California's 9th Congressional District

California's 9th Congressional District

Incumbent

Josh Harder

Assumed office: January 3, 2023

California's 9th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives is represented by Josh Harder (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 9th Congressional District election, 2024

California's 9th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 top-two primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 9

Incumbent Josh Harder and Kevin Lincoln II are running in the general election for U.S. House California District 9 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate
		Josh Harder (D)
		Kevin Lincoln II (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 9

Incumbent Josh Harder and Kevin Lincoln II defeated John McBride and Khalid Jeffrey Jafri in the primary for U.S. House California District 9 on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Josh Harder (D)	49.7	60,978
✔		Kevin Lincoln II (R)	30.0	36,744
		John McBride (R)	12.8	15,707
		Khalid Jeffrey Jafri (R)	7.5	9,150

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 122,579
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Karena Feng (Independent)
• Matt Dozier (Independent)
• Brett Dood (R)

2022

See also: California's 9th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 9

Incumbent Josh Harder defeated Tom Patti in the general election for U.S. House California District 9 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Josh Harder (D)	54.8	95,598
		Tom Patti (R)	45.2	78,802

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 174,400
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 9

The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House California District 9 on June 7, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Josh Harder (D)	36.7	39,026
✔		Tom Patti (R)	29.0	30,843
		Jim Shoemaker (R)	14.5	15,443
		Harpreet Chima (D)	7.9	8,433
		Jonathan Madison (R)	5.6	5,992
		Khalid Jeffrey Jafri (D)	3.0	3,174
		Karena Feng (D)	2.5	2,632
		Mark Andrews (Independent)	0.7	758

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 106,301
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

See also: California's 9th Congressional District election, 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 9

Incumbent Jerry McNerney defeated Antonio Amador in the general election for U.S. House California District 9 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jerry McNerney (D)	57.6	174,252
		Antonio Amador (R)	42.4	128,358

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 302,610
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 9

Incumbent Jerry McNerney and Antonio Amador defeated William Martinek and Crystal Sawyer-White in the primary for U.S. House California District 9 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jerry McNerney (D)	57.0	86,556
✔		Antonio Amador (R)	30.3	45,962
		William Martinek (R)	12.7	19,255
		Crystal Sawyer-White (D) (Write-in)	0.0	22

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 151,795
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Alexis Medina (D)

2018

See also: California's 9th Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 9

Incumbent Jerry McNerney defeated Marla Livengood in the general election for U.S. House California District 9 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jerry McNerney (D)	56.5	113,414
		Marla Livengood (R)	43.5	87,349

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 200,763
= 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 9

Incumbent Jerry McNerney and Marla Livengood defeated Mike Tsarnas in the primary for U.S. House California District 9 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jerry McNerney (D)	53.2	55,923
✔		Marla Livengood (R)	41.1	43,242
		Mike Tsarnas (Independent American Party)	5.7	6,038

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 105,203
= 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

• Marco Gutierrez (R)

2016

See also: California's 9th Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Democratic. Incumbent Jerry McNerney (D) defeated Antonio Amador (R) in the general election on November 8, 2016. McNerney and Amador defeated Kathryn Nance (R) and Alex Appleby (L) in the top-two primary on June 7, 2016.^[1][2]

U.S. House, California District 9 General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Jerry McNerney Incumbent	57.4%	133,163
	Republican	Antonio Amador	42.6%	98,992
Total Votes				232,155
Source: California Secretary of State

U.S. House, California District 9 Primary, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Jerry McNerney Incumbent	55.3%	71,634
	Republican	Antonio Amador	21.7%	28,161
	Republican	Kathryn Nance	19.1%	24,783
	Libertarian	Alex Appleby	3.9%	5,029
Total Votes				129,607
Source: California Secretary of State

2014

See also: California's 9th Congressional District elections, 2014

The 9th Congressional District of California held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Jerry McNerney (D) defeated Tony Amador (R) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 9 General Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Jerry McNerney Incumbent	52.4%	63,475
	Republican	Tony Amador	47.6%	57,729
Total Votes				121,204
Source: California Secretary of State

2012

See also: California's 9th Congressional District elections, 2012

According to a Cook Political Report analysis, the 9th District was one of 13 congressional districts in California that was competitive in 2012. The analysis rated it as Leans Democratic.^[3] The incumbent from the 11th District, Jerry McNerney, won election in the district.^[4]

U.S. House, California District 9 General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Jerry McNerney Incumbent	55.6%	118,373
	Republican	Ricky Gill	44.4%	94,704
Total Votes				213,077
Source: California Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

2010
On November 2, 2010, Barbara Lee won re-election to the United States House. She defeated Gerald Hashimoto (R), Dave Heller (G), James Eyer (L) and Larry Allen (P&F) in the general election.^[5]

U.S. House, California District 9 General Election, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Barbara Lee incumbent	84.3%	180,400
	Republican	Gerald Hashimoto	10.8%	23,054
	Green	Dave Heller	2.3%	4,848
	Libertarian	James Eyer	1.9%	4,113
	Peace and Freedom	Larry Allen	0.8%	1,670
Total Votes				214,085

2008
On November 4, 2008, Barbara Lee won re-election to the United States House. She defeated Charles Hargrave (R), James Eyer (L), David Heller (Write-in) and Christopher Kula (Write-in) in the general election.^[6]

U.S. House, California District 9 General Election, 2008
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Barbara Lee incumbent	86.1%	238,915
	Republican	Charles Hargrave	9.7%	26,917
	Libertarian	James Eyer	4.2%	11,704
	Write-in	David Heller	0%	37
	Write-in	Christopher Kula	0%	27
Total Votes				277,600

2006
On November 7, 2006, Barbara Lee won re-election to the United States House. She defeated John Dendulk (R) and James Eyer (L) in the general election.^[7]

U.S. House, California District 9 General Election, 2006
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Barbara Lee incumbent	86.3%	167,245
	Republican	John Dendulk	10.7%	20,786
	Libertarian	James Eyer	2.9%	5,655
Total Votes				193,686

2004
On November 2, 2004, Barbara Lee won re-election to the United States House. She defeated Claudia Bermudez (R) and Jim Eyer (L) in the general election.^[8]

U.S. House, California District 9 General Election, 2004
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Barbara Lee incumbent	84.5%	215,630
	Republican	Claudia Bermudez	12.3%	31,278
	Libertarian	Jim Eyer	3.2%	8,131
Total Votes				255,039

2002
On November 5, 2002, Barbara Lee won re-election to the United States House. She defeated Jerald Udinsky (R), James Eyer (L) and Hector Reyna (Write-in) in the general election.^[9]

U.S. House, California District 9 General Election, 2002
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Barbara Lee incumbent	81.4%	135,893
	Republican	Jerald Udinsky	15.2%	25,333
	Libertarian	James Eyer	3.4%	5,685
	Write-in	Hector Reyna	0%	6
Total Votes				166,917

2000
On November 7, 2000, Barbara Lee won re-election to the United States House. She defeated Arneze Washington (R), Fred Foldvary (L) and Ellen Jefferds (Natural Law) in the general election.^[10]

U.S. House, California District 9 General Election, 2000
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Barbara Lee incumbent	85%	182,352
	Republican	Arneze Washington	9.8%	21,033
	Libertarian	Fred Foldvary	3.3%	7,051
	Natural Law	Ellen Jefferds	2%	4,214
Total Votes				214,650

1998
On November 3, 1998, Barbara Lee won re-election to the United States House. She defeated Claiborne Sanders (R), Gerald Sanders (P&F) and Walter Ruehlig (Natural Law) in the general election.^[11]

U.S. House, California District 9 General Election, 1998
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Barbara Lee incumbent	82.8%	140,722
	Republican	Claiborne Sanders	13.2%	22,431
	Peace and Freedom	Gerald Sanders	2.8%	4,767
	Natural Law	Walter Ruehlig	1.2%	1,975
Total Votes				169,895

1996
On November 5, 1996, Ronald Dellums won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Deborah Wright (R), Tom Condit (P&F) and Jack Forem (Natural Law) in the general election.^[12]

U.S. House, California District 9 General Election, 1996
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Ronald Dellums incumbent	77%	154,806
	Republican	Deborah Wright	18.5%	37,126
	Peace and Freedom	Tom Condit	2.8%	5,561
	Natural Law	Jack Forem	1.7%	3,475
Total Votes				200,968

1994
On November 8, 1994, Ronald Dellums won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Deborah Wright (R) and Emma Wong Mar (P&F) in the general election.^[13]

U.S. House, California District 9 General Election, 1994
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Ronald Dellums incumbent	72.2%	129,233
	Republican	Deborah Wright	22.6%	40,448
	Peace and Freedom	Emma Wong Mar	5.1%	9,194
Total Votes				178,875

1992
On November 3, 1992, Ronald Dellums won election to the United States House. He defeated G. William Hunter (R) and Dave Linn (P&F) in the general election.^[14]

U.S. House, California District 9 General Election, 1992
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Ronald Dellums	71.9%	164,265
	Republican	G. William Hunter	23.5%	53,707
	Peace and Freedom	Dave Linn	4.6%	10,472
	N/A	Write-in	0%	23
Total Votes				228,467

1990
On November 6, 1990, Fortney Pete Stark won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Victor Romero (R) in the general election.^[15]

U.S. House, California District 9 General Election, 1990
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Fortney Pete Stark incumbent	58.4%	94,739
	Republican	Victor Romero	41.6%	67,412
Total Votes				162,151

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 9th 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+5. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 5 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made California's 9th the 169th 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 55.2% of the vote in this district and Donald Trump (R) would have received 42.6%.^[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+8. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 8 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made California's 9th Congressional District the 138th 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 0.95. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 0.95 points toward that party.^[22]

See also

• Redistricting in California
• California's 9th Congressional District election, 2024
• California's 9th Congressional District election, 2022
• California's 9th Congressional District election, 2020
• California's 9th Congressional District election, 2018

External links

• GovTrack District 9

Footnotes