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

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California's 18th Congressional District
Top-two primary General election
Election details
Filing deadline: December 8, 2023
Primary: March 5, 2024 General: November 5, 2024
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voting in California
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Democratic DDHQ and The Hill: Safe Democratic Inside Elections: Solid Democratic Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Democratic
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2024
See also
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A top-two primary took place on March 5, 2024, in California's 18th Congressional District to determine which two candidates would run in the district's general election on November 5, 2024.

Incumbent Zoe Lofgren and Peter Hernandez advanced from the primary for U.S. House California District 18.

Candidate filing deadline	Primary election	General election
December 8, 2023	March 5, 2024	November 5, 2024

California uses a top-two primary system, in which all candidates appear on the same ballot. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, move on to the general election. In states that do not use a top-two system, all parties are usually able to put forward a candidate for the general election if they choose to.

Unlike the top-two format used in some states (Louisiana and Georgia special elections for example), a general election between the top-two candidates in California occurs regardless of whether the top candidate received 50% of the vote in the first round of elections.

As of June 2025, California was one of five states to use a top-two primary system, or a variation of the top-two system. See here for more information.

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

This page focuses on California's 18th Congressional District's top-two primary. For more in-depth information on the district's general election, see the following page:

• California's 18th Congressional District election, 2024

Candidates and election results

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

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	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.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Fepbrina Keivaulqe Autiameineire (No party preference)

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Luele Kifle

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "I am a progressive democrat running for congress, and my life story is one of overcoming adversity and pushing past obstacles. I came to the United States from Ethiopia with my parents at the age of 11 in 2002. I was born with muscular dystrophy and a speech impediment, which made it challenging for me to communicate and navigate the world around me. Despite these challenges, I persevered and overcame all odds to become the person I am today. My mother worked tirelessly to raise me and my two sisters as a single parent, and I grew up as a middle child in a Christian Orthodox household. I graduated from Alief Hastings High School in Houston, Texas, in 2009, and went on to earn a degree in computer network systems from ITT Tech in 2011. Later, I received a Bachelor of Science in Technical Management from DeVry University in 2016. Throughout my career, I have worked as a Test Technician Level 5 at Hewlett-Packard, a Technology Support Analyst for NEXT Financial Group, and as a driver for Uber and Lyft. Currently, I am a Contract Disaster Housing Inspector for DHS FEMA, traveling to states affected by natural disasters such as Hurricane Harvey, Ian, and Nicole, just to name a few... I am passionate about helping people, and my experiences have taught me the value of hard work and perseverance. As a progressive democrat running for congress, I believe that everyone deserves a fair shot at success, and I am committed to fighting for policies that will make that a reality.."

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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My 1st key message: As a progressive democrat with a unique background, I am running for Congress to bring diversity and representation to our government. As an immigrant from Ethiopia, born with muscular dystrophy and a speech impediment, I understand the challenges that marginalized communities face, and I will be a voice for those who have been left behind.

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My 2nd key message: In Congress, I will fight for progressive policies that will benefit all Americans, including Medicare For All, Reproductive Rights, Student Loan Forgiveness, Affordable Housing, Climate Change & G.N.D, Gun Reform, Police Reform, Free Colleges & Universities and much more. I believe in creating a more equitable society where everyone has access to the resources and support, they need to thrive.

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My 3rd key message: If elected, I will work tirelessly to represent the interests of my constituents and fight for policies that benefit our district. I promise to prioritize transparency and accountability in government, to work towards reducing corruption and special interests in politics, and to always put the needs of our community first. I will be accessible and responsive to the needs of my constituents, and I will work to create a more sustainable future for our community and our planet. Together, we can create a brighter future For The People Of CA-18th District, The People Of The Great State Of California & All Americans.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House California District 18 in 2024.

Lawrence Milan

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "A young, first generation, Chicano working everyday to improve the lives of others. Born and raised in San Jose, Ca. I"

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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Health Care for all regardless of status

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Immigration reform/abolish ICE

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Immediate action is needed to combat climate change

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House California District 18 in 2024.

Charlene Nijmeh

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "As Chairwoman of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area, I work with governments at all levels on quality-of-life issues for my people. Public service and duty to our communities is something I learned from my mother and our Tribal elders. I am also a business owner and environmentalist. Fifteen years ago, I founded a California company that has partnerships in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. We employ 6,000 people and divert 60 million pounds of clothing from landfills yearly. I am also the CEO of a California non-profit that teaches students and communities about sustainable practices and recycling education. Most importantly, I am a proud mother of Five, but I worry about my children’s futures as quality of life continues to dip for us while corporate giants become richer. Because of my work, I understand what's wrong with politics and I know how to fix it. Every crisis in our communities (unaffordable housing, homelessness, crime, gentrification, etc.) stems from the fact our politicians do not work for us and have no incentive to listen. I support term limits, age limits, and donation limits because I believe in putting people before politics. "

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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We need Term Limits , Age Limits, and Donation limits in order to eliminate corruption from politics.

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Affordable Housing , inflation control, and living wage jobs are human rights.

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No more Forever Wars. Lets fight the wars at home - The war on homelessness, crime, and unaffordable living.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House California District 18 in 2024.

Voting information

See also: Voting in California

Election information in California: March 5, 2024, election.

What was the voter registration deadline?

• In-person: March 5, 2024
• By mail: Postmarked by Feb. 20, 2024
• Online: Feb. 20, 2024

Was absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

N/A

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

• In-person: N/A
• By mail: N/A by N/A
• Online: N/A

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

• In-person: March 5, 2024
• By mail: Postmarked by March 5, 2024

Was early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What were the early voting start and end dates?

Varies to March 4, 2024

Were all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, was a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When were polls open on Election Day?

7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (PST)

Campaign finance

Name	Party	Receipts*	Disbursements**	Cash on hand	Date
Zoe Lofgren	Democratic Party	$2,327,180	$2,498,797	$239,752	As of December 31, 2024
Luele Kifle	Democratic Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Lawrence Milan	Democratic Party	$0	$25	$445	As of March 15, 2024
Charlene Nijmeh	Democratic Party	$203,732	$203,649	$82	As of December 31, 2024
Peter Hernandez	Republican Party	$198,167	$199,052	$1,413	As of December 31, 2024
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2024. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). * According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." ** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election. *** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

District analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about voter composition, past elections, and demographics in both the district and the state.

• District map - A map of the district in place for the election.
• Competitiveness - Information about the competitiveness of 2024 U.S. House elections in the state.
• Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the district and the state.
• State party control - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.

• District map
• Competitiveness
• Presidential elections
• State party control

Below was the map in use at the time of the election. Click the map below to enlarge it.

See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2024

This section contains data on U.S. House primary election competitiveness in California.

California U.S. House primary competitiveness, 2014-2024
Office	Districts/ offices	Seats	Open seats	Candidates	Possible primaries	Contested top-two primaries	% of contested primaries	Incumbents in contested primaries	% of incumbents in contested primaries
2024	52	52	7	241	52	42	80.8%	36	80.0%
2022	52	52	5	272	52	52	100.0%	47	100.0%
2020	53	53	4	262	53	47	88.7%	32	64.0%
2018	53	53	2	244	53	41	77.4%	39	76.5%
2016	53	53	4	202	53	40	75.5%	36	73.5%
2014	53	53	6	209	53	38	71.7%	32	68.1%

Post-filing deadline analysis

The following analysis covers all U.S. House districts up for election in California in 2024. Information below was calculated on 1/16/2024, and may differ from information shown in the table above due to candidate replacements and withdrawals after that time.

Two-hundred forty-one candidates filed to run for California's 52 U.S. House districts in 2024, including 125 Democrats, 88 Republicans, and 28 independent or minor party candidates. That’s 4.63 candidates per district. In 2022, the first election after the number of congressional districts in California decreased from 53 to 52 following the 2020 census, 5.2 candidates filed per district. In 2020, when the state still had 53 Congressional districts, 4.94 candidates filed per district. In 2018, 4.6 candidates filed.

The 241 candidates who ran in California in 2024 were the fewest total number of candidates since 2016, when 202 candidates ran. Forty-five incumbents—34 Democrats and 11 Republicans—ran for re-election. That was fewer than in 2022, when 47 incumbents ran. Six districts were open, one more than in 2022, and the most since 2014, when six districts were also open.

Incumbents Barbara Lee (D-12th), Adam Schiff (D-30th), and Katie Porter (D-47th) ran for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat. Incumbent Sen. Laphonza Butler (D) didn't run for re-election. Incumbents Grace Napolitano (D-31st), Tony Cárdenas (D-29th), and Anna Eshoo (D-16th) retired from public office. One incumbent—Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-20th)—left Congress before the end of his term. A special election was held to fill his seat before the general election.

Fifteen candidates—12 Democrats, two Republicans, and one nonpartisan—ran in the open 30th district, the most candidates running for a seat in 2024.

Forty-two primaries were contested, the fewest since 2018, when 41 were contested. All 52 primaries were contested in 2022, and 47 were in 2020. In California, which uses a top-two primary system, a primary is contested if more than two candidates file to run.

Incumbents ran in 35 of the 42 contested primaries. That’s lower than 2022, when 47 incumbents ran in contested primaries, but higher than every other year since 2014. In 2020, 32 incumbents faced contested primaries. Thirty-nine incumbents did so in 2018, 36 in 2016, and 32 in 2014.

Democratic candidates ran in every district. Republican candidates ran in every district except one—the 37th. Two Democrats, including incumbent Sydney Kamlage-Dove, one nonpartisan candidate, and one Peace and Freedom Party member ran in that district.

Partisan Voter Index

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

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.

2020 presidential election results

The table below shows what the vote in the 2020 presidential election would have been in this district. The presidential election data was compiled by Daily Kos.

2020 presidential results in California's 18th based on 2024 district lines
Joe Biden	Donald Trump
71.0%	26.9%

Inside Elections Baselines

See also: Inside Elections

Inside Elections' Baseline is a figure that analyzes all federal and statewide election results from the district over the past four election cycles. The results are combined in an index estimating the strength of a typical Democratic or Republican candidate in the congressional district. The table below displays the Baseline data for this district.

Inside Elections Baseline for 2024
Democratic Baseline	Republican Baseline	Difference
68.2	31.5	D+36.7

Presidential voting history

See also: Presidential election in California, 2020

California presidential election results (1900-2020)

• 15 Democratic wins
• 15 Republican wins
• 1 other win

Year	1900	1904	1908	1912	1916	1920	1924	1928	1932	1936	1940	1944	1948	1952	1956	1960	1964	1968	1972	1976	1980	1984	1988	1992	1996	2000	2004	2008	2012	2016	2020
Winning Party	R	R	R	P	D	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D

See also: Party control of California state government

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of California's congressional delegation as of May 2024.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from California
Party	U.S. Senate	U.S. House	Total
Democratic	2	43	45
Republican	0	9	9
Independent	0	0	0
Vacancies	0	0	0
Total	2	52	54

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in California's top four state executive offices as of May 2024.

State executive officials in California, May 2024
Office	Officeholder
Governor	Gavin Newsom
Lieutenant Governor	Eleni Kounalakis
Secretary of State	Shirley Weber
Attorney General	Rob Bonta

State legislature

California State Senate

Party		As of February 2024
	Democratic Party	32
	Republican Party	8
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		40

California State Assembly

Party		As of February 2024
	Democratic Party	62
	Republican Party	18
	Independent	1
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		80

Trifecta control

The table below shows the state's trifecta status from 1992 until the 2024 election.

California Party Control: 1992-2024
Nineteen years of 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
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
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
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

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in California in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in California, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2024
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
California	U.S. House	All candidates	40-60	$1,740.00	12/8/2023	Source

See also

• California's 18th Congressional District election, 2024
• United States House elections in California, 2024 (March 5 top-two primaries)
• United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2024
• United States House Republican Party primaries, 2024
• United States House of Representatives elections, 2024
• U.S. House battlegrounds, 2024

External links

Suggest a link

• Search Google News for this topic

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)

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