We've moved coverage of the top California House races to watch »

Now that they are past the threat of primary shutouts, the competitive congressional matchups in California are set.

Democrats consider 10 Republican-held districts here to be battlegrounds and likely can't retake control of the U.S. House without winning at least a few of them. Though Republicans are officially targeting four Democratic districts in California, they are widely considered safe.

Taking multiple factors into account, The Times' California politics editors have ranked the hottest races by the intensity of the fight ahead. Subscribers to the Essential Politics newsletter will be the first to learn what’s changed.