The rallies, organized by the Can't Stop California campaign, brought together union members, advocates, community residents and some elected officials. They celebrated multiple red-to-blue seat flips, the election of the nation's first Black female governor and the first Muslim member of the U.S. Senate, among other milestones.

Democrats will control both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate when the new Congress convenes in 2027, having flipped dozens of Republican-held seats nationwide. In California, where outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom signed off on redrawn district maps, Democrats picked up at least five Republican-held House seats.

"Our work is just beginning, because he has left a tsunami of horror and a horrible mess behind him," said Lisa Hesselgesser of Oakland at the San Francisco rally. "Top Democrats – their main concern should be supporting the new Democrats coming in."

Attendees told reporters they want Democratic leaders to make way for a "new guard," abolish or reform Immigration and Customs Enforcement, curb the influence of billionaires and prioritize healthcare. Ellen Simms of Berkeley said the left has built a big tent of diverse views that must be managed.

Progressive San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, who lost her bid for Rep. Nancy Pelosi's congressional seat to state Sen. Scott Wiener, told the crowd outside City Hall that winning is only the first step.

"This is that moment when we win an election, we say, 'We won – what do we do?'" Chan said. "We have to hold the people we elected – hold their feet to the fire."

Jennifer Esteen, vice president of organizing at SEIU 1021, singled out San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, drawing cheers from the crowd: "Daniel, do right!" Lurie has polled well in recent months and appears to have won his "Clean Up City Hall" campaign push, with several of his backed propositions likely to pass, despite pushback from some progressives.

In the East Bay, Richmond City Council member Claudia Jiménez declared victory Friday in her mayoral bid after Contra Costa County elections officials released updated results in her contest against moderate Ahmad Anderson. Former Richmond City Council member Melvin Willis, a fellow progressive, said he was eager to see what Jiménez would do.

"When she dives into an issue, she dives into it – will dedicate herself to it and check in with the community and try to understand it as much as possible and try to make the right decision," Willis said.

In San José, Dominic Barroga, a chapter officer with the Silicon Valley Democratic Socialists of America, said the biggest risk of Democrats returning to power is complacency.

"People will become apathetic again if [they] don't do what we elected them to do," Barroga said. "That's why I think it's really important that we're here today to encourage our elected leaders to hold the current administration accountable."