ups by Sabato’s Crystal Ball. All four of the county’s GOP House seats have been targeted by national Democrats, who need to flip 24 GOP districts to gain a majority in the 435 member House of Representatives. Hillary Clinton won all four districts last year, fueling Democrats hopes in the county.

Issa has widely been expected to have a tough fight since winning by just 0.6 percentage points last year over lawyer and retired Marine Col. Doug Applegate in the two-county district. But Rohrabacher’s potential weakness has been attracting increasing attention.

“He has been at the center of some news stories raising questions about his pro-Russia views, with one Politico headline dubbing him ‘Putin’s favorite congressman,'” Roll Call wrote. “House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy even reportedly joked Rohrabacher was paid by the Russian president.”

Issa has drawn three Democratic challengers so far — Applegate, environmental attorney Mike Levin and real estate investor Paul Kerr — while Rohrabacher has drawn seven Democrats, two Republicans, a Libertarian and an independent. Roll Call wrote that the competitiveness of the races “will depend on which candidates emerge from potentially divisive primaries.”

Eight of the 10 most vulnerable House incumbents are Republicans while just one of the 10 most vulnerable Senate incumbents are in the GOP, according to Roll Call.

Democrats’ hopes buoyed

Democrats’ success with suburban voters in Tuesday’s Virginia elections has prompted Sacramento-based handicapper Scott Lay to update two of his Orange County congressional forecasts, giving Democratic challengers in Rohrabacher’s and Rep. Mimi Walters districts more of a chance than the Cook Political Report or Sabato’s Crystal Ball.

Lay lists Rohrabacher as the most vulnerable Orange County Republican, moving the race from “toss-up” to “leans Democrat” despite Republicans’ 11-percentage point advantage in voter registration and Rohrabacher’s easy reelection last year.

Lay moves the reelection bid of Walters, R-Laguna Beach, from “leans Republican” to “toss-up.” Issa’s race continues to be a “toss up” while that of Rep. Ed Royce, R-Fullerton, “leans Republican.”

Lay also brings up the possibility that Rohrabacher (70-years old), Royce (66) or Issa (64) could retire, although there have been no signs that any of them are considering it and their aggressive fundraising looks like they’re in it to win it.

In other political horse-race news, a new USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll on gubernatorial candidates shows two Democrats in the lead, with Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom on top with 31 percent and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at 21 percent. Assemblyman Travis Allen, R-Huntington Beach, has moved into third place as the top GOP hopeful with 15 percent, followed by Democratic state Treasurer John Chiang at 12 percent, Republican businessman John Cox at 11 percent and Democratic former state schools Superintendent Diane Eastin at 4 percent.

The poll also found that 54 percent of voters surveyed want to throw out the new 12-cent-per-gallon gas tax, which is part of a 10-year, $52-billion road-improvement plan. Past polls by others have shown most voters may support or oppose the tax, depending on how the question is framed. That means that should an initiative qualify for the ballot, the campaign that best controls the debate could have the advantage.

There are currently signature petitions being circulated for two proposed initiatives to repeal the tax, one by Allen and another backed by Cox and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.