California's 18th Congressional District

The boundaries of this district may change as a result of California Proposition 50, which voters will decide on November 5, 2025. Click here to read more about the mid-decade redistricting effort in California and other states.

California's 18th Congressional District

Incumbent

Zoe Lofgren

Assumed office: January 3, 2023

California's 18th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives is represented by Zoe Lofgren (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 18th Congressional District election, 2024

California's 18th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 top-two primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 18

Incumbent Zoe Lofgren defeated Peter Hernandez in the general election for U.S. House California District 18 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Zoe Lofgren (D)	64.6	147,674
		Peter Hernandez (R)	35.4	80,832

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 228,506
= 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 18

Incumbent Zoe Lofgren and Peter Hernandez defeated Charlene Nijmeh, Lawrence Milan, and Luele Kifle in the primary for U.S. House California District 18 on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Zoe Lofgren (D)	51.2	49,370
✔		Peter Hernandez (R)	32.8	31,665
		Charlene Nijmeh (D)	11.0	10,631
		Lawrence Milan (D)	2.8	2,714
		Luele Kifle (D)	2.1	2,034

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 96,414
= 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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Fepbrina Keivaulqe Autiameineire (No party preference)

2022

See also: California's 18th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 18

Incumbent Zoe Lofgren defeated Peter Hernandez in the general election for U.S. House California District 18 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Zoe Lofgren (D)	65.9	99,776
		Peter Hernandez (R)	34.1	51,737

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 151,513
= 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 18

Incumbent Zoe Lofgren and Peter Hernandez defeated Luis Acevedo-Arreguin in the primary for U.S. House California District 18 on June 7, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Zoe Lofgren (D)	56.1	50,104
✔		Peter Hernandez (R)	31.3	27,935
		Luis Acevedo-Arreguin (Independent)	12.6	11,253

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 89,292
= 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.

2020

See also: California's 18th Congressional District election, 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 18

Incumbent Anna Eshoo defeated Rishi Kumar in the general election for U.S. House California District 18 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Anna Eshoo (D)	63.2	217,388
		Rishi Kumar (D)	36.8	126,751

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 344,139
= 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 18

Incumbent Anna Eshoo and Rishi Kumar defeated Richard Fox, Phil Reynolds, and Bob Goodwyn in the primary for U.S. House California District 18 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Anna Eshoo (D)	61.7	146,225
✔		Rishi Kumar (D)	16.4	38,826
		Richard Fox (R)	12.2	28,863
		Phil Reynolds (R)	7.8	18,600
		Bob Goodwyn (L)	1.9	4,462

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 236,976
= 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.

2018

See also: California's 18th Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 18

Incumbent Anna Eshoo defeated Christine Russell in the general election for U.S. House California District 18 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Anna Eshoo (D)	74.5	225,142
		Christine Russell (R)	25.5	77,096

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 302,238
= 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 18

Incumbent Anna Eshoo and Christine Russell defeated John Karl Fredrich in the primary for U.S. House California District 18 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Anna Eshoo (D)	73.4	133,993
✔		Christine Russell (R)	23.4	42,692
		John Karl Fredrich (Independent)	3.2	5,803

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 182,488
= 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.

2016

See also: California's 18th Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Democratic. Incumbent Anna Eshoo (D) defeated Richard Fox (R) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Eshoo and Fox defeated Bob Harlow (D) in the top-two primary on June 7, 2016.

U.S. House, California District 18 General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Anna Eshoo Incumbent	71.1%	230,460
	Republican	Richard Fox	28.9%	93,470
Total Votes				323,930
Source: California Secretary of State

U.S. House, California District 18 Primary, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Anna Eshoo Incumbent	68.2%	132,726
	Republican	Richard Fox	24.4%	47,484
	Democratic	Bob Harlow	7.4%	14,411
Total Votes				194,621
Source: California Secretary of State

2014

See also: California's 18th Congressional District elections, 2014

The 18th Congressional District of California held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Anna Eshoo (D) defeated Richard Fox (R) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 18 General Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Anna Eshoo Incumbent	67.8%	133,060
	Republican	Richard Fox	32.2%	63,326
Total Votes				196,386
Source: California Secretary of State

2012

See also: California's 18th Congressional District elections, 2012

The 18th Congressional District of California held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. The incumbent from the 14th District, Anna Eshoo, won election in the district.

U.S. House, California District 18 General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Anna Eshoo Incumbent	70.5%	212,831
	Republican	Dave Chapman	29.5%	89,103
Total Votes				301,934
Source: California Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

2010
On November 2, 2010, Dennis Cardoza won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Michael Clare Berryhill, Sr. (R) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 18 General Election, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Dennis Cardoza incumbent	58.5%	72,853
	Republican	Michael Clare Berryhill, Sr.	41.5%	51,716
Total Votes				124,569

2008
On November 4, 2008, Dennis Cardoza won re-election to the United States House. He ran unopposed in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 18 General Election, 2008
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Dennis Cardoza incumbent	100%	130,192
Total Votes				130,192

2006
On November 7, 2006, Dennis Cardoza won re-election to the United States House. He defeated John Kanno (R) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 18 General Election, 2006
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Dennis Cardoza incumbent	65.5%	71,182
	Republican	John Kanno	34.5%	37,531
Total Votes				108,713

2004
On November 2, 2004, Dennis Cardoza won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Charles Pringle, Sr. (R) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 18 General Election, 2004
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Dennis Cardoza incumbent	67.5%	103,732
	Republican	Charles Pringle, Sr.	32.5%	49,973
Total Votes				153,705

2002
On November 5, 2002, Dennis Cardoza won election to the United States House. He defeated Dick Monteith (R), Kevin Cripe (American Independent), Linda De Groat (L) and Donna Crowder (Write-in) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 18 General Election, 2002
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Dennis Cardoza incumbent	51.3%	56,181
	Republican	Dick Monteith	43.4%	47,528
	American Independent	Kevin Cripe	3.3%	3,641
	Libertarian	Linda De Groat	2%	2,194
	Write-in	Donna Crowder	0%	49
Total Votes				109,593

2000
On November 7, 2000, Gary Condit won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Steve Wilson (R) and Page Roth Riskin (Natural Law) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 18 General Election, 2000
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Gary Condit incumbent	67.1%	121,003
	Republican	Steve Wilson	31.3%	56,465
	Natural Law	Page Roth Riskin	1.6%	2,860
Total Votes				180,328

1998
On November 3, 1998, Gary Condit won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Linda Degroat (L) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 18 General Election, 1998
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Gary Condit incumbent	86.8%	118,842
	Libertarian	Linda Degroat	13.2%	18,089
Total Votes				136,931

1996
On November 5, 1996, Gary Condit won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Bill Conrad (R), James Morzella (L) and Page Roth Riskin (Natural Law) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 18 General Election, 1996
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Gary Condit incumbent	65.7%	108,827
	Republican	Bill Conrad	31.8%	52,695
	Libertarian	James Morzella	1.3%	2,233
	Natural Law	Page Roth Riskin	1.1%	1,831
Total Votes				165,586

1994
On November 8, 1994, Gary Condit won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Tom Carter (R) and James Morzella (L) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 18 General Election, 1994
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Gary Condit incumbent	65.5%	91,106
	Republican	Tom Carter	31.7%	44,046
	Libertarian	James Morzella	2.8%	3,902
Total Votes				139,054

1992
On November 3, 1992, Gary Condit won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Kim Almstrom (L) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 18 General Election, 1992
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Gary Condit incumbent	84.7%	139,704
	Libertarian	Kim Almstrom	15.3%	25,307
Total Votes				165,011

1990
On November 6, 1990, Richard Lehman won re-election to the United States House. He ran unopposed in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 18 General Election, 1990
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Richard Lehman incumbent	100%	98,804
Total Votes				98,804

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. 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.

Commissioners must meet the following requirements in order to serve:

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.

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.

California District 18
until January 2, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

California District 18
starting January 3, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

2010-2011

This is the 18th Congressional District of California after the 2001 redistricting process.

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

2026

Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is D+17. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 17 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made California's 18th the 81st most Democratic district nationally.

2024

Heading into the 2024 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was D+21. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 21 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made California's 18th the 58th most Democratic district nationally.

Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Joe Biden (D) would have defeated Donald Trump (R) 71.0%-26.9%.

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+21. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 21 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made California's 18th the 58th most Democratic district nationally.

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 71.0% of the vote in this district and Donald Trump (R) would have received 26.9%.

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+23. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 23 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made California's 18th Congressional District the 52nd most Democratic nationally.

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 0.98. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 0.98 points toward that party.

See also

• Redistricting in California
• California's 18th Congressional District election, 2024
• California's 18th Congressional District election, 2022
• California's 18th Congressional District election, 2020
• California's 18th Congressional District election, 2018

External links

• GovTrack District 18

Footnotes

[show]

California's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Alex Padilla (D)

Adam Schiff (D)

Representatives

District 1

Doug LaMalfa (R)

District 2

Jared Huffman (D)

District 3

Kevin Kiley (R)

District 4

Mike Thompson (D)

District 5

Tom McClintock (R)

District 6

Ami Bera (D)

District 7

Doris Matsui (D)

District 8

John Garamendi (D)

District 9

Josh Harder (D)

District 10

Mark DeSaulnier (D)

District 11

Nancy Pelosi (D)

District 12

Lateefah Simon (D)

District 13

Adam Gray (D)

District 14

Eric Swalwell (D)

District 15

Kevin Mullin (D)

District 16

Sam Liccardo (D)

District 17

Ro Khanna (D)

District 18

Zoe Lofgren (D)

District 19

Jimmy Panetta (D)

District 20

Vince Fong (R)

District 21

Jim Costa (D)

District 22

David Valadao (R)

District 23

Jay Obernolte (R)

District 24

Salud Carbajal (D)

District 25

Raul Ruiz (D)

District 26

Julia Brownley (D)

District 27

George Whitesides (D)

District 28

Judy Chu (D)

District 29

Luz Rivas (D)

District 30

Laura Friedman (D)

District 31

Gil Cisneros (D)

District 32

Brad Sherman (D)

District 33

Pete Aguilar (D)

District 34

Jimmy Gomez (D)

District 35

Norma Torres (D)

District 36

Ted Lieu (D)

District 37

Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D)

District 38

Linda Sánchez (D)

District 39

Mark Takano (D)

District 40

Young Kim (R)

District 41

Ken Calvert (R)

District 42

Robert Garcia (D)

District 43

Maxine Waters (D)

District 44

Nanette Barragán (D)

District 45

Derek Tran (D)

District 46

Lou Correa (D)

District 47

Dave Min (D)

District 48

Darrell Issa (R)

District 49

Mike Levin (D)

District 50

Scott Peters (D)

District 51

Sara Jacobs (D)

District 52

Juan Vargas (D)

Democratic Party (45)

Republican Party (9)