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%.
Challengers
Mitchell Clogg (D), former journalist
Doug Pharr (R), attorney
Carol Wolman (R), physician
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.
Challengers
John Jacobson (D), teacher
Jeff Morris (D), Trinity County supervisor
A.J. Sekhon (D), physician
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.
Challengers
Bill Durston (D), physician
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%.
Republicans
Suzanne Jones (R),attorney Tom McClintock (R), state senator Doug Ose (R), former congressman Theodore Terbolizard (R), artist
Democrats
Charlie Brown (D), police department official
John Wolfgram (D), attorney
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.
Challengers
Paul Smith (R), mortgage broker
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.
Challengers
Mike Halliwell (R), college professor
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%.
Challengers
Virginia Fuller (R), nurse
Roger Allen Paterson (R), human resources executive
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.
Challengers
Dana Walsh (R), interior decorator
Shirley Goulb (D), realtor
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.
Challengers
Charles Hargrave (R), non-profit supervisor
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.
Challengers
Nicholas Gerber (R), businessman
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.
Challengers
Dean Andal (R), businessman
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; See the special election tip sheet.
Democrats
Michelle McMurry, health policy director Jackie Speier, former state senator
Republicans
Greg Conlon, former public utilities commissioner
Mike Moloney, economist
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.
Challengers
Raymond Chui (R), insurance agent
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.
Challengers
Ronny Santana (R), realtor
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.
Challengers
Joyce Stoer Cordi (R), businesswoman
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.
Challengers
Charel Winston (R), businesswoman
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.
Challengers
Jeff Taylor (R), farmer
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.
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.
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.
Challengers
Jim Lopez (R), businessman
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.
Challengers
Larry Johnson (D), retired businessman
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.
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.
Challengers
Matt Kokkonen (R), financial planner
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%.
Challengers
Michael Tenenbaum (R), business attorney
Marta Ann Jorgensen (D), teacher Jill Martinez (D), minister Mary Pallant (D), businesswoman
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.
Challengers
Jackie Conaway (D), office manager
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.
Challengers
Sonny Sardo (R), businessman
Cynthia Rodriguez Matthews (D), engineer
Russ Warner (D), businessman
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.
Challengers
Navraj Singh (R), businessman
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%.
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.
Challengers
Charles Hahn (R), financial adviser
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%.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Challengers
Christopher Balding (R), economist
Wayne Miller (R), retired government worker
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%.
Challengers
Ted Hayes (R), non-profit president
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.
Challengers
Brian Gibson (R), physicist
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.
Challengers
Lee Davis (D), publisher
Peter Mathews (D), college professor
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.
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.
Challengers
Diane Lenning (R), retired teacher
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%.
Challengers
Christina Avalos (D), mental health consultant
Tom Kennedy (D), sales manager
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%.
Challengers
Eric Stone (R), businessman
Pamela Zander (R), businesswoman
Beverly Bruins (D), library assistant Pat Meagher (D), educator Tim Prince (D), attorney Rita Ramirez-Dean (D), retired educator
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.
Challengers
Ed Chau (D), attorney Ron Shepston (D), avionics engineer Michael Williamson (D), attorney
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.
Challengers
Joanne Gilbert (D), educator
Scott Folkens (R), teacher
John Roberts (R), Fontanta City Councilor
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%.
Challengers
Bill Hedrick (D), educator
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.
Challengers
George Pearne (R), retired teacher
Julie Bornstein (D), non-profit housing executive
Paul Clay (D), teacher
David Hunsicker (D), realtor
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.
Challengers
Ronald St. John (R), attorney
Debbie Cook (D), Huntington Beach mayor
Dan Kalmick (D), businessman
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.
Challengers
Rosemarie Avila (R), Santa Ana school board member
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.
Challengers
Steve Young (D), attorney
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.
Challengers
Robert Hamilton (D), retired businessman
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.
Challengers
Cheryl Martin Ede (D), school psychologist
Nick Leibham (D), attorney
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.
Challengers
Daniel Ramirez (D), former candidate
Dan Felzer (R), mortgage broker
David Lee Joy (R), businessman
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%.
Republicans
Duncan D. Hunter (R), businessman, son of Duncan L. HunterBrian Jones (R), Santee city councilman
Rick Powell (R), retired federal agent
Bob Watkins (R), San Diego County board of education president
Democrats
Vickie Butcher (D), teacher Mike Lumpkin (D), retired naval officer
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.
Challengers
Mike Copass (D), microbiologist
Michael Crimmins (R), teacher
Naomi Bar-Lev (R), real estate broker
Race Rankings
Based on likelihood of seat switching party control
1.
Ill.-11
(Open-R)2.
Va.-11
(Open-R)3.
N.Y.-25
(Open-R)4.
Ariz.-01
(Open-R)5.
Texas-22
(Lampson-D)6.
N.J.-03
(Open-R)7.
N.J.-07
(Open-R)8.
N.M.-01
(Open-R)9.
Ohio-16
(Open-R)10.
Ohio-15
(Open-R)Previous Coverage
Check out National Journal's coverage of previous California house races.
