California House
Filing Deadline: March 7, 2008 • Primary Date: June 3, 2008 • General Election: Nov. 4, 2008District Profile: Sprinkled with groves of redwoods, the 1st District stretches along the coast in a narrow band along the northwest tip of the state. It changed partisan hands four times in the 1990s, but it's solidly Democratic now. Full Profile
2006 results: Mike Thompson (D) defeated John Jones (R) by 66-29%.
Incumbent
Mike Thompson (D)Elected in 1998; Seeking sixth term; Thompson was nominated with 88% in a two-way primary.
Challengers
Zane Starkewolf (R)Starkewolf, a businessman, was nominated with 54% in a two-way primary.
District Profile: George W. Bush posted his biggest showing in northern California in this district, which borders Oregon and veers toward culturally conservative Republicans. Full Profile
2006 results: Wally Herger (R) defeated A.J. Sekhon (D) by 64-32%.
Incumbent
Wally Herger (R)Elected in 1986; Seeking 12th term; Herger was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Jeff Morris (D)Morris, a Trinity County supervisor, was nominated with 35% in a three-way primary.
District Profile: The 3rd District, sandwiched in the eastern crook of California after the 2001 redistricting, encompasses most of suburban Sacramento. Full Profile
2006 results: Dan Lungren (R) defeated Bill Durston (D) by 59-38%.
Incumbent
Dan Lungren (R)Elected in 2004; Seeking eighth term; Lungren was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: A third of 4th District residents live in rural areas, the highest percentage in the state. Nearly two-thirds of voters chose George W. Bush in 2004. Full Profile
2006 results: John Doolittle (R) defeated Charlie Brown (D) by 49-46%.
Republican
Tom McClintockMcClintock, a state senator, was nominated with 54% in a four-way primary.
Democrat
Charlie BrownBrown, a police department official, was nominated with 88% in a two-way primary.
District Profile: Sacramento is located in the 5th District, which is one of the most solidly Democratic districts in the state. Full Profile
2006 results: Doris Matsui (D) defeated Claire Yan (R) by 71-24%.
Incumbent
Doris Matsui (D)Elected March 2005; Seeking second full term; Matsui was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Paul Smith (R)Smith, a mortgage broker, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: Heavily Democratic, the 6th District chose John Kerry over George W. Bush by a 40-point margin. Marin and Sonoma counties make up most of the district. Full Profile
2006 results: Lynn Woolsey (D) defeated Todd Hooper (R) by 70-26%.
Incumbent
Lynn Woolsey (D)Elected in 1992; Seeking ninth term; Woolsey was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Mike Halliwell (R)Halliwell, a college professor, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: The 7th District has some of the most ethnically diverse towns in the country, and it leans to the left -- although not as far as some of its neighbors. Full Profile
2006 results: George Miller (D) defeated Camden McConnell (Lib) by 84-16%.
Incumbent
George Miller (D)Elected in 1974; Seeking 18th term; Miller was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Roger Allen Petersen (R)Petersen, a human resources executive, was nominated with 56% in a two-way primary.
District Profile: Most of San Francisco lies in this district, which has elected House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D) nine times. Full Profile
2006 results: Nancy Pelosi (D) defeated Mike DeNunzio (R) by 80-11%.
Incumbent
Nancy Pelosi (D)Elected in June 1987; Seeking 11th full term; Pelosi was nominated with 89% in a two-way primary.
Challengers
Dana Walsh (R)Walsh, an interior decorator, was unopposed in the primary.
Cindy Sheehan (I), anti-war activist
District Profile: This left-leaning district is home to Oakland and Berkeley and boasts big populations of blacks, Hispanics and Asians. Full Profile
2006 results: Barbara Lee (D) defeated John Den Dulk (R) by 86-11%.
Incumbent
Barbara Lee (D)Elected in April 1998; Seeking sixth full term; Lee was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Charles Hargrave (R)Hargrave, a nonprofit supervisor, was unopposed primary.
District Profile: Redistricting made this western California district even more Democratic in 2001; John Kerry carried it -- 59 percent to George W. Bush's 40 percent -- in 2004. Full Profile
2006 results: Ellen Tauscher (D) defeated Darcy Linn (R) by 66-34%.
Incumbent
Ellen Tauscher (D)Elected in 1996; Seeking seventh term; Tauscher was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Nicholas Gerber (R)Gerber, a businessman, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: Propelled by economically conservative voters, the booming 11th District has been moving rightward for several years. Full Profile
2006 results: Jerry McNerney (D) defeated Richard Pombo (R) by 53-47%.
Incumbent
Jerry McNerney (D)Elected in 2006; Seeking second term; McNerney was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Dean Andal (R)Andal, a former state assemblyman, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: The overwhelmingly Democratic 12th District includes the southwest portion of San Francisco and the Peninsula connecting it with the mainland United States. Full Profile
2006 results: Tom Lantos (D) defeated Mike Moloney (R) by 76-24%.
Special election: Lantos died on Feb. 11, 2008, and special election for the seat was held on April 8, 2008, with former state senator Jackie Speier winning 77% of the vote. See the special election tip sheet.
Incumbent
Jackie Speier (D)Elected in 2008; Seeking first full term; Speier was nominated with 89% of the vote in a four-way primary.
Challengers
Greg Conlon (R)Conlon, a former public utilities commissioner, was nominated with 64% in a two-way primary.
District Profile: The 13th District borders the unglamorous side of the San Francisco Bay, and it's a lower-income area than the districts across the water. It is heavily Democratic. Full Profile
2006 results: Pete Stark (D) defeated George Bruno (R) by 75-25%.
Incumbent
Pete Stark (D)Elected in 1972; Seeking 19th term; Stark was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Raymond Chui (R)Chui, an insurance agent, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: The tech-heavy 14th District holds most of Silicon Valley, as well as Stanford University, Palo Alto and Atherton, which was ranked as the most expensive U.S. zip code in 2004. Full Profile
2006 results: Anna Eshoo (D) defeated Rob Smith (R) by 71-24%.
Incumbent
Anna Eshoo (D)Elected in 1992; Seeking ninth term; Eshoo was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Ronny Santana (R)Santana, a Realtor, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: Squeezed into a narrow strip in central Santa Clara County, this district was once politically divided but now trends strongly Democratic. Full Profile
2006 results: Mike Honda (D) defeated Raymond Chukwu (R) by 72-28%.
Incumbent
Mike Honda (D)Elected in 2000; Seeking fifth term; Honda was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Joyce Stoer Cordi (R)Cordi, a businesswoman, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: San Jose is the biggest population center in the solidly left-leaning 16th District, which hosts big Asian and Hispanic populations. Full Profile
2006 results: Zoe Lofgren (D) defeated Charel Winston (R) by 73-27%.
Incumbent
Zoe Lofgren (D)Elected in 1994; Seeking eighth term; Lofgren was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Charel Winston (R)Winston, a businesswoman, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: The 17th District stretches along the Pacific and includes the coast of Monterey Bay. In 2004, John Kerry doubled George W. Bush's percentage in the district. Full Profile
2006 results: Sam Farr (D) defeated Anthony De Maio (R) by 76-23%.
Incumbent
Sam Farr (D)Elected in June 1993; Seeking eighth full term; Farr was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: The 18th District's Central Valley is one of California's surprise boom towns, with a booming population and its accompanying problems. George W. Bush narrowly took the district in 2004. Full Profile
2006 results: Dennis Cardoza (D) defeated John Kanno (R) by 65-35%.
Incumbent
Dennis Cardoza (D)Elected in 2002; Seeking fourth term; Cardoza was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
None
District Profile: The inland district includes about half of Fresno and part of Modesto, separated by the the peaks of the Sierra Nevada and Yosemite National Park. Full Profile
2006 results: George Radanovich (R) defeated T.J. Cox (D) by 61-39%.
Incumbent
George Radanovich (R)Elected in 1994; Seeking eighth term; Radanovich was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
None
District Profile: Redistricting gave the 20th District irregular boundaries to maximize the Hispanic population -- and the Democratic percentage -- but George W. Bush still won 49 percent of the vote in 2004. Full Profile
2006 results: Jim Costa (D) was unopposed.
Incumbent
Jim Costa (D)Elected in 2004; Seeking third term; Costa was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: Mostly fields, mountains and small towns, the 21st District had the second-highest percentage of voters who chose George W. Bush in 2004. Full Profile
2006 results: Devin Nunes (R) defeated Steven Haze (D) by 67-30%.
Incumbent
Devin Nunes (R)Elected in 2002; Seeking fourth term; Nunes was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Larry Johnson (D)Johnson, a retired businessman, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: George W. Bush made his best California showing in both 2000 and 2004 in the 22nd, which is the southernmost district in the Central Valley. Full Profile
2006 results: Kevin McCarthy (R) defeated Sharon Beery (D) by 71-29%.
Incumbent
Kevin McCarthy (R)Elected in 2006; Seeking second term; McCarthy was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
None
District Profile: This narrow sliver of a district runs along the Pacific Ocean. Redistricting made it solidly Democratic. Full Profile
2006 results: Lois Capps (D) defeated Victor Tognazzini (R) by 65-35%.
Incumbent
Lois Capps (D)Elected in March 1998; Seeking sixth full term; Capps was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Matt Kokkonen (R)Kokkonen, a financial planner, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: A Republican stronghold, the 24th District includes the interiors of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Full Profile
2006 results: Elton Gallegly (R) defeated Jill Martinez (D) by 62-38%.
Incumbent
Elton Gallegly (R)Elected in 1986; Seeking 12th term; Gallegly was nominated with 77% in a two-way primary.
Challengers
Marta Ann Jorgensen (D)Jorgensen, a teacher, was nominated with 46% in a three-way primary.
District Profile: The long 25th District runs along much of the state's eastern border with Nevada; geographically, it's the largest district in California. It is solidly Republican. Full Profile
2006 results: Buck McKeon (R) defeated Robert Rodriguez (D) by 60-36%.
Incumbent
Buck McKeon (R)Elected in 1992; Seeking ninth term: McKeon was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Jacquese Conaway (D)Conaway, an office manager, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: Most of the communities in the 26th District remain heavily Republican, despite a new influx of Hispanic and Asian populations. Full Profile
2006 results: David Dreier (R) defeated Cynthia Matthews (D) by 57-38%.
Incumbent
David Dreier (R)Elected in 1980; Seeking 15th term; Dreier was nominated with 74% in a two-way primary.
Challengers
Russ Warner (D)Warner, a businessman, was nominated with 68% in a two-way primary.
District Profile: The diverse -- but solidly Democratic -- 27th District bridges the San Fernando Valley and includes part of Burbank. Full Profile
2006 results: Brad Sherman (D) defeated Peter Hankwitz (R) by 69-31%.
Incumbent
Brad Sherman (D)Elected in 1996; Seeking seventh term; Sherman was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Navraj Singh (R)Singh, a businessman, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: North Hollywood, Studio City, Sherman Oaks and Encino fall in the 28th District, which boasts a big Hispanic voting bloc. Full Profile
2006 results: Howard Berman (D) defeated Stanley Kesselman (R) by 74-19%.
Incumbent
Howard Berman (D)Elected in 1982; Seeking 14th term; Berman was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
None
District Profile: The 29th District, which includes Pasadena and part of Burbank, used to belong to the GOP but is now solidly Democratic. Full Profile
2006 results: Adam Schiff (D) defeated William Bodell (R) by 63-27%.
Incumbent
Adam Schiff (D)Elected in 2000; Seeking fifth term; Schiff was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Charles Hahn (R)Hahn, a financial adviser, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: California's glitterati call the 30th District home. The Democratic area includes western Los Angeles, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Full Profile
2006 results: Henry Waxman (D) defeated David Jones (R) by 71-26%.
Incumbent
Henry Waxman (D)Elected in 1974; Seeking 18th term; Waxman was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
None
District Profile: More than 40 percent of people in this left-leaning district are not citizens, and just over 20 percent speak English in the home. Full Profile
2006 results: Xavier Becerra (D) was unopposed.
Incumbent
Xavier Becerra (D)Elected in 1992; Seeking ninth term; Becerra was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
None
District Profile: A big percentage of the 32nd District is Hispanic, and although the 2001 redistricting assumed it would be Democratic, Latino voters may be pushing it to the right. Full Profile
2006 results: Hilda Solis (D) defeated Leland Faegre (Lib) by 83-17%.
Incumbent
Hilda Solis (D)Elected in 2000; Seeking fifth term; Solis was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
None
District Profile: The 33rd District -- with high percentages of black, Hispanic and Asian residents -- is one of the most Democratic areas in the country. Full Profile
2006 results: Diane Watson (D) was unopposed.
Incumbent
Diane Watson (D)Elected in June 2001; Seeking fourth full term; Watson was nominated with 88% in a three-way primary.
Challengers
David Crowley (R)Crowley, a college student, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: The 34th District is 77 percent Hispanic, the highest percentage in any California district. Politically, this area is heavily Democratic. Full Profile
2006 results: Lucille Roybal-Allard (D) defeated Wayne Miller (R) by 77-23%.
Incumbent
Lucille Roybal-Allard (D)Elected in 1992; Seeking ninth term; Roybal-Allard was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Christopher Balding (R)Balding, an economist, was nominated with 59% in a two-way primary.
District Profile: This heavily Democratic district is bookended by two of Los Angeles' major transportation centers. Full Profile
2006 results: Maxine Waters (D) defeated Gordon Mego (AMI) by 84-8%.
Incumbent
Maxine Waters (D)Elected in 1990; Seeking 10th term; Waters was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Ted Hayes (R)Hayes, a nonprofit president, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: The Democratic 36th District includes big beach communities, which are mostly populated by white residents. Full Profile
2006 results: Jane Harman (D) defeated Brian Gibson (R) by 63-32%.
Incumbent
Jane Harman (D)Elected in 1992 and 2000; Seeking eighth term; Harman was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: Most of Long Beach fits into the 37th District, another Democratic stronghold. Full Profile
2007 results: Laura Richardson (D) defeated John Kanaley (R) by 67-25%.
Incumbent
Laura Richardson (D)Elected in August 2007; Seeking first full term; Richardson was nominated with 75% in a three-way primary.
Challengers
None
District Profile: With the second-highest percentage of Hispanic residents in 2000, the 38th District encompasses four big Los Angeles County suburbs. Full Profile
2006 results: Grace Napolitano (D) defeated Sidney Street (R) by 75-25%.
Incumbent
Grace Napolitano (D)Elected in 1998; Seeking sixth term; Napolitano was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
None
District Profile: The U-shaped 39th District is 61 percent Hispanic and trends Democrat. Full Profile
2006 results: Linda Sanchez (D) defeated James Andion (R) by 66-34%.
Incumbent
Linda Sanchez (D)Elected in 2002; Seeking fourth term; Sanchez was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Diane Lenning (R)Lenning, a retired teacher, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: All of this district is in prosperous Orange County, a traditional Republican stronghold in a mostly liberal state. Full Profile
2006 results: Ed Royce (R) defeated Florice Hoffman (D) by 67-31%.
Incumbent
Ed Royce (R)Elected in 1992; Seeking ninth term; Royce was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Christina Avalos (D)Avalos, a mental health consultant, was nominated with 56% in a two-way primary.
District Profile: Most of San Bernadino County lies in the 41st District, which is the largest county in the United States. It in the southeastern part of the state, and it's solidly in the GOP camp. Full Profile
2006 results: Jerry Lewis (R) defeated Louie Contreras (D) by 67-33%.
Incumbent
Jerry Lewis (R)Elected in 1978; Seeking 16th term; Lewis was nominated with 82% in a three-way primary.
Challengers
Tim Prince (D)Prince, an attorney, was nominated with 32% in a four-way primary.
District Profile: Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Orange counties all converge in the 42nd District, which George W. Bush carried with 62 percent. Full Profile
2006 results: Gary Miller (R) was unopposed.
Incumbent
Gary Miller (R)Elected in 1998; Seeking sixth term; Miller was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Ed Chau (D)Chau, an attorney, was nominated with 47% in a three-way primary.
District Profile: A growing Hispanic population pushed the 43rd District to the left in the 1990s, but George W. Bush gained some ground in the 2004 election. Full Profile
2006 results: Joe Baca (D) defeated Scott Folkens (R) by 64-36%.
Incumbent
Joe Baca (D)Elected in Nov. 1999; Seeking fifth full term; Baca was nominated with 66% in a two-way primary.
Challengers
John Roberts (R)Roberts, a Fontana City Councilor, was nominated with 60% in a two-way primary.
District Profile: The 44th District has been one of the fastest-growing U.S. districts for nearly two decades. It is solidly Republican. Full Profile
2006 results: Ken Calvert (R) defeated Louis Vandenberg (D) by 60-37%.
Incumbent
Ken Calvert (R)Elected in 1992; Seeking ninth term; Calvert was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: The long, narrow 45th District includes Joshua Tree National Park and trends Republican. Full Profile
2006 results: Mary Bono (R) defeated David Roth (D) by 61-39%.
Incumbent
Mary Bono Mack (R)Elected in April 1998; Seeking sixth full term; Mack was nominated with 89% in a two-way primary.
Challengers
Julie Bornstein (D)Bornstein, a nonprofit housing executive, was nominated with 61% in a three-way primary.
District Profile: Touching the Pacific Ocean in the southern part of the state, this district has a high percentage of Vietnamese immigrants who vote conservatively. Full Profile
2006 results: Dana Rohrabacher (R) defeated Jim Brandt (D) by 60-37%.
Incumbent
Dana Rohrabacher (R)Elected in 1988; Seeking 11th term; Rohrabacher was nominated with 87% in a two-way primary.
Challengers
Debbie Cook (D)Cook, the Huntington Beach Mayor, was nominated with 81% in a two-way primary.
District Profile: Disneyland is in the 47th District, which sits at the geographic center of Orange County. George W. Bush saw his percentage rise from 41 percent in 2000 to 50 percent in 2004 -- the biggest rise in any California district. Full Profile
2006 results: Loretta Sanchez (D) defeated Tan Nguyen (R) by 62-38%.
Incumbent
Loretta Sanchez (D)Elected in 1996; Seeking seventh term; Sanchez was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Rosemarie Avila (R)Avila, a Santa Ana school board member, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: Irvine is located near the center of this politically conservative district near the southwestern tip of the state. Full Profile
2006 results: John Campbell (R) defeated Steve Young (D) by 60-37%.
Incumbent
John Campbell (R)Elected Dec. 2005; Seeking second full term; Campbell was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: The 49th District occupies the northern part of San Diego County and the southwestern corner of Riverside County. It trends Republican and was one of the state's fastest-growing districts in the 1990s. Full Profile
2006 results: Darrell Issa (R) defeated Jeeni Criscenzo (D) by 63-33%.
Incumbent
Darrell Issa (R)Elected in 2000; Seeking fifth term; Issa was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Robert Hamilton (D)Hamilton, a retired businessman, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: The 50th District covers part of San Diego County; about 40 percent of its population is in the city proper. Full Profile
2006 results: Brian Bilbray (R) defeated Francine Busby (D) by 53-43%.
Incumbent
Brian Bilbray (R)Elected in 1994 and June 2006; Seeking fifth full term; Bilbray was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Nick Leibham (D)Leibham, an attorney, was nominated with 57% in a two-way primary.
District Profile: The 51st District sits at the southern tip of the state and is home to the biggest border crossing in the world. It was redistricted to be solidly Democratic, but John Kerry didn't perform as well in the district in 2004 as Al Gore did in 2000. Full Profile
2006 results: Bob Filner (D) defeated Blake Miles (R) by 67-30%.
Incumbent
Bob Filner (D)Elected in 1992; Seeking ninth term; Filner was nominated with 76% in a two-way primary.
Challengers
David Lee Joy (R)Joy, a businessman, was nominated with 65% in a two-way primary.
District Profile: San Diego's inland suburbs are located in the 52nd District, which belongs to the GOP. Full Profile
2006 results: Duncan L. Hunter (R) defeated John Rinaldi (D) by 65-32%.
Republican
Duncan D. HunterHunter, a businessman and son of incumbent Duncan L. Hunter, was nominated with 73% in a four-way primary.
Democrat
Mike LumpkinLumpkin, a retired naval officer, was nominated with 59% in a two-way primary.
District Profile: The 53rd District contains San Diego proper and the beaches and communities surrounding it. It is a solidly Democratic district. Full Profile
2006 results: Susan Davis (D) defeated John Woodrum (R) by 68-30%.
Incumbent
Susan Davis (D)Elected in 2000; Seeking fifth term; Davis was nominated with 88% in a two-way primary.
Challengers
Michael Crimmins (R)Crimmins, a teacher, was nominated with 76% in a two-way primary.
Please send comments or corrections to AlmanacEditorial@nationaljournal.com.
Race Rankings
Based on likelihood of seat switching party control
1.
N.Y.-13
(Open-R)2.
N.Y.-25
(Open-R)3.
Ariz.-01
(Open-R)4.
Alaska-AL
(Young-R)5.
N.J.-03
(Open-R)6.
Texas-22
(Lampson-D)7.
Va.-11
(Open-R)8.
Ill.-11
(Open-R)9.
La.-6
(Cazayoux-D)10.
N.J.-07
(Open-R)11.
Ohio-16
(Open-R)12.
Colo.-04
(Musgrave-R)13.
Pa.-11
(Kanjorski-D)14.
N.M.-01
(Open-R)15.
Minn.-03
(Open-R)Previous Coverage
Check out National Journal's coverage of previous California house races.
