California's 29th Congressional District

California's 29th Congressional District

Incumbent

Tony Cárdenas

Assumed office: January 3, 2013

California's 29th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives is represented by Tony Cárdenas (D).

As of the 2020 Census, California representatives represented an average of 761,091 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 704,566 residents.

Elections

2024

See also: California's 29th Congressional District election, 2024

California's 29th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 top-two primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 29

Luz Maria Rivas and Benito Bernal are running in the general election for U.S. House California District 29 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate
		Luz Maria Rivas (D)
		Benito Bernal (R)

---

	There are no incumbents in this race.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 29

Luz Maria Rivas and Benito Bernal defeated Angélica María Dueñas in the primary for U.S. House California District 29 on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Luz Maria Rivas (D)	49.3	40,096
✔		Benito Bernal (R)	26.4	21,446
		Angélica María Dueñas (D)	24.4	19,844

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 81,386
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Margarita Maria Carranza (R)

2022

See also: California's 29th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 29

Incumbent Tony Cárdenas defeated Angélica María Dueñas in the general election for U.S. House California District 29 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tony Cárdenas (D)	58.5	69,915
		Angélica María Dueñas (D)	41.5	49,520

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 119,435
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 29

Incumbent Tony Cárdenas and Angélica María Dueñas defeated Margarita Maria Carranza, Andy Miranda, and Rudy Melendez in the primary for U.S. House California District 29 on June 7, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tony Cárdenas (D)	56.7	47,941
✔		Angélica María Dueñas (D)	22.8	19,321
		Margarita Maria Carranza (R)	8.4	7,079
		Andy Miranda (R)	6.1	5,167
		Rudy Melendez (R)	6.0	5,057

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 84,565
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

See also: California's 29th Congressional District election, 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 29

Incumbent Tony Cárdenas defeated Angélica María Dueñas in the general election for U.S. House California District 29 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tony Cárdenas (D)	56.6	119,420
		Angélica María Dueñas (D)	43.4	91,524

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 210,944
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 29

Incumbent Tony Cárdenas and Angélica María Dueñas defeated Brian Perras and Michael Guzik in the primary for U.S. House California District 29 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tony Cárdenas (D)	58.5	56,984
✔		Angélica María Dueñas (D)	23.0	22,423
		Brian Perras (R)	15.0	14,571
		Michael Guzik (D)	3.5	3,373

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 97,351
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Abdeli Sanchez (D)

2018

See also: California's 29th Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 29

Incumbent Tony Cárdenas defeated Benito Bernal in the general election for U.S. House California District 29 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tony Cárdenas (D)	80.6	124,697
		Benito Bernal (R)	19.4	29,995

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 154,692
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 29

Incumbent Tony Cárdenas and Benito Bernal defeated Joseph Shammas, Angélica María Dueñas, and Juan Rey in the primary for U.S. House California District 29 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tony Cárdenas (D)	66.7	43,579
✔		Benito Bernal (R)	17.4	11,353
		Joseph Shammas (D)	8.1	5,278
		Angélica María Dueñas (G)	6.4	4,164
		Juan Rey (Independent)	1.4	944

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 65,318
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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2016

See also: California's 29th Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Democratic. Incumbent Tony Cardenas (D) defeated Richard Alarcon (D) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Cardenas and Alarcon defeated Benito Bernal (D), David Guzman (D), and Joseph Shammas (D) in the top-two primary on June 7, 2016.^[1][2][3]

U.S. House, California District 29 General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Tony Cardenas Incumbent	74.7%	128,407
	Democratic	Richard Alarcon	25.3%	43,417
Total Votes				171,824
Source: California Secretary of State

U.S. House, California District 29 Primary, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Tony Cardenas Incumbent	61.4%	58,616
	Democratic	Richard Alarcon	13%	12,397
	Democratic	Joseph Shammas	11.4%	10,847
	Democratic	Benito Bernal	10.5%	10,006
	Democratic	David Guzman	3.8%	3,654
Total Votes				95,520
Source: California Secretary of State

2014

See also: California's 29th Congressional District elections, 2014

The 29th Congressional District of California held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Tony Cardenas (D) defeated William Leader (R) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 29 General Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Tony Cardenas Incumbent	74.6%	50,096
	Republican	William O'Callaghan Leader	25.4%	17,045
Total Votes				67,141
Source: California Secretary of State

2012

See also: California's 29th Congressional District elections, 2012

The 29th Congressional District of California held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. Democrat Tony Cardenas won election in the district.^[4]

U.S. House, California District 29 General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Tony Cardenas	74.1%	111,287
	Independent	David Hernandez	25.9%	38,994
Total Votes				150,281
Source: California Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

2010
On November 2, 2010, Adam Schiff won re-election to the United States House. He defeated John Colbert (R) and William Cushing (L) in the general election.^[5]

U.S. House, California District 29 General Election, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Adam Schiff incumbent	64.8%	104,374
	Republican	John Colbert	32%	51,534
	Libertarian	William Cushing	3.2%	5,218
Total Votes				161,126

2008
On November 4, 2008, Adam Schiff won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Charles Hahn (R) and Alan Pyeatt (L) in the general election.^[6]

U.S. House, California District 29 General Election, 2008
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Adam Schiff incumbent	68.9%	146,198
	Republican	Charles Hahn	26.7%	56,727
	Libertarian	Alan Pyeatt	4.3%	9,219
Total Votes				212,144

2006
On November 7, 2006, Adam Schiff won re-election to the United States House. He defeated William Bodell (R), William Paparian (G), Lynda Llamas (P&F) and Jim Keller (L) in the general election.^[7]

U.S. House, California District 29 General Election, 2006
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Adam Schiff incumbent	63.5%	91,014
	Republican	William Bodell	27.4%	39,321
	Green	William Paparian	5.7%	8,197
	Peace and Freedom	Lynda Llamas	1.8%	2,599
	Libertarian	Jim Keller	1.6%	2,258
Total Votes				143,389

2004
On November 2, 2004, Adam Schiff won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Harry Frank Scolinos (R), Philip Koebel (G) and Ted Brown (L) in the general election.^[8]

U.S. House, California District 29 General Election, 2004
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Adam Schiff incumbent	64.6%	133,670
	Republican	Harry Frank Scolinos	30.4%	62,871
	Green	Philip Koebel	2.8%	5,715
	Libertarian	Ted Brown	2.2%	4,570
	N/A	Write-in	0%	6
Total Votes				206,832

2002
On November 5, 2002, Adam Schiff won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Jim Scileppi (R) and Ted Brown (L) in the general election.^[9]

U.S. House, California District 29 General Election, 2002
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Adam Schiff incumbent	62.6%	76,036
	Republican	Jim Scileppi	33.4%	40,616
	Libertarian	Ted Brown	4%	4,889
Total Votes				121,541

2000
On November 7, 2000, Henry Waxman won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Jim Scileppi (R), Bruce Joseph Currivan (Natural Law) and Jack Anderson (L) in the general election.^[10]

U.S. House, California District 29 General Election, 2000
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Henry Waxman incumbent	75.7%	180,295
	Republican	Jim Scileppi	19.2%	45,784
	Natural Law	Bruce Joseph Currivan	3.3%	7,944
	Libertarian	Jack Anderson	1.8%	4,178
Total Votes				238,201

1998
On November 3, 1998, Henry Waxman won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Mike Gottlieb (R), Mike Binkley (L) and Karen Blasdell-Wilkinson (Natural Law) in the general election.^[11]

U.S. House, California District 29 General Election, 1998
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Henry Waxman incumbent	73.9%	131,561
	Republican	Mike Gottlieb	22.6%	40,282
	Libertarian	Mike Binkley	2%	3,534
	Natural Law	Karen Blasdell-Wilkinson	1.5%	2,717
Total Votes				178,094

1996
On November 5, 1996, Henry Waxman won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Paul Stepanek (R), John Peter Daly (P&F), Mike Binkley (L) and Brian Rees (Natural Law) in the general election.^[12]

U.S. House, California District 29 General Election, 1996
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Henry Waxman incumbent	67.6%	145,278
	Republican	Paul Stepanek	24.6%	52,857
	Peace and Freedom	John Peter Daly	4.1%	8,819
	Libertarian	Mike Binkley	2.2%	4,766
	Natural Law	Brian Rees	1.4%	3,097
Total Votes				214,817

1994
On November 8, 1994, Henry Waxman won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Paul Stepanek (R) and Michael Binkley (L) in the general election.^[13]

U.S. House, California District 29 General Election, 1994
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Henry Waxman incumbent	68%	129,413
	Republican	Paul Stepanek	28.3%	53,801
	Libertarian	Michael Binkley	3.8%	7,162
Total Votes				190,376

1992
On November 3, 1992, Henry Waxman won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Mark Robbins (R), David Davis (I), Susan Davies (P&F) and Felix Tavi Rogin (L) in the general election.^[14]

U.S. House, California District 29 General Election, 1992
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Henry Waxman incumbent	61.3%	160,312
	Republican	Mark Robbins	25.7%	67,141
	Independent	David Davis	5.9%	15,445
	Peace and Freedom	Susan Davies	5.3%	13,888
	Libertarian	Felix Tavi Rogin	1.8%	4,699
	N/A	Write-in	0%	1
Total Votes				261,486

1990
On November 6, 1990, Maxine Waters won election to the United States House. She defeated Bill DeWitt (R) and Waheed Boctor (L) in the general election.^[15]

U.S. House, California District 29 General Election, 1990
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Maxine Waters	79.4%	51,350
	Republican	Bill DeWitt	18.6%	12,054
	Libertarian	Waheed Boctor	2%	1,268
Total Votes				64,672

District map

Redistricting

2020-2021

See also: Redistricting in California after the 2020 census

The California Citizens Redistricting Commission voted 14-0 in favor of a new congressional district map on December 20, 2021, and delivered those maps to the secretary of state on December 27, 2021.^[16][17] California was apportioned 52 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, a net loss of one seat compared to apportionment after the 2010 census. This map took effect for California's 2022 congressional elections.

How does redistricting in California work? In California, a non-politician commission draws both congressional and state legislative district lines. Established in 2008 by ballot initiative, the commission comprises 14 members: five Democrats, five Republicans, and four belonging to neither party. A panel of state auditors selects the pool of nominees from which the commissioners are appointed. This pool comprises 20 Democrats, 20 Republicans, and 20 belonging to neither party. The majority and minority leaders of both chambers of the state legislature may each remove two members from each of the aforementioned groups. The first eight commission members are selected at random from the remaining nominees. These first eight comprise three Democrats, three Republicans, and two belonging to neither party. The first eight commissioners appoint the remaining six, which must include two Democrats, two Republicans, and two belonging to neither party.^[18]

Commissioners must meet the following requirements in order to serve:^[18]

1. Members must have voted in at least two of the last three statewide elections.
2. Members cannot have switched party affiliation for at least five years.
3. "Neither commissioners nor immediate family may have been, within 10 years of appointment, a candidate for federal or state office or member of a party central committee; an officer, employee, or paid consultant to a federal or state candidate or party; a registered lobbyist or paid legislative staff; or a donor of more than $2,000 to an elected candidate."
4. Members cannot be "staff, consultants or contractors for state or federal government" while serving as commissioners. The same prohibition applies to the family of commission members.

In order to approve a redistricting plan, nine of the commission's 14 members must vote for it. These nine must include three Democrats, three Republicans, and three belonging to neither party. Maps drawn by the commission may be overturned by public referendum. In the event that a map is overturned by the public, the California Supreme Court must appoint a group to draw a new map.^[18]

The California Constitution requires that districts be contiguous. Further, the state constitution mandates that "to the extent possible, [districts] must ... preserve the geographic integrity of cities, counties, neighborhoods and communities of interest." Districts must also "encourage compactness." State Senate and Assembly districts should be nested within each other where possible.^[18]

2010-2011

This is the 29th Congressional District of California after the 2001 redistricting process. The current district is displayed in the infobox at the top of the page.

See also: Redistricting in California after the 2010 census

In 2011, the California State Legislature re-drew the congressional districts based on updated population information from the 2010 census.

District analysis

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores

2022

Heading into the 2022 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was D+26. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 26 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made California's 29th the 33rd most Democratic district nationally.^[19]

Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Joe Biden (D) would have received 74.5% of the vote in this district and Donald Trump (R) would have received 23.2%.^[20]

2018

Heading into the 2018 elections, based on results from the 2016 and 2012 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was D+29. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 29 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made California's 29th Congressional District the 31st most Democratic nationally.^[21]

FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 1.07. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 1.07 points toward that party.^[22]

See also

• Redistricting in California
• California's 29th Congressional District election, 2024
• California's 29th Congressional District election, 2022
• California's 29th Congressional District election, 2020
• California's 29th Congressional District election, 2018

External links

• GovTrack District 29

Footnotes