California's 42nd Congressional District

California's 42nd Congressional District

Incumbent

Robert Garcia

Assumed office: January 3, 2023

California's 42nd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives is represented by Robert Garcia (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 42nd Congressional District election, 2024

California's 42nd Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 top-two primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 42

Incumbent Robert Garcia and John Briscoe are running in the general election for U.S. House California District 42 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate
		Robert Garcia (D)
		John Briscoe (R)

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 42

Incumbent Robert Garcia and John Briscoe defeated Nicole López and Joaquín Beltrán in the primary for U.S. House California District 42 on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Robert Garcia (D)	52.1	49,891
✔		John Briscoe (R)	31.9	30,599
		Nicole López (D)	9.1	8,758
		Joaquín Beltrán (D)	6.8	6,532

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 95,780
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2022

See also: California's 42nd Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 42

Robert Garcia defeated John Briscoe in the general election for U.S. House California District 42 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Robert Garcia (D)	68.4	99,217
		John Briscoe (R)	31.6	45,903

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 145,120
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 42

The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House California District 42 on June 7, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Robert Garcia (D)	46.7	43,406
✔		John Briscoe (R)	26.1	24,319
		Cristina Garcia (D)	12.6	11,685
		Peter Mathews (D)	3.7	3,415
		Nicole López (D)	3.4	3,164
		Julio Cesar Flores (G)	2.7	2,491
		William Summerville (D)	2.5	2,301
		Joaquín Beltrán (D)	2.4	2,254

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 93,035
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Angel Rios (Independent)
• Saul Castillo (D)

2020

See also: California's 42nd Congressional District election, 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 42

Incumbent Ken Calvert defeated William O'Mara in the general election for U.S. House California District 42 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Ken Calvert (R)	57.1	210,274
		William O'Mara (D)	42.9	157,773

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 368,047
= 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 42

Incumbent Ken Calvert and William O'Mara defeated Regina Marston in the primary for U.S. House California District 42 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Ken Calvert (R)	58.2	97,781
✔		William O'Mara (D)	22.9	38,506
		Regina Marston (D)	18.8	31,587

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 167,874
= 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

• David Fritz (R)
• Julia Peacock (D)

2018

See also: California's 42nd Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 42

Incumbent Ken Calvert defeated Julia Peacock in the general election for U.S. House California District 42 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Ken Calvert (R)	56.5	131,040
		Julia Peacock (D)	43.5	100,892

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 231,932
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 42

Incumbent Ken Calvert and Julia Peacock defeated Norman Quintero and Matt Woody in the primary for U.S. House California District 42 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Ken Calvert (R)	60.8	70,289
✔		Julia Peacock (D)	26.1	30,237
		Norman Quintero (D)	8.2	9,540
		Matt Woody (Independent)	4.8	5,587

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 115,653
= 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

• Floyd Harvey (R)

2016

See also: California's 42nd Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Incumbent Ken Calvert (R) defeated Tim Sheridan (D) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Calvert and Sheridan defeated Kerri Condley (Independent) in the top-two primary on June 7, 2016.^[1][2]

U.S. House, California District 42 General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Ken Calvert Incumbent	58.8%	149,547
	Democratic	Tim Sheridan	41.2%	104,689
Total Votes				254,236
Source: California Secretary of State

U.S. House, California District 42 Primary, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Ken Calvert Incumbent	54.9%	66,418
	Democratic	Tim Sheridan	37.5%	45,389
	Independent	Kerri Condley	7.5%	9,076
Total Votes				120,883
Source: California Secretary of State

2014

See also: California's 42nd Congressional District elections, 2014

The 42nd Congressional District of California held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Ken Calvert (R) defeated Tim Sheridan (D) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 42 General Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Ken Calvert Incumbent	65.7%	74,540
	Democratic	Tim Sheridan	34.3%	38,850
Total Votes				113,390
Source: California Secretary of State

2012

See also: California's 42nd Congressional District elections, 2012

The 42nd Congressional District of California held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. District 44 incumbent Ken Calvert won election in the district.^[3]

U.S. House, California District 42 General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Ken Calvert Incumbent	60.6%	130,245
	Democratic	Michael Williamson	39.4%	84,702
Total Votes				214,947
Source: California Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

2010
On November 2, 2010, Gary Miller won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Michael Williamson (D) and Mark Lambert (L) in the general election.^[4]

U.S. House, California District 42 General Election, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Gary Miller incumbent	62.2%	127,161
	Democratic	Michael Williamson	31.9%	65,122
	Libertarian	Mark Lambert	5.9%	12,115
Total Votes				204,398

2008
On November 4, 2008, Gary Miller won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Edwin Chau (D) in the general election.^[5]

U.S. House, California District 42 General Election, 2008
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Gary Miller incumbent	60.2%	158,404
	Democratic	Edwin Chau	39.8%	104,909
Total Votes				263,313

2006
On November 7, 2006, Gary Miller won re-election to the United States House. He ran unopposed in the general election.^[6]

U.S. House, California District 42 General Election, 2006
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Gary Miller incumbent	100%	129,720
Total Votes				129,720

2004
On November 2, 2004, Gary Miller won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Lewis Myers (D) in the general election.^[7]

U.S. House, California District 42 General Election, 2004
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Gary Miller incumbent	68.1%	167,632
	Democratic	Lewis Myers	31.9%	78,393
Total Votes				246,025

2002
On November 5, 2002, Gary Miller won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Richard Waldron (D) and Donald Yee (L) in the general election.^[8]

U.S. House, California District 42 General Election, 2002
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Gary Miller incumbent	67.8%	98,476
	Democratic	Richard Waldron	29%	42,090
	Libertarian	Donald Yee	3.2%	4,680
Total Votes				145,246

2000
On November 7, 2000, Joe Baca won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Elia Pirozzi (R), John Ballard (L) and Gwyn Hartley (Natural Law) in the general election.^[9]

U.S. House, California District 42 General Election, 2000
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Joe Baca incumbent	59.8%	90,585
	Republican	Elia Pirozzi	35.1%	53,239
	Libertarian	John Ballard	2.7%	4,059
	Natural Law	Gwyn Hartley	2.4%	3,694
Total Votes				151,577

1998
On November 3, 1998, George Brown, Jr. won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Elia Pirozzi (R), Hale McGee (American Independent) and David Lynn Hollist (L) in the general election.^[10]

U.S. House, California District 42 General Election, 1998
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	George Brown, Jr. incumbent	55.3%	62,207
	Republican	Elia Pirozzi	40.3%	45,328
	American Independent	Hale McGee	2.7%	3,086
	Libertarian	David Lynn Hollist	1.7%	1,899
Total Votes				112,520

1996
On November 5, 1996, George Brown, Jr. won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Linda Wilde (R) in the general election.^[11]

U.S. House, California District 42 General Election, 1996
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	George Brown, Jr. incumbent	50.5%	52,166
	Republican	Linda Wilde	49.5%	51,170
Total Votes				103,336

1994
On November 8, 1994, George Brown, Jr. won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Rob Guzman (R) in the general election.^[12]

U.S. House, California District 42 General Election, 1994
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	George Brown, Jr. incumbent	51.1%	58,888
	Republican	Rob Guzman	48.8%	56,259
	N/A	Write-in	0.1%	58
Total Votes				115,205

1992
On November 3, 1992, George Brown, Jr. won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Dick Rutan (R) and Fritz Ward (L) in the general election.^[13]

U.S. House, California District 42 General Election, 1992
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	George Brown, Jr. incumbent	50.7%	79,780
	Republican	Dick Rutan	44%	69,251
	Libertarian	Fritz Ward	5.4%	8,424
Total Votes				157,455

1990
On November 6, 1990, Dana Rohrabacher won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Guy Kimbrough (D) and Richard Gibb Martin (L) in the general election.^[14]

U.S. House, California District 42 General Election, 1990
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Dana Rohrabacher incumbent	59.3%	109,353
	Democratic	Guy Kimbrough	36.5%	67,189
	Libertarian	Richard Gibb Martin	4.2%	7,744
Total Votes				184,286

1988
On November 8, 1988, Dana Rohrabacher won election to the United States House. He defeated Guy Kimbrough (D) and Richard Rose (Peace and Freedom) in the general election.^[15]

U.S. House, California District 42 General Election, 1988
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Dana Rohrabacher	64.2%	153,280
	Democratic	Guy Kimbrough	33%	78,778
	Peace and Freedom	Richard Rose	2.8%	6,563
Total Votes				238,621

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 42nd 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+22. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 22 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made California's 42nd the 54th 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 71.7% of the vote in this district and Donald Trump (R) would have received 25.9%.^[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 R+9. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 9 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made California's 42nd Congressional District the 156th most Republican 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 1.04. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 1.04 points toward that party.^[22]

See also

• Redistricting in California
• California's 42nd Congressional District election, 2024
• California's 42nd Congressional District election, 2022
• California's 42nd Congressional District election, 2020
• California's 42nd Congressional District election, 2018

External links

• GovTrack District 42

Footnotes