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California's 10th Congressional District election (June 5, 2018 top-two primary)
- General election: Nov. 6
- Voter registration deadline: Oct. 22
- Early voting: Oct. 8 - Nov. 5
- Absentee voting deadline: Postmark Nov. 6
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: Yes
- Voter ID: No
- Poll times: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
In California’s 10th Congressional District, incumbent Rep. Jeff Denham (R) won the most votes in the June 5, 2018 top-two primary election with 38 percent of the vote. Josh Harder (D) came in second with 16 percent. They faced each other in the general election on November 6.
Denham was one of seven California Republicans who represent districts won by Hillary Clinton in 2016.[1]
Harder was one of six Democrats to challenge Denham in this race. The venture capitalist was named to NewDemPAC’s Candidate Watch List in March and raised $1.2 million by the end of the first quarter. Harder was backed by senior Obama campaign advisor Franklin Urteaga and Emile Gatfield, president of the California Democratic Council.[2]
Farm manager Michael Eggman (D) challenged Denham for the third time; Eggman ran in the last two elections cycles and lost to Denham in 2016 by 3.4 points.[3]
None of the Democratic candidates in this race won the 60 percent of the vote required to secure the state party's endorsement at its February 2018 convention.[4]
Three outlets rated this race as a Toss-up and one rated it Tilt Republican.[5]
California has a top-two primary system in which all candidates from all parties run on the same ballot. It is open to all voters. Only the top two regardless of party affiliation move to the general election. The primary was June 5.
Candidates and election results
The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House California District 10 on June 5, 2018.
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 10
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Jeff Denham (R) | 37.5 | 45,719 |
| ✔ |  | Josh Harder (D) | 17.0 | 20,742 |
 | Ted Howze (R) | 14.6 | 17,723 | |
 | Michael Eggman (D) | 10.2 | 12,446 | |
 | Virginia Madueno (D) | 9.2 | 11,178 | |
 | Sue Zwahlen (D) | 8.2 | 9,945 | |
 | Mike Barkley (D) | 2.4 | 2,904 | |
 | Dotty Nygard (D) | 0.9 | 1,100 | |
| Total votes: 121,757 | |||
 = 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. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Lisa Battista (D)
- Terra Snover (Independent)
- Mateo Morelos Bedolla (D)
- Seth Vaughn (D)
- Scott Shoblom (Independent)
Candidates
Top candidates
Jeff Denham 
Denham was first elected to the U.S. House in 2010. Prior to that, he served in the California State Senate from 2002 to 2010. Before beginning his political career, Denham was a member of the U.S. Air Force Reserve (1988- 2000) and the U.S. Air Force (1984-1988).
Denham earned his B.A. from California Polytechnic State University and his A.A. from Victor Valley Junior College.[6]
Denham's campaign website stated that if re-elected, he would "continue to focus on representing the long-term interests of the Valley’s agricultural community, finding a solution to the struggle over water storage and conveyance, improving transportation infrastructure and fighting for the rights, protections and benefits America’s brave and heroic veterans deserve."[7] Denham led the field of candidates in fundraising as of December 31, 2017, reporting $1,988,906 in contributions.
Michael Eggman 
Heading into the 2018 election, Eggman managed his family's almond farm and apiary in Turlock, California. Prior to that, he worked at a bank and health insurance company.[8] Eggman is a graduate of Turlock High School and attended Fresno State.[9]
Eggman listed healthcare, immigration, standing up for women's rights, and a fair tax code as campaign priorities on his 2018 website.[10] Eggman challenged Denham in the two election cycles prior to 2018 and came within 3.4 points of unseating him in 2016.
Josh Harder
Harder graduated from Modesto High School and received his B.A. from Stanford University and his M.B.A. and M.P.P. from Harvard University. His professional experience includes working at Bessemer Venture Partners and the Boston Consulting Group. He has also worked with the Gates Foundation and other nonprofit organizations. He has been affiliated with Modesto Junior College. The 2018 election is his first time running for office.[11]
Harder listed Medicare for all, immigration reform, and job creation among campaign priorities on his website. He raised $935,123 as of December 31, 2017. Harder was named to NewDemPAC's Candidate Watch List in March 2018.
List of all candidates
General election candidates
- Jeff Denham (Incumbent) (Republican Party)
- Josh Harder (Democratic Party) ✔
Primary candidates
- Jeff Denham (Incumbent) (Republican Party) ✔
- Mike Barkley (Democratic Party)
- Michael Eggman (Democratic Party)
- Josh Harder (Democratic Party) ✔
- Ted Howze (Republican Party)
- Virginia Madueno (Democratic Party)
- Dotty Nygard (Democratic Party)
- Sue Zwahlen (Democratic Party)
Did not make the ballot:
Timeline
- March 15, 2018: A poll released by Anzalone Liszt Grove Research had Denham leading Eggman 45 to 41 percent.
- February 8, 2018: The Cook Political Report changes its race rating to Toss-up. Cook initially gave Republicans the edge to hold the 10th District seat, rating the district as Lean Republican.[12]
- January 29, 2018: Former Denham challenger Michael Eggman (D) enters the race. Eggman came within 3.4 points of defeating Republican incumbent Jeff Denham in 2016. Eggman, who also challenged Denham in 2014, initially indicated that he would not run again in 2018.[13]
- January 5, 2018: The Central Valley Democratic Club hosts a debate.[14]
Campaign themes and policy stances
Michael Eggman
Healthcare
It’s time for politicians to stop playing games with our healthcare system. The Affordable Care Act helped millions of Americans afford the health insurance they need. Now, Jeff Denham and the Republicans in D.C. have gutted our healthcare system, sending premiums skyrocketing here in the Valley. That’s simply unacceptable.
In Congress, I’ll fight for affordable, universal healthcare coverage, because no one should ever go bankrupt from a medical bill. I’ll work to allow Medicare to negotiate with drug companies, so that our seniors can get a better deal on their medication. And I’ll stand up to anti-choice extremists in D.C. to protect a woman’s right to chose.
Immigration
Our immigration system is broken. It’s time to end the political games and fix the system now. Here in the Valley, we all know DACA recipients. It's simply unacceptable that Congress has not passed a clean DREAM Act.
In Congress, I will support comprehensive immigration reform that includes:
- A path to citizenship for otherwise law-abiding residents.
- Ensures that farmers and agri-business have the access to labor they need.
- Increases Visas for highly-skilled workers to give American business access to skilled labor here at home.
- Penalizes businesses and contractors that knowingly hire undocumented workers.
- Better secures our border to eliminate illegal trafficking and keep dangerous criminals out of our country.
Standing Up for Women's Rights
We’ve seen anti-choice extremists like Jeff Denham attack women’s rights for far too long. In Congress, I’ll stand up to protect a woman’s right to choose. I support increasing access to contraception and will defend Planned Parenthood, which provides critical healthcare services to low income families here in the Central Valley.
Women deserve to be paid the same as men for the same work. When I’m in Congress, I’ll fight for equal pay legislation.
A Fair Tax Code Our tax code is cumbersome and inefficient, and the Republican tax bill was nothing more than a giveaway to large corporations and the wealthy. It’s unfair that multibillion-dollar companies hide their assets in overseas banks and pay nothing in taxes, while small businesses like mine pay more. We need real tax reform that will close loopholes, ensure billionaires pay their fair share, and strengthen our economy by rewarding those who create jobs or make investments here at home. A cleaner, simpler tax code will reduce waste and corruption and allow small businesses to compete on a level playing field.
Help Small Business
Small businesses are the engines of the economy. A healthy economy and strong middle class depend on small businesses being able to thrive. As one of thousands of family farmers in this district, I know there are times when the government hampers innovation and job creation with complicated paperwork and confusing regulations. We need to streamline the regulations and get rid of red tape.
Instead of massive giveaways to big corporations, we should extend tax credits to small businesses that hire new workers and we should expand the Small Business Administration loan programs to give growing businesses the access to capital they need to succeed.
Jobs and the Economy
The Valley is hurting. Politicians point fingers, but nobody is addressing our jobs crisis. We need a representative who is open to new ideas, not party politics. My test is simple: if an idea will help the economy and create more good-paying local jobs, I’ll work across party lines to make it happen.
Medicare and Social Security
Our seniors have worked hard for decades, building the country we enjoy today and paying into Medicare and Social Security so that they could retire with dignity and security. They kept up their end of the deal. Now it’s our responsibility to do the same.
Medicare provides our seniors with the health care they need and deserve. I will stand up to politicians who want to privatize Medicare, making seniors pay more and forcing them to deal with health insurance companies to get their Medicare coverage. Instead, let’s strengthen Medicare by eliminating duplication, waste, and fraud, and let’s allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices, which will reduce the cost to taxpayers and seniors.
Social Security makes up more than 50% of income for most of our seniors. I’ll oppose any risky schemes to privatize Social Security, because it’s wrong to give big paydays to Wall Street while they gamble seniors’ retirement accounts on the market. I’ll vote against any budget that makes cuts to Social Security.
Protecting Medicare and Social Security isn’t a question of left or right. It’s a question of right or wrong. And it’s wrong for politicians to play partisan politics with our seniors’ security and health. In Congress, I will work to protect and preserve both Medicare and Social Security. Because it’s the right thing to do.[15]
Josh Harder
Fight for Medicare for All
By voting for Trumpcare, Mr. Denham has once again put his party ahead of the people he’s supposed to represent. In this campaign, I will work to make sure every resident of California’s 10th district knows that their congressman voted to take away health coverage from 23 million Americans and eliminate protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Nonpartisan estimates calculate that 100,000 individuals in the CA-10 would have lost healthcare coverage as a result of Jeff Denham’s vote. He even voted in favor of allowing insurance companies to make pregnancy a pre-existing condition for which coverage may be denied. I will work to improve our healthcare system, not devastate it:
- Double down on the part of our healthcare system that works best by expanding Medicare to encompass all Americans. For private insurers, nearly 1 in 6 dollars goes to administrative costs. For Medicare, it’s 1 in 50. Furthermore, polls show Medicare beneficiaries are more satisfied with their insurance than those with private plans.
- Provide immediate relief by making common-sense fixes to strengthen the Affordable Care Act. Insurance premiums on the ACA marketplace in Stanislaus County rose 24% in 2018. We can provide short-term relief by increasing competition on the marketplaces by letting people buy into Medicare, curtailing prescription drug prices, and bringing more people into the marketplace.
- Reduce healthcare costs to ensure the long-term sustainability of our system. America spends far more on healthcare than any other country, but we’re less healthy. The big drug companies jack up prices on life-saving medicines that can be bought for a fraction of the cost in Canada. And for too many working people, premiums, co-pays, and deductibles are so expensive that they can’t even afford to use the insurance they have. It’s time to attack high costs by targeting monopolistic practices and price gouging; allowing imports of medicine from Canada; and doing more to pay providers for the quality of care, not just the volume.
Encourage fair and humane immigration reform
For years, Mr. Denham has paid lip service to immigration reform in the Valley while doing nothing in Washington to solve the problem. He'll cosponsor and support bills up until they have a real chance of being passed, and then back away to please his party. Now, by supporting the Trump Administration, he is making our immigration problems even worse.
Denham supports Trump’s wasteful and ineffective wall. Furthermore, he’s remained silent while this administration has broken up families and deported law-abiding immigrants who own businesses and create jobs.
I will fight for our immigrant communities and push back against Trump's devastating policies:
- Get relief for our Dreamers NOW. I see DREAMers every day as a teacher at Modesto Junior College. These are the bright stars of our community who just want to work hard to create a better life for themselves and their families. Jeff Denham has recklessly endangered these individuals by refusing to vote for a clean DREAM ACT to come to the floor. I will fight every day to protect my students and young immigrants nationwide.
- Fight for a Pathway to Citizenship. America is a nation of immigrants and we rely on immigrant labor to keep our economic engine humming. Nowhere is that more obvious than in the Central Valley, where immigrants are the bedrock of our community. We need to welcome these hardworking individuals out of the shadows and provide them a simple pathway to citizenship.
- Pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform. In 2013 we had a bill passed by the Senate and approved by Obama that was waiting for the House, yet Denham backed his political party and kept the bill from reaching the floor. It's time to elect a representative that will work to pass such a bill: one that not only reforms our immigration process to make it simpler but also enhances our border patrol to keep our country safe.
Create more good jobs for the Valley
I’m running for Congress because I’m tired of seeing the Valley’s economy fall behind. Our unemployment rate is double the California average. After 17 years in politics, Jeff Denham’s only idea to improve our economy is to give even more tax breaks to the very wealthy. How does that benefit the farmers, small businesses, and families of the Central Valley?
In my business career, I have helped entrepreneurs and small companies develop their ideas and grow high-paying jobs. As your Representative, I will work to help small businesses and working-class Americans have the opportunities they need to be successful. In Congress, I will:
- Build on our success in agriculture by working to make the Valley the agricultural technology capital of the nation.
- Work to make college and technical training programs more affordable and accessible in the Valley, including by fighting for tuition-free community and technical college.
- Invest in infrastructure, so that new companies have a strong foundation from which to build.
- Fund apprenticeship programs that teach students the skills local companies need. We need to make sure our graduates have pathways to careers that have a future.
Build a sustainable water future for the Central Valley
Water has been the critical issue for agriculture in the Valley since my great-great-grandfather began farming in Manteca more than 170 years ago, and we will never solve our problems by shipping it to Southern California. For too long, politicians have haggled over our water crisis instead of working to solve it. I’ll work with Republicans and Democrats alike to find solutions to secure our water supply for future generations. That starts with three things:
- Invest in water efficiency by providing tax incentives for Farmers to buy micro irrigation drips. They've been shown to dramatically decrease water usage while increasing production.
- Build more water storage so that when it does rain we use it to recharge our aquifers and groundwater. Six years of drought were followed by one year of flooding. We have to be better prepared to take advantage of the rain when it comes.
- Increase water production with a system of inland desalination plants. As the coastal cities grow, we can't sacrifice the Valley's economy. Instead, we have to find ways of increasing the water supply directly at the source.
End Citizens United and institute electoral reform
Corporate greed and Super PACs are corrupting our political system and nowhere is that more obvious than in our electoral process. Jeff Denham has been bought and sold by corporations and the Republican party, taking more than 70% of his contributions from special interests. That is why I have taken a pledge to refuse Corporate PAC donations.
- Support an amendment that says corporations are NOT people. Corporations aren't born, they can't vote, and they shouldn’t be able to spend unlimited amounts of money to influence our elections. We need to take their power away and to do that we need to amend the constitution.
- Advocate for an individuals right to vote and reinstitute the Voting Rights Amendment that was recently rolled back by the Supreme Court.
- Fight against gerrymandering nationwide. Representatives are chosen by the people, not the other way around. I will advocate for fair practices in drawing districts that keep like communities together instead of building districts which protect those in power.
Defend women's rights and access to healthcare
I will be a fierce advocate for women’s rights, including supporting their economic security and reproductive rights. I will defend Planned Parenthood against attacks to stop reimbursement for critical medical care like cancer screenings and STD testing.
- Advocate for a woman's right to choose as well as access to affordable and quality reproductive services.
- Support efforts to institute paid family leave. America is the only advanced economy in the world without guaranteed family leave, which often affects our poorest workers the most. I also support expanding early childhood education, which helps working parents afford the high costs of childcare.
- Strengthen protections in the workplace setting up systems that punish sexual predators, empower victims, and promote equal pay.
Create quality public schools for all Valley kids
I was educated in the public schools of Turlock and Modesto, and I firmly believe in the power of public education to create opportunity, because that is what it did for me. I am committed to ensuring that every child in the Central Valley has access to a world-class education that will prepare them for any future.
Now, the same public schools that gave me a head start are threatened by the Trump Administration. I will:
- Fight against the Trump and DeVos scheme to privatize our education
- Work to modernize our schools not only with new technology but also investments in STEAM and computer science.
- Fight to increase teacher pay
- Ensure access to affordable, equitable, high-quality universal pre-kindergarten education.
- Fight to make college more affordable and accessible. Too many students are crippled with high debt loads right as they start their careers. I will fight to make community college and vocational training programs tuition-free and invest in our public universities so more students have access.
Protect the Environment
The Central Valley has some of the most productive soil and land in the world. I believe we must be good stewards of our water, air, and land resources to make sure their use is conserved for the next generation.
Like many children in the Central Valley, I grew up with childhood asthma because of our high air pollution. We can and must improve our adherence to clean air and water standards and invest in our children’s health.
I strongly believe in the scientific consensus that climate change is real and man-made. I will fight back against the Trump Administration’s dangerous attempts to undermine the Environmental Protection Agency and undo international agreements on climate change. Instead, we must make sure there are adequate incentives to invest in clean energy sources and move away from polluting fossil fuels.
Reduce gun violence
Our country is plagued by school shootings, gun-related suicide, and gang-related shootings. Here in California, we stepped up to reduce gun violence and have since seen the effectiveness of 10-day waiting periods, assault weapons restrictions, and background checks. Instead of advocating to take these successes nationwide, Denham has looked to undermine California state and local laws, endanger our law enforcement, and make it easier for dangerous individuals to walk around carrying guns. It's clear that he has been bought by the NRA and the gun industry. I will:
- Protect responsible gun owners and their right to protect their family. We must ensure the right for responsible gun owners to be able to hunt and protect their home is respected, along with the 2nd amendment.
- Take the successes we've seen in California nationwide. In California, we've seen a huge reduction in gun deaths thanks to our common sense reforms. That's why I don't want to change anything for gun owners here in the Central Valley, but take our reforms and institute them nationwide. Not only will this help protect the people living across the country, but it will also reduce the ability for criminals, domestic abusers, and terrorists here in the Central Valley to get their hands on guns.[16]
Campaign finance
The chart below details the campaign finance reports from candidates in this race who received at least $10,000 in contributions as of March 31.
Satellite spending
- On March 26, 2018, the American Action Network announced a $1 million ad campaign targeting California's 10th District and 25 other congressional districts. The group's 10th District ad asked voters to thank incumbent Jeff Denham (R) for supporting the tax bill passed by Congress in December 2017.[17]
- The Los Angeles Times reported on January 3, 2018, that the American Action Network had made a six-figure TV and digital ad buy on behalf of Denham and three other Republican members of the California congressional delegation.[18] The group's ads thank the members for their support for the tax bill that was passed by Congress in December 2017. Click here to view the ad featuring Denham.
- On December 20, 2017, PAC for a Change, a political action committee led by former U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), reported spending $500 on media production and $1,500 on a media buy for an ad opposing Denham.[19]
Polls
- See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
| California's 10th Congressional District election, Top-two primary election: Eggman vs. Denham | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Michael Eggman | Jeff Denham | Sample Size | ||||||||||||||||
| Anzalone Liszt Grove Research March 13-15, 2018 | 41% | 45% | 400 | ||||||||||||||||
| Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org | |||||||||||||||||||
| California's 10th Congressional District election, Top-two primary election: Harder vs. Denham | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Jeff Denham | Josh Harder | Sample Size | ||||||||||||||||
| Anzalone Liszt Grove Research March 13-15, 2018 | 48% | 37% | 400 | ||||||||||||||||
| Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org | |||||||||||||||||||
Race ratings
- See also: Race rating definitions and methods
| Race ratings: California's 10th Congressional District election, 2018 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race tracker | Race ratings | ||||||||
| October 30, 2018 | October 23, 2018 | October 16, 2018 | October 9, 2018 | ||||||
| The Cook Political Report | Toss-up | Toss-up | Toss-up | Toss-up | |||||
| Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales | Toss-up | Toss-up | Toss-up | Toss-up | |||||
| Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball | Toss-up | Toss-up | Toss-up | Toss-up | |||||
| Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every two weeks throughout the election season. | |||||||||
Debates and forums
January 5 debate
On January 5, 2018, Democratic candidates TJ Cox, Josh Harder, Virginia Madueno, Mateo Morelos Bedolla, Dotty Nygard, and Sue Zwahlen participated in a debate sponsored by the Central Valley Democratic Club. Click here for coverage of the debate.[20]
Endorsements
Ballotpedia tracks endorsements by organizations and elected officials. To notify us of other endorsements, please email us.
TJ Cox
Organizations
Jeff Denham[24]
Organizations
Local figures
- Vito Chiesa, Jim DeMartini, Dick Monteith, Kirstin Olsen, and Terry Withrow, Stanislaus County supervisors
- Adam Christianson, Stanislaus County sheriff
- Chris Vierra, Ceres mayor
- Mike Kline, Ceres City Council member
- Jeramy Young, Hughson mayor
- George Carr, Mark Fontana, and Harold Hill, Hughson City Council members
- Ted Brandvold, Modesto mayor
- Doug Ridenour Sr. and Bill Zoslocki, Modesto City Council members
- Nicholas Candea and Casey Graham, Newman City Council members
- Joshua Whitfield, Waterford Council member
- Bob Elliott and Chuck Winn, San Joaquin County supervisors
- Steve Moore, San Joaquin County sheriff
- Tori Verber-Salazar, San Joaquin County district attorney
- Ed Alves, Danny Fox, Jeff Laugero, Walt Murken, and Robert Swift, Escalon City Council members
- J.R. McCarty, Oakdale City Council member
- Diane Gilbert, Oakdale Joint Unified Board of Trustees member
- Deborah Novelli, Patterson mayor
- Joshua Naranjo, Patterson City Council member
- Steve DeBrum, Manteca mayor
- Debby Moorhead and Mike Morowit, Manteca City Council members
- Mike Van Winkle, Waterford mayor
Click here for the full list of Denham endorsers.
Josh Harder[27]
National figures
- Franklin Urteaga, Senior campaign advisor to Barack Obama and White House senior aide to Bill Clinton
State figures
- Emilie Gatfield, President of the California Democratic Council
Local figures
- Al Lucchesi, former Chowchilla mayor
- Tom Hallinan, Ceres city attorney
- Faye Lane, Ceres Unified School District board president
- Chi-Chi Nnodim Jack, Patterson Joint Unified School District board member
- Kate Nygaard, former Modesto City Schools board member
Virginia Madueno
Federal officials
- Jackie Speier, U.S. representative[28]
Organizations
Sue Zwahlen
Federal officials
- Tony Coelho, former U.S. representative[31]
Republican district won by Hillary Clinton
This district was one of 25 Republican-held U.S. House districts that Hillary Clinton (D) won in the 2016 presidential election.[32] Nearly all were expected to be among the House's most competitive elections in 2018.
Click on the table below to see the full list of districts.
Click here to see the 13 Democratic-held U.S. House districts that Donald Trump (R) won.
Campaign advertisements
Jeff Denham
Support
|
Virginia Madueno
Support
|
District analysis
- See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
- See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores
The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was EVEN, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were within 1 percentage point of the national average. This made California's 10th Congressional District the 198th most Democratic nationally.[37]
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 1.08. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 1.08 points toward that party.[38]
State overview
Partisan control
This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in California heading into the 2018 elections.
Congressional delegation
- Following the 2016 elections, Democrats held both U.S. Senate seats in California.
- Democrats held 39 of 53 U.S. House seats in California.
State executives
- As of May 2018, Democrats held seven of 10 state executive positions and the remaining three positions were officially nonpartisan.
- The governor of California was Democrat Jerry Brown.
State legislature
- Democrats controlled both chambers of the California State Legislature. They had a 55-25 majority in the state Assembly and a 27-13 majority in the state Senate.
Trifecta status
- California was a state government trifecta, meaning that Democrats held the governorship and majorities in the state house and state senate.
2018 elections
- See also: California elections, 2018
California held elections for the following positions in 2018:
- 1 Senate seat
- 53 U.S. House seats
- Governor
- Seven other state executive positions
- 20 of 40 state Senate seats
- 80 state Assembly seats
- Two state Supreme Court justices
- 35 state Court of Appeals judges
- Local trial court judges
- School board members
Demographics
| Demographic data for California | ||
|---|---|---|
| California | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 38,993,940 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 155,779 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 61.8% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 5.9% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 13.7% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0.4% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 4.5% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 38.4% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 81.8% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 31.4% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $61,818 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 18.2% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in California. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
As of July 2016, California had a population of approximately 39,000,000 people, with its three largest cities being Los Angeles (pop. est. 4.0 million), San Diego (pop. est. 1.4 million), and San Jose (pop. est. 1 million).[39][40]
State election history
This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in California from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from the California Secretary of State.
Historical elections
Presidential elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of the presidential election in California every year from 2000 to 2016.
| Election results (President of the United States), California 2000-2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
| 2016 | Hillary Clinton |
61.7% | Donald Trump |
31.6% | 30.1% |
| 2012 | Barack Obama |
60.2% | Mitt Romney |
37.1% | 23.1% |
| 2008 | Barack Obama |
61.1% | John McCain |
37% | 24.1% |
| 2004 | John Kerry |
54.4% | George W. Bush |
44.4% | 10% |
| 2000 | Al Gore |
53.5% | George W. Bush |
41.7% | 11.8% |
U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in California from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.
| Election results (U.S. Senator), California 2000-2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
| 2016 | Kamala Harris |
61.6% | Loretta Sanchez |
38.4% | 23.2% |
| 2012 | Dianne Feinstein |
62.5% | Elizabeth Emken |
37.5% | 25% |
| 2010 | Barbara Boxer |
52.2% | Carly Fiorina |
42.2% | 10% |
| 2006 | Dianne Feinstein |
59.5% | Richard Mountjoy |
35.1% | 24.4% |
| 2004 | Barbara Boxer |
57.8% | Bill Jones |
37.8% | 20% |
| 2000 | Dianne Feinstein |
55.9% | Tom Campbell |
36.6% | 19.3% |
Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in California.
| Election results (Governor), California 2000-2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
| 2014 | Jerry Brown |
60% | Neel Kashkari |
40% | 20% |
| 2010 | Jerry Brown |
53.8% | Meg Whitman |
40.9% | 12.9% |
| 2006 | Arnold Schwarzenegger |
55.9% | Phil Angelides |
39.0% | 16.9% |
| 2002 | Gray Davis |
47.3% | Bill Simon |
42.4% | 4.9% |
Congressional delegation, 2000-2016
This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent California in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.
| Congressional delegation, California 2000-2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Democrats | Democrats (%) | Republicans | Republicans (%) | Balance of power |
| 2016 | 39 |
73.5% | 14 |
26.4% | D+25 |
| 2014 | 39 |
73.5% | 14 |
26.4% | D+25 |
| 2012 | 38 |
71.7% | 15 |
28.3% | D+23 |
| 2010 | 34 |
64.1% | 19 |
35.8% | D+15 |
| 2008 | 34 |
64.1% | 19 |
35.8% | D+15 |
| 2006 | 34 |
64.1% | 19 |
35.8% | D+15 |
| 2004 | 33 |
62.3% | 20 |
37.7% | D+13 |
| 2002 | 33 |
62.3% | 20 |
37.7% | D+13 |
| 2000 | 32 |
61.5% | 20 |
38.5% | D+12 |
Trifectas, 1992-2017
A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.
California Party Control: 1992-2025
Twenty years with Democratic trifectas • No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Senate | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Assembly | D | D | D | S | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
See also
- United States House of Representatives elections in California, 2018
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2018
- United States Senate elections, 2018
Footnotes
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Check out our maps and analysis comparing 2016's presidential and congressional results by district," January 31, 2017
- ↑ Roll Call, "New Democrats' PAC adds 16 candidates to watch list," March 26, 2018
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Central Valley candidate is back for third try at unseating Rep. Jeff Denham," January 29, 2018
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Here's how California's Democratic Party endorsements are shaping up this weekend in crucial House races," February 24, 2018
- ↑ Ratings are based on projections found in Governing, Larry Sabato, Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales, Decision Desk HQ, and The Cook Political Report. These ratings are updated periodically throughout the election season.
- ↑ Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "Jeff Denham"
- ↑ Jeff Denham 2018 campaign website, "About Jeff Denham," accessed April 2, 2018
- ↑ "National Journal","Democrats Land Buzzy Recruit in Another Obama-GOP House District", April 26, 2013
- ↑ Campaign website, "About," accessed April 15, 2014
- ↑ Michael Eggman 2018 campaign website, "Issues," accessed April 2, 2018
- ↑ Information submitted on Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form on January 23, 2018
- ↑ The Cook Political Report, "Ratings changes in 21 districts," February 8, 2018
- ↑ The Modesto Bee, "Eggman changes his mind, enters race against Denham once more," January 29, 2018
- ↑ The Sacramento Bee, "Jeff Denham beat back a recall. Can he survive a blue wave, too?" January 4, 2018
- ↑ Michael Eggman 2018 campaign website, "Issues," accessed May 14, 2018
- ↑ Josh Harder 2018 campaign website, "Priorities," accessed May 14, 2018
- ↑ American Action Network, "American Action Network continues promoting tax reform with $1 million campaign," March 26, 2018
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Ads thank four California Republicans for their votes to pass tax plan," January 3, 2018
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Independent expenditures," accessed March 22, 2018
- ↑ The Modesto Bee, "Denham venom plentiful at standing-room-only Democratic debate," January 6, 2018
- ↑ Facebook, "Modesto Progressive Democrats on January 22, 2018," accessed January 25, 2018
- ↑ Patterson Irrigator, "TJ Cox is the representative we deserve," January 18, 2018
- ↑ Twitter, "Stan Resistance on December 9, 2017," accessed January 25, 2018
- ↑ Jeff Denham 2018 campaign website, "Endorsements," accessed May 14, 2018
- ↑ Jeff Denham 2018 campaign website, "Stanislaus County Farm Bureau Endorses Jeff Denham For Congress," March 29, 2018
- ↑ Jeff Denham 2018 campaign website, "The United States Chamber of Commerce Endorses Jeff Denham for Congress," April 10, 2018
- ↑ Harder for Congress, "Endorsements of Josh Harder," accessed March 23, 2018
- ↑ Virginia Madueno for Congress, "A big Democratic leader just endorsed our campaign," March 22, 2018
- ↑ Virginia Madueno for Congress, "BOLD PAC announces Madueno for Congress endorsement," January 17, 2018
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Emily's List announces two more endorsements in California House races," February 21, 2018
- ↑ Sue Zwahlen, "Former Valley Congressman Tony Coelho endorses Sue Zwahlen in race to defeat Congressman Jeff Denham," October 25, 2017
- ↑ This figure includes Pennsylvania districts that were redrawn by the state Supreme Court in early 2018 and districts that flipped in special elections.
- ↑ The new 1st district was created in early 2018 due to court-ordered redistricting and most closely resembles the old 8th District held by Fitzpatrick. Click here to read more.
- ↑ The new 5th district was created in early 2018 due to court-ordered redistricting and most closely resembles the old 7th District held by Meehan. Click here to read more.
- ↑ The new 6th district was created in early 2018 due to court-ordered redistricting and most closely resembles the old 6th District held by Costello. Click here to read more.
- ↑ The new 7th district was created in early 2018 due to court-ordered redistricting and most closely resembles the old 15th District held by Dent. Click here to read more.
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
- ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
- ↑ California Demographics, "California Cities by Population," accessed April 2, 2018
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "Quickfacts California," accessed April 2, 2018
