Pelosi says Calif. key to taking back House

SAN DIEGO — House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is telling California Democrats that several congressional races in their state will be central to the party's attempt to regain control of the House.

Pelosi told more than 2,000 Democrats gathered in San Diego on Saturday for their party's convention that "the path to a House majority runs through California." An independent redistricting process has created a number of up-for-grabs seats, including several Democrats think they can seize from Republicans.

She said a Democratic majority in the House is needed "to work with our president instead of a Congress obstructing his every move."

Pelosi repeated themes she shared with reporters a day earlier. She expects California, Florida, Illinois, New York and Texas to leave the party only about a half-dozen seats short of a majority.