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California's 25th Congressional District election (June 5, 2018 top-two primary)

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California's 25th Congressional District
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Top-two primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: March 9, 2018
Primary: June 5, 2018
General: November 6, 2018
Pre-election incumbent:
Stephen Knight (Republican)
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voting in California
Race ratings
Cook Partisan Voter Index (2018): EVEN
Cook Political Report: Toss-up
Inside Elections: Toss-up
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Toss-up
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018
See also
California's 25th Congressional District
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California elections, 2018
U.S. Congress elections, 2018
U.S. Senate elections, 2018
U.S. House elections, 2018

Incumbent Rep. Steve Knight (R) came in first place with 53 percent of the vote in the 25th Congressional District's top-two primary election. He faced nonprofit executive Katie Hill (D) in the general election; Hill took 20 percent of the vote in the primary.

Knight's re-election bid made him the sole Republican in the race. Hillary Clinton won the district in the 2016 presidential race. But voters also re-elected Knight, who defeated Bryan Caforio by 6.2 percentage points in 2016.[1][2]

Knight collected endorsements from state assemblymen Dante Acosta and Tom Lackey, as well as multiple county supervisors, mayors, and city councilmen. He reported the highest amount of funds raised at the end of March: $1.26 million.

Caforio, an attorney, challenged Knight in 2018 again. He and Hill emerged as Democratic frontrunners in the primary race. They each stockpiled dozens of endorsements from individuals and organizations across the progressive sphere.

Caforio’s endorsements included Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, Democracy for America, and Justice Democrats. Hill’s included U.S. Reps. Nanette Barragan, Judy Chu, Lois Frankel, Jimmy Gomez, and Jackie Speier, EMILY's List, and NARAL Pro-Choice America. She was also named to NewDemPAC’s Candidate Watch List in March.[3][4]

Another challenger, volcanologist Jess Phoenix, attracted media attention for her unique background and support from celebrities like Patton Oswalt and Piper Perabo, as well as the Bernie Sanders-linked group Our Revolution Santa Clarita.[5][6] Phoenix's campaign platform included universal healthcare and tuition-free college.

The California Democratic Party did not make an endorsement in this election. Caforio won 72.9 percent of the vote at a pre-endorsing conference in January, which meant he went into the February convention with an endorsement recommendation. However, none of the Democratic candidates won the 60 percent of the delegate vote required to secure the party's endorsement at the convention.[7][8]

What is California's top-two primary?

A top-two primary is a type of primary election in which all candidates are listed on the same primary ballot. The top two vote-getters, regardless of their partisan affiliations, advance to the general election.

California adopted the top-two primary when California Proposition 14, Top-Two Primaries Amendment, passed on June 8, 2010. The system took effect on January 1, 2011.

Washington was the first state to adopt the top-two primary for congressional and state-level elections in 2004. Nebraska also uses a top-two primary for state legislative elections, which are nonpartisan.
California voter? Here's what you need to know.
Primary electionJune 5, 2018
Candidate filing deadlineMarch 9, 2018
Registration deadlineMay 21, 2018[9]
Absentee application deadlineMay 29, 2018[9]
General electionNovember 6, 2018
Voting information
Primary typeTop-two
Early voting deadlineAvailable from May 7, 2018, to June 5, 2018[10]
Polling locations: Go to this page to find early voting locations and your assigned precinct for election day.


For more on related elections, please see:



Candidates and election results

Incumbent Stephen Knight and Katie Hill defeated Bryan Caforio, Jess Phoenix, and Mary Pallant in the primary for U.S. House California District 25 on June 5, 2018.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 25

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Stephen Knight
Stephen Knight (R)
 
51.8
 
61,411
✔
Image of Katie Hill
Katie Hill (D)
 
20.7
 
24,507
Image of Bryan Caforio
Bryan Caforio (D)
 
18.4
 
21,821
Image of Jess Phoenix
Jess Phoenix (D)
 
6.4
 
7,549
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Mary Pallant (D)
 
2.7
 
3,157

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 118,445
Candidate Connection = 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

Candidates

Top candidates

Bryan Caforio Democratic Party

Bryan Caforio.jpg

Campaign website Facebook Twitter
Caforio's professional experience includes working as an attorney for a U.S. federal judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and practicing law in Southern California. He earned his J.D. from Yale Law School and graduated from the University of California Los Angeles.[11]

Caforio's campaign website states he ran for Congress "because it’s time we rip up the old rules, reign in the corporate special interests, and build a new system where hardworking Americans come first."[11] His website lists holding President Trump accountable, supporting women and families, and defending Medicare and Social Security as among campaign priorities. He had the backing of progressive groups Democracy for America and Justice Democrats, and he had raised just under $1 million at the end of March.

Katie Hill Democratic Party

Katie Hill.jpg

Campaign website Facebook Twitter
Hill's professional experience includes working as the executive director of the nonprofit organization PATH (People Assisting the Homeless). She has worked to pass ballot initiatives Measure H and Prop HHH to decrease homelessness in the Los Angeles area.

Hill earned her master's degree in public administration and her bachelor's degree in English from the University of California at Northridge.[12]

Hill listed healthcare, rebuilding the middle class, and representative government as campaign priorities on her website.[13] She reported about $1.13 million in contributions at the end of March. Hill was endorsed in the race by U.S. Reps. Nanette Barragan, Judy Chu, Lois Frankel, Jimmy Gomez, and Jackie Speier, Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, EMILY's List, and NARAL, and was named to NewDemPAC's Candidate Watch List in March.

Stephen Knight Republican Party

Stephen Knight.jpg

Campaign website Facebook

Knight was first elected as the 25th Congressional District representative in 2015. He served as a member of the state Senate from 2012 to 2014 and a member of the state Assembly from 2008 to 2012. Prior to that, he was a city council member in Palmdale, California.

Knight's professional experience includes serving as an officer with the Los Angeles Police Department, a former soldier in the United States Army, and a member of Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums.[14]

Knight was backed in the primary by California state assemblymen Dante Acosta and Tom Lackey, Ventura County Supervisor Peter Foy, former Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, and several mayors and city council members. He led the field of candidates in fundraising at the end of March, reporting $1.26 million in contributions.

Jess Phoenix Democratic Party

Jess Phoenix.JPG

Campaign website Facebook Twitter

Phoenix's professional experience includes working as a volcanologist. Prior to that, she did state government archive work. Her affiliations include serving as a board member for Blueprint Earth, a fellow for the Explorers Club, and a membership with the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior.[15]

Phoenix received a bachelor's degree in history from Smith College in 2005 and a master's degree in geology from California State University, Los Angeles in 2010. She also completed work towards a Ph.D. in geology at Queensland University of Technology.[15]

Phoenix was backed by Rep. Jerry McNerney (D), Our Revolution Santa Clarita, and Blue Wave Crowdsource. She raised $408,405 at the end of March. Phoenix's campaign themes included universal healthcare, tuition-free college, and reinstating the Paris Climate Agreement.

List of all candidates

See also: Statistics on U.S. Congress candidates, 2018

General election candidates

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:

Timeline

  • May 21, 2018: Candidates Caforio, Hill, Knight, and Phoenix speak in recorded interviews to The Signal. View each candidate's interview here.
  • March 15, 2018: Democratic candidates Bryan Caforio, Katie Hill, and Jess Phoenix participate in a candidate forum.[16]
  • February 24-25, 2018: California Democratic Party opts against an endorsement. None of the Democratic candidates in the 25th District secured the 60 percent of the state party convention vote required to secure the party's endorsement.[8]
  • January 27, 2018: Caforio wins the California Democratic Party endorsement recommendation. The state Democratic Party holds pre-endorsing conferences before its state party convention. Candidates who win more than 70 percent of the vote at the pre-endorsing conference win an endorsement recommendation, which puts their endorsement on the convention consent calendar.[7] Caforio won 72.9 percent of the pre-endorsing conference vote in the 25th District.[17]
  • November 29, 2017: The California State University, Northridge, Young Democrats, Pierce College Young Democrats, and Channel Islands College Democrats host a debate.[18]
  • May 13, 2017: Former Knight challenger Bryan Caforio enters the race. Democratic candidate Caforio came within 6.2 points of defeating Republican incumbent Steve Knight in 2016. On May 13, 2017, he announced that he would challenge Knight again in 2018.[19]

Endorsements

Ballotpedia tracks endorsements by organizations and elected officials. To notify us of other endorsements, please email us.

Primary election endorsements
Endorsement Democratic Party Caforio[20] Democratic Party Hill[3] Republican Party Knight Democratic Party Phoenix[21]
Federal officials
Jerry McNerney, U.S. representative ✔
Nanette Barragan, U.S. representative ✔
Judy Chu, U.S. representative ✔
Lois Frankel, U.S. representative ✔
Jimmy Gomez, U.S. representative ✔
Jackie Speier, U.S. representative ✔
Lois Capps, former U.S. representative ✔
State figures
Sharon Davis, former California first lady ✔
Gavin Newsom, lieutenant governor of California ✔
Ben Allen, California state senator ✔
Henry Stern, California state senator ✔
Dante Acosta, California state assemblyman ✔
Laura Friedman, California state assemblywoman ✔
Jacqui Irwin, California state assemblywoman ✔
Tom Lackey, California state assemblyman ✔
Fran Pavley, former California state senator ✔
Local figures
Sheila Kuehl, Los Angeles County supervisor ✔
Don Knabe, former Los Angeles County supervisor ✔
Susan Rose, former Santa Barbara County supervisor ✔
Peter Foy, Ventura County supervisor ✔
Kathy Long, former Ventura County supervisor ✔
Cameron Smyth, mayor of Santa Clarita ✔
Bob Huber, mayor of Simi Valley ✔
Mike Judge, Simi Valley mayor pro tem ✔
Mike Bonin, Los Angeles city councilman ✔
Paul Koretz, Los Angeles city councilman ✔
Joy Picus, former Los Angeles city councilwoman ✔
Dee Dee Cavanaugh, Simi Valley city councilwoman ✔
Keith Mashburn, Simi Valley city councilman ✔
Cheryl Heitmann, Ventura city councilwoman ✔
Lindsey Horvath, West Hollywood city councilwoman ✔
Wendy Greuel, former Los Angeles city controller ✔
Rick Tuttle, former Los Angeles city controller ✔
Juan Carillo, Palmdale city councilman ✔
Michael Dutton, Antelope Valley Union High School District board member ✔
Jannie Dutton, Keppel Union School District board president ✔
Manuel Magana, Keppel Union School District board member ✔
Christy Smith, Newhall School District board president[22][23] ✔
Joyce Ricks, Palmdale School District president ✔
Ralph Velador, Palmdale School District board member ✔
Christopher Trunkey, Saugus Union School District president ✔
Gonzalo Freixes, former Newhall School District president ✔
Robert "Bo" Bynum, former Palmdale School District board member ✔
Arleigh Kidd, former Simi Valley Unified School District president ✔
Kathy MacLaren, Palmdale Water Board director ✔
Gloria Dizmang, former Palmdale Water Board director ✔
Organizations
Our Revolution, Santa Clarita ✔
Greater and Grander ✔
Americans for Democratic Action of Southern California ✔
Free Thought Equality ✔
Gaaays in Spaaace ✔
Blue Grizzlies ✔
Party of Reason and Progress ✔
Blue Wave Crowdsource ✔
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1277 ✔
American Nurses Association ✔
American Postal Workers Union ✔
Blue America ✔
Communications Workers of America, Southern California Council ✔
Democracy for America ✔
EMILY's List ✔
Equality California ✔
The Feminist Majority ✔
Heart of L.A. Democratic Club ✔
International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Local 416 and Local 433 ✔
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 40 ✔
International Union of Operating Engineers Local 12 ✔
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 36 ✔
Justice Democrats ✔
L.A. County Young Democrats ✔
Laborers' International Union of North America Local 300 ✔
NARAL ✔
National Association of Letter Carriers Local 2200, Local 4430, and Local 2902 ✔
National Nurses United ✔
North Valley Democratic Club ✔
Progressive Democrats of the Santa Monica Mountains ✔
Santa Clarita Valley Young Democrats ✔
Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Local Union 105 ✔
Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters ✔
Southeast Antelope Valley Initiative ✔
Southern California District Council of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union ✔
Stonewall Democratic Club ✔
The Suburban Women's Action Network ✔
Teamsters Joint Council 42 ✔
United Aerospace Workers Local 887 ✔
United Association of Plumbers, Pipefitters and Welders Local 761 ✔
United Steelworkers Los Angeles and Orange County Legislative Education Committee ✔
Utility Workers Union of America ✔
Victory Fund ✔
The Women's Political Committee ✔


Campaign themes and policy stances

Campaign themes

The campaign themes below were taken from the candidates' 2018 campaign websites, if available.

Bryan Caforio

Holding President Trump Accountable

We need a Congress that will stand up to President Trump instead of rubber stamping his dangerous agenda. Now more than ever, Congress must use its power to create jobs, help middle-class Americans get ahead and make the wealthiest pay their fair share, protect our healthcare, safeguard environmental protections, defend against discrimination, and ensure our freedom.

We must make our voices heard in Washington, and that starts with you. As your representative, I want to hear your concerns at in-person town halls, in letters and phone calls, on social media, and at the grocery store, and once in office, I pledge to be open and accessible to all of my constituents.

Medicare for All

Healthcare is a right, not a privilege.

We need Medicare for All because every American must have access to the high quality and affordable healthcare they deserve. Trump and his cronies in Congress are trying to take healthcare away from millions of Americans and tens of thousands of our neighbors in the 25th District. As if that isn’t bad enough, they want to eliminate protections for pre-existing conditions and increase costs for people over 50-years-old.

Too many families are only one bad accident or one medical emergency away from bankruptcy. Medicare for All will save families thousands of dollars per year by eliminating healthcare deductibles and out-of-pocket costs. By expanding Medicare, we’re also keeping the program solvent and, in turn, keeping our sacred promise to seniors. Allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices will bring costs down and stop letting insurance companies put their profits ahead of our health. I will fight back against any attempt to decrease coverage or increase premiums, and I’ll never vote to give a trillion-dollar tax break to billionaires and bankers at the expense of the most vulnerable people in our community.

Supporting Women and Families

When women thrive, America succeeds.

We can’t move forward as a country unless women are given an equal opportunity to succeed, which is why I support pro-woman, pro-family policies. I will stand up and defend women’s health and reproductive rights against misguided and misleading attacks; I will fight to end wage discrimination and make sure that women receive equal pay for equal work; and I will push for and support paid family leave and affordable healthcare policies. I proudly stand with Planned Parenthood and will fight to protect its funding so women have access to critical health services like cancer screenings and birth control. Women must be able to make their own healthcare decisions without interference from their employers.

Defending Medicare and Social Security

Our seniors worked hard their entire lives to earn Social Security and Medicare – we can’t break our promise to them now.

Keep our promises to seniors. After a lifetime of hard work, every senior deserves a secure and healthy retirement. Yet every year the career politicians in Washington try to dismantle Medicare and Social Security, attempting to balance the budget on the backs of our seniors. I will fight any attempt to privatize Social Security or turn Medicare into a voucher system.

Instead of finding ways to benefit the billionaires and bankers on Wall Street, we must take steps now to strengthen and secure Social Security for this and future generations. In Congress, I will fight to:

Scrap the Cap: by requiring millionaires and billionaires to pay the same percent of their incomes towards Social Security as middle-class families, we can guarantee that Social Security remains fully funded for decades to come.

Increase Benefits: by using the CPI-E (Consumer Price Index-Elderly), instead of the CPI-W (Consumer Price Index — Urban Wage and Clerical), to calculate COLA (Cost of Living Adjustments), we will more accurately account for our seniors’ regular expenses and allow them to live more securely on their own.

Building an Economy That Works for the Middle Class

It’s time to build an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy few.

Reduce the tax burden on the middle class and ensure the wealthiest pay their fair share. While middle-class Americans are working hard to provide for their families, millionaires and billionaires are benefitting from tax breaks and loopholes. We need to fix this system that unfairly prioritizes wealthy special interests at the expense of the middle class.

Increase the nation’s minimum wage. No one who works full time should live in poverty. California is leading the way by raising the minimum wage, but Congress continues to ignore the issue, widening our nation’s income gap and making it harder for families to get ahead.

Stop giving handouts and tax breaks to big banks and corporations. Instead of giving handouts to big banks and tax breaks to corporations that ship jobs overseas, we need to focus on projects that grow our economy and create jobs right here in the 25th District. The Antelope Valley is a leader in aerospace, and when we support the aerospace industry, we’re able to create well-paying jobs while investing in our national security. Building a water recycling facility here in the District would provide much needed water security should California experience another devastating drought. We also need to invest in our roads, bridges, and renewable energy sources to stay ahead and create the jobs of the future.

End wage discrimination. Everyone deserves equal pay for equal work regardless of race or gender. It’s time to end wage discrimination so that every American worker earns what he or she deserves.

Give our kids the education they deserve. As the son of two public school teachers and the product of California public schools, I know the opportunity a strong school system can provide. Unfortunately, our public schools are under attack from President Trump, Betsy DeVos, and Trump’s out of touch allies in Congress. College graduates are saddled with debt they can’t refinance because Congress won’t act. We must make our public schools a priority by investing in STEAM education, offering advanced vocational training, and reforming our student loan system to make college affordable for everyone. A greater emphasis on apprenticeship and internship programs will ensure that our students are well prepared for the high-tech aerospace jobs that we can support right here in the 25th District.

Supporting Small Businesses

Small businesses make up more than 99% of all employer firms, and yet far too many Washington politicians spend their time looking out for only the biggest and wealthiest corporations.

Many small businesses and entrepreneurs struggle to access the capital necessary to start and expand their businesses. Inadequate access to capital holds these companies back and harms our economy. We should ease access to capital in a variety of ways, including: 

– Expanding the availability of Small Business Administration (SBA) loans.
– Encouraging crowdfunding for small businesses to provide access to equity capital.
– Supporting credit unions and community banks.
– Incentivize providing loans under $50,000.

LGBTQ Rights

While we had a historic victory at the Supreme Court guaranteeing marriage equality, the LGBTQ community now faces increased attacks from extremists in Congress and the Trump Administration. I am steadfast in my support for total equality, and will be a fierce advocate for LGBTQ rights in the face of these attacks both at home and abroad. Our elected officials have a responsibility to ensure that there is no place for discrimination based on sexual orientation in our society or government, and I will co-sponsor the Equality Act as soon as I’m sworn into office.

Preserving Our Environment

We need to combat climate change and protect the environment for our families and children.

Whether you live in Simi Valley or Lancaster, Santa Clarita or Palmdale, Littlerock or Porter Ranch, we all call the 25th District home. We need a representative who accepts and trusts science, understands that climate change is a paramount threat to national security, and will stand up to dirty energy companies in order to keep our roads clear from increased trucking traffic congestion, our air breathable, our water drinkable, and our communities safe.

The devastating Aliso Canyon Gas Leak showed us what happens when our representatives are beholden to dirty energy companies. I have pledged not to take any contributions from oil and gas companies in this campaign, and am committed to investing in clean energy as we move to 100% renewable energy. Right here in the 25th District, Lancaster is on track to be a net-zero city by 2020 and serves as an example of what we can achieve when we commit to a sustainable future.

We must not let Trump and his anti-environment Administration negotiate away our community’s health or sell our beautiful protected spaces to the highest bidder. I believe in protecting our national monuments, keeping the Arctic free from drilling, and passing legislation to ensure this or future Administrations can’t open the Cemex mine.

With the Porter Ranch Gas Leak, the contamination at Santa Susana, the Chiquita Canyon dump expansion, Whittaker Bermite, Cemex, and so much more, we need a representative who will stand with our community and work to address both local and national environmental issues so that our families have the peace of mind to know the air they breathe and the water they drink is safe.

Animal Welfare

We must treasure the unique relationship between people and animals. Our actions, more often than not, affect animals just as much as they affect people, and I’ll keep that in mind when considering legislation. While not everyone can commit to a vegan diet, we can commit to ensuring that animals raised for food are treated humanely. We need to protect wild animals from cruelty, unnecessary killing, and extinction, keep natural environments habitable for animals, and ensure that every pet has a home free from abuse or neglect. Earlier this year police rescued 7,000 roosters from an illegal cockfighting ring–the largest in U.S. history–right here in Val Verde. I will work with our law enforcement agencies to crack down on such reprehensible conduct, and fight to put in place strong protections to end these abuses once and for all.

Fixing Our Immigration System and Securing Our Border

It’s time to pass immigration reform that keeps families together, secures our border, and strengthens our economy.

We must pass commonsense, comprehensive reform. In 2013, the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill supported by a broad group of immigration, business, labor, and faith organizations. I support the principles of that bipartisan bill, which secured our borders and provided a pathway to citizenship for those who pay their taxes, learn English, and have no criminal background. Passing commonsense, comprehensive legislation would boost our economy and reduce our deficit by upwards of $900 billion over the coming years.

I will fight any attempt to roll back President Obama’s actions on immigration, which protected young people who were brought to this country as children, as well as their parents, from the constant fear of deportation. We must support hard-working students who were brought here as infants and toddlers and have contributed to American society, which is why I also strongly support the California DREAM Act, designed to increase access to college for undocumented immigrants who graduated from high school in the United States.

National Security and Terrorism

The U.S. military is the best fighting force the world has ever seen, and I’m committed to keeping it that way. While President Trump continues to destroy relationships with our closest allies, weaken our military readiness, and hinder our diplomatic efforts within the State Department, it’s more important than ever that Congress provides checks and balances to keep our nation safe. We must build an international coalition to defeat ISIS and stop the global spread of terrorism, prioritize diplomatic solutions, and implement tough and smart national security policies that will protect Americans at home and abroad.

Honor our Veterans

As a nation, we have no greater duty than to fully provide for the men and women who have served and sacrificed for this country when they return from service.

For more than 70 years, the G.I. Bill has been available to help returning veterans achieve easier access to educational opportunities. Since its inception in 2008, the Post-9/11 G.I. BIll has provided educational benefits to more than 1.5 million brave men and women who sacrificed for our country. Unfortunately, extremists in Congress attacked the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill by voting to cut the benefits it provides our veterans. That is unacceptable. We need to make it easier, not harder, for veterans to access educational benefits, which is why I pledge to defend the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill and will work to ensure that sufficient funds remain available to provide educational benefits for soldiers into the future.

We have a responsibility to ensure that veterans returning from combat zones have immediate access to the physical, mental, and emotional care they need. I’ve heard far too many stories from veterans in our community about waiting seven, eight, or nine months for an appointment. We should take steps toward building a world class VA facility in the Antelope Valley, and in the meantime, we must provide veterans with increased shuttle service to Westwood/Sepulveda to ensure they receive the care they need. I also support legislation providing a single point of contact for each veteran to help navigate through the VA system.

Our servicemen and women have tremendous skills, and we must provide any assistance necessary to help transfer those skills into a successful career when they return home. I will support bills that aim to accelerate vital skills training for U.S. veterans in manufacturing careers. I also fully support the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP), which trains unemployed veterans for careers in high-demand occupations, and will work to expand the benefits available so that the program applies to more veterans.

Gun Violence Prevention

I’m sick and tired of waking up to read about the next mass shooting to tear another community apart, and I’m disgusted at our elected officials who keep failing to take concrete actions to start saving lives. I’ll stand up to the corporate gun lobby, and I’ll work to implement policies to keep our community safe. I support immediately reauthorizing the CDC to restart conducting research to determine the most effective ways to protect us from the ongoing gun violence epidemic. In the meantime, there are commonsense solutions we should and must enact without any further delay. First, I support expanding background checks and closing loopholes. There is no reason a potential suspected terrorist, stalker, domestic abuser, or person with mental health illness should have access to firearms. I support uniform nationwide waiting periods, which at the very least will save 1,000 lives each year by reducing the number of suicides. Finally, weapons of war have no place in our communities, and I support banning assault weapons, bump stocks, and silencers. Let’s work together to start saving lives today.

Campaign Finance Reform

Unless we dramatically reform our political system, insurance companies will continue to control our health care, oil companies will continue to dictate how we respond to climate change, and corporations will continue to get massive tax breaks for shipping jobs overseas. The disastrous Citizens United Supreme Court decision gives special interests even more influence over our democracy, our economy, and our lawmakers. We now have a corrupt campaign finance system with no accountability. Overturning that awful decision and implementing real campaign finance reform with teeth is one of my top priorities. I strongly support a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United, and I will fight for publicly financed elections, eliminating money from politics, and complete transparency for all political contributions.[24]

Katie Hill

Universal Health Care

In a country with this much wealth, we should have a system that ensures every American can get the health care they need. I’ve worked on the Medicaid expansion, that brought coverage to 13.5 million Californians, and I will use that experience to get us to Medicare for All. I am ready to take immediate steps to provide health care relief for the people who need it by strengthening the ACA and laying the foundation for a Medicare For All system that works for all of us.

Women’s Reproductive Rights

Women need to have control of their own bodies, including if and when to start a family. It’s not the government’s place to regulate the most personal, difficult decisions a woman will ever have to make. I support expanding access to comprehensive sexual health education and under a Medicare for All system, all men and women would have access to family-planning services such as birth control, cancer screenings and STI testing/treatment. This is why I stand with Planned Parenthood, as its California health centers provide our low-income neighbors critical and basic reproductive health care.

Senior Care

We have a moral responsibility to take care of our seniors. That includes protecting Medicare and Social Security, ensuring families are able to support aging loved ones with the long-term care they need, and providing a safety net for the generations who came before us. We need to invest in research and finding a cure for devastating diseases like Alzheimer's and Dementia that affect so many of our seniors, and all of those who care for them.

Supporting our Troops Veterans Care

We have to ensure that our troops have the resources that they need, because too often during my time at PATH, I saw veterans living on the streets. As a member of a family of veterans, who benefitted from the G.I. Bill, I support increasing educational benefits and opportunities for veterans. I know that it is imperative that our troops receive the proper mental health and substance abuse disorder treatment when returning from service. We have no greater obligation as a country than to take care of the men and women who have risked everything to protect us. Our veterans deserve the best possible care at every stage of their lives.

Mental Health Treatment

One in seven Americans will experience a serious mental health condition at some point in their lifetime. The impact this has on our society cannot be understated, and we need to address it as such. We have to de-stigmatize the issue, and ensure that every single American is able to get the care they need. Mental health must be included in all discussions of health care access.

Addiction

Drug overdoses killed more Americans last year than the worst year ever for gun deaths (1993), HIV (1995), car crashes (1972), or the entire Vietnam war. Treatment options are dangerously unavailable or costly, and the epidemic has touched nearly every American family in some way at this point, including mine. We need to treat it as the public health crisis it is, and provide the resources accordingly.

Environment

Protecting the planet is not just an environmental issue, but a human health issue. Our families and communities need clean air, water and a non-toxic food supply so we can flourish for generations to come. In 2015, the Department of Defense informed Congress the implications of climate change included aggravating global issues such as poverty, social tensions and food shortages. These are all threats to vital human health and sustainability we must take seriously and should inspire us to do whatever it takes reverse the damage done to our environment.

Right here at home, the Aliso Canyon gas blowout is an example of how non-renewable energy sources and corrupt energy companies can have a detrimental effect on our environment. We must shut down this facility now and move to 100% clean energy, get off fossil fuels, and stop building new power plants.

Special Needs

Several members of my family on both sides have special needs, ranging in age from children to seniors. I know the demands that families face as caretakers, and that we as a community need to come together and provide support and resources at every stage of life. I know first hand how our system can do a better job of ensuring that people with special needs have high quality education, and every opportunity to achieve the highest possible level of self sufficiency in life. It’s vitally important that the federal government adequately funds community resource centers, programs, education, and the support necessary for these Americans and I'm ready to be an advocate for this in Congress.

Gun Safety

As a lifelong gun owner, I am ready to be a sensible voice in the debate around gun violence. I believe that respecting the Second Amendment and advocating for gun safety measures are not mutually exclusive, which is why I am proud to have the distinction as a Gun Sense Candidate from Moms Demand Action. Like we already have in California, I support a federal ban on assault weapons, high capacity magazines and bump stocks, as well as increasing waiting periods, raising the minimum age to purchase all weapons, and expanding our current background check system. These measures can have a significant impact on reducing gun violence, while also adequately retaining the right to bear arms. It’s time to move past inflammatory politics and take steps now to curb gun violence, because protecting our kids and our communities is something we can ALL agree on.

Law Enforcement and Public Safety

As the daughter of a police officer I understand the vital service that our law enforcement officials provide for us on a daily basis. We need to provide fully for our peace officers so that they can protect our communities while also addressing the underlying causes of crime such as poverty.

Income Inequality

Last year, the wealthiest 10% of families in the US held 76% of the total wealth in our country, while the bottom half of the population accounted for just 1%. We need to close that gap, and ensure that the wealthy pay the same percentage of their income in taxes as the rest of us do. If we did that, we would have all the resources we’d need to invest in rebuilding the middle class and ensuring a strong future for our country.

Local Jobs

At the federal level, we should create incentives for local governments to attract and retain industries and employers that make the most sense for that community, provided they demonstrate public-private partnerships to train and hire local community members in living-wage jobs. In our district, that includes film, green energy, technology, and more. Extra incentives should be provided to those communities that connect the jobs to re-entry or to other underprivileged populations.

Education

Education is the pathway to self-sufficiency in America. Everyone should have access to a good education – from preschool to college – no matter where they come from or what their family can afford. We must ensure the prosperity of our public school system, we must listen to administrators and teachers about the issues in their classrooms and consult with schools directly when drafting policies that affect them. I also support universal preschool, which is shown to decrease the K12 achievement gap across all American youth.

Public Education

The federal government has to fully fund the education mandates they set at the national level and we ultimately have to protect our public schools from privatization. Investing in these programs across the country provides critical funding aimed at supporting the nation’s neediest students; our poor, rural, and minority students and students with special needs. These funds help supplement what states are able to invest to give these children a level playing field and equitable access to an education that will help foster their growth as citizens of the future.

Affordable Housing and Homelessness

The growing homelessness crisis is a direct result of the shortage of affordable housing and skyrocketing rents in our communities. In my experience at PATH, I also know that homelessness disproportionately affects people of color, survivors of domestic violence, single-parent households and veterans -- all populations we must do better in serving. It is estimated that California has 1 million units of housing less than it needs, and we must address our nation's housing crisis at the federal level.

Immigration

Rebuilding the middle class includes achieving real immigration reform that protects our country while valuing the people who have lived and worked alongside us for years. Our friends and neighbors – no matter where they were born or how they got here – should be granted the opportunity to work for a better future for themselves and their families. We have to provide a clear path to citizenship for our dreamers and protect measures to keep families together. We can do this while also strengthening our borders against national security threats as well as the trafficking of sex workers, drugs and weapons. I know if we can get beyond partisan politics on this issue, we can work together to make real progress on immigration.

Criminal Justice Reform

Too many people are stuck, unable to move into the middle class, because of a failed criminal justice system that disproportionately impacts people of color, poor people, those who have suffered from addiction or mental health disorders, and those who have simply made mistakes. We need a system that focuses on rehabilitation and provides people who have served their time with the opportunity to become self-sufficient, contributing members of society again.

Labor and Unions

After World War II, America enjoyed one of the most prosperous and expansive middle classes the world has ever seen — and a large part of that was due to the fact that union participation was higher than ever. I believe protecting our ability to organize, unionize and collectively bargain is vital to maintaining a sustainable economy. We need to ensure workers are treated fairly and with the dignity they deserve in their efforts to achieve American Dream.

Childcare

A lack of access to childcare shouldn’t be the barrier to people being able to get and keep a good job. We need to ensure that parents can provide for their families and thrive in the middle class. Universal preschool would be a strong first step, but it would not be the last.

Small Businesses

Small businesses employ most Americans -- but they are largely ignored in policy decisions and corporations gain the most in terms of tax cuts and regulatory relief. Expansion in health care access has contributed to more people starting or expanding their own small businesses and providing economic development right in their neighborhoods. Medicare for All, reinstating small-business deductions cut by the GOP and stronger education systems will help our small businesses thrive.

Campaign Finance Reform

If we want a government that represents the will of the people and not special interests, we have to reform the way in which we finance our campaigns. This includes tax rebates for small dollar donors and public financing pathways that make it possible for service minded individuals to run competitive campaigns against political insiders.

Lobbying

We must put an end to the revolving door between the capitol and lobbying firms by banning former members of Congress and their high-paid staff from becoming lobbyists for five years.

Corporate Responsibility

America is a great place to enjoy economic freedoms not afforded in other countries. With that freedom comes a responsibility to give back to the people and the country that make so much prosperity possible. That is why I believe in creating policies that incentivize businesses to act in a socially responsible manner, to reinvest profits here at home and to share prosperity with their highly productive workforces. Measures like these can ensure record breaking corporate profits finally do find their way back into the pockets of hard working Americans.

Getting Big Money Out Of Politics

We have to reduce the undue influence of big money on our politics by abolishing Super PACs - entities that sponsor political activities without donor limits and donor disclosures.

Women in Government

Women make up more than half of our population, yet only 20% of Congress is comprised of women. If we want a government more representative of the public’s values and perspectives, we need more women weighing in on all policy decisions. It’s inexcusable that in 2018 we are so far from gender parity and the only way to ensure women have a voice on the floor is to elect them and give them a seat at the table. Women’s issues extend far beyond reproductive rights. We need to be working towards equal pay for women, ensuring access to affordable childcare and make sure women aren’t being hit with unfair taxes on feminine products. It’s time to level the playing field and claim our voice in government and I’m ready to lead that charge in Congress.

Racial Justice

Through my work at PATH I became intimately familiar with the ways in which our broken system disproportionately affects people of color in a negative way. For example, in LA County, nearly 50% of the homeless population we served was African American, despite the fact they only make up less than 10% of the total population. If we are going to live up to the ideals of American freedom and give every single person in this country a fighting chance to flourish, we have to be aware of the ways in which racial injustices are perpetrated through the criminal justice system, education, housing and in the workplace. I’ve spent my career being a voice for the most vulnerable populations in our communities and I’m ready to continue to be a voice in Congress, but I can’t do it alone. Let’s work together to build a more just and equitable society.

LGBTQ

I’ve identified as bisexual since I was a teenager and if we want to achieve equality for all in our policies, we need more voices from the LGBTQ community in Congress. I am proud to be endorsed by Equality California, Equality PAC, the LGBTQ Victory Fund and the Stonewall Democratic Club, and if elected, I will be the only openly bisexual woman in the House of Representatives. The federal government has no business in restricting basic human rights based on sexual orientation and I am ready to protect equality at every turn in Congress.

Millennials in Government

As millennials, we’re stuck with having to live with the long term consequences of decisions career politicians won’t be around to experience. Millennials now make up the largest voting bloc in the country and it’s our time to step up. Our generation has the opportunity to be the change we want to see in the world if we turn out to vote for issues like income inequality, affordable housing, education, health care for all and the environment. These are the top challenges our generation is having to face head on and I believe we’re the ones to make real change happen. This country needs millenials to turn out in a big way this election and I’m ready to be your voice, but I can’t do it alone, we have to do this together.[25]

Steve Knight

Economy

Middle class families still face huge financial challenges and declining wages after years of slow job growth. Government policies that increase the cost of doing business and get in the way of job creation have taken their toll on the people least able to afford it. Only by unleashing the private sector through smart tax incentives and rolling back expensive red-tape can we begin to restore America’s economic strength. Southern California has tremendous potential for new middle-class jobs particularly through the aerospace sector. While in the State Senate, I successfully championed a tax credit that will allow California to build the next generation Air Force Stealth Bomber and will bring thousands of new middle class jobs. We need to replicate this model for all industries because it’s clear that we are more competitive when taxes are reasonable. Our nation has produced one of the most robust and innovative economies in world history. However, until we reverse the policies that are holding it back through over-regulation and taxation, Americans will continue to see median incomes decrease and unemployment numbers increase.

Education

Decisions about the best way to educate students should be made at the local level where parents have a voice for their children, which is why I have consistently fought for local control throughout my career. Every community has unique needs, which make one-size-fits-all policies ineffective. Instead, we need to empower local schools and hold them accountable for their results. We must also provide stable funding so class sizes remain small and educational support services remain intact. Public schools must also reflect the needs of our modern economy by offering more opportunities for career technical education or trades to serve students looking to join the workforce immediately. Finally, we must look at strategies for fixing higher education so it can remain an option for middle and working class families who have been squeezed by rising tuition costs.

Immigration

Americans are rightly frustrated that our nation’s borders are still not secured after years of talk from Washington politicians and unelected bureaucrats. Reforming immigration laws is not possible until we are confident that all the points of entry into our country are no longer vulnerable to individuals entering illegally. The US has already seen previous attempts to deal with illegal immigration fail because the border has never truly been secured. While we should recognize that we are a nation of immigrants and modernize these laws to better meet the needs of our economy, we cannot continue to allow unchecked, illegal immigration to continue. I will fight to secure America’s borders first, and only after this is accomplished can we begin a broader overhaul of our immigration laws.

Debt and Government Spending

During the past ten years, the national debt has more than doubled and now stands at a staggering $19 trillion—more than $61,000 for every American. The unsustainable debt currently being passed on to our children is morally wrong and is a blatant act of generational theft. Making sure we right this wrong and stop spending ourselves down the road of bankruptcy must be a top priority in Washington. There is no excuse; we need a long-term plan to pay down our debt. It is time to balance the federal budget by providing real leadership and bringing common-sense back to government spending habits. This can be accomplished by prioritizing our programs that provide essential core services, and either eliminating or streamlining those that do not. While it may not be easy, we can longer afford to keep running up the bill on our nation’s youth.

Taxes

The cause of our national debt is not a lack of tax revenue—instead it was created by a spending addiction in Washington. As unemployment remains stubbornly high in an economic recovery that is still fragile, now is not the time to increase taxes on Americans. Instead, we must pursue comprehensive tax reform by lowering tax rates and in turn eliminating deductions and credits. With the tax code now stretching over 70,000 pages long, the need to simplify our system so that it benefits a shrinking middle class has never been greater. Upward mobility should not be something that is unique to those who can afford the most expensive accountants. By having a fairer, simpler tax code with lower rates, we can start to once again increase the size of our middle class – enhancing economic growth and providing higher tax revenues over time.

National Security

The world is safest when America is a leader in international affairs. Unfortunately we have witnessed what happens when we abandon this leadership role as violence, instability and chaos have increased globally under the current administration—look no further than the rise of ISIS as a global terror organization. In order to restore our position as a global leader, we need to ensure we have a strong military, effective intelligence services and the courage to confront threats. While serving in the army, I saw first-hand how important our presence in the world was for maintaining peace and protecting national interests. In the face of growing, international threats, making smart investments into our national security apparatus is more critical than ever. Failing to do so only emboldens aggressive nations and the spread of terrorism, which will cost exponentially more if conflict arises. Strong national defense must continue to be a focus in Washington because we must give our men and women in uniform the resources they need to protect us.

2nd Amendment Rights

Our nation’s founders enshrined the right to bear firearms in the Constitution, which means the government has no right to enact arbitrary restrictions. Undermining the 2nd Amendment by crafting gun control laws aimed to reduce violence rarely results in safer communities. Instead, it is responsible gun owners who pay the price as criminals rarely comply with the laws enacted to keep firearms out of their hands. There is no law Congress can pass to stop gun violence, however we must examine better policing strategies and mental health services in order to provide a more direct path to solving the problem of gun violence.

Social Security

We must act to ensure that Social Security is preserved and protected for current and future retirees; there is no doubt about this. That means that everyone who is currently receiving Social Security payments must continue doing so, and we should also take steps to ensure that the program is available for future generations.

Unfortunately decades of inaction by both political parties has put our Social Security system directly in harm’s way. In 1945, there were approximately 42 workers paying into the system for every retiree receiving Social Security benefits. Currently, there are only about 3 workers for every retiree, and soon there will be only 2 workers for every beneficiary. The program is paying out far more than it is bringing in and its trust funds will be exhausted by 2035. This means that in two decades, Social Security will become insolvent because it will not be able to pay out one hundred percent of promised benefits to retirees. This is unacceptable.

Many believe that even the slightest mention of Social Security reform is politically unthinkable, and feel the best course of action is to ignore this problem or let future generations sort it out. This line of thinking is irresponsible and will endanger our children’s future. Instead, what we ought to do is set politics aside and work on a bipartisan solution that will preserve Social Security for current and future generations.

This will not be a simple process, and we will need to pursue several approaches to address this multi-faceted problem. For example, the House is currently working to eliminate costly Social Security fraud and abuse by closing a loophole in the disability insurance program that allows individuals to receive both unemployment insurance and disability payments.

Additionally, by addressing the current pay structure we can ensure public funding is appropriately dispersed among those living on a fixed income. Just because someone spent their career working 9-5, and earning 9.50 an hour, doesn’t mean they should be subjected to a poverty-stricken retirement at less than $950.00 per month.

Protecting and preserving Social Security for future generations is extremely important, and will require bipartisan cooperation. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in the House on ensuring our most reliable safety net is around for the retirees of today and tomorrow.[26]

Jess Phoenix

Economy

The United States, and California in particular has long been a global leader in research, development and manufacturing of new technologies. We need to prepare for the coming decades by giving American workers the tools to succeed in the economy of the future. I will work to bring federal investment in the technologies of the future home to the people in our community, creating an environment of innovation.

Environment

The greatest threat to our security and prosperity is global climate change. Scientists agree - human activity is a big factor. When Republicans in Congress deny this reality, they are setting Americans up for suffering. I've studied climate change around the world during my decade of work as a scientist, and I will bring truth and facts to the table.

Healthcare

As one of the strongest and wealthiest countries in the world, we must do more to provide healthcare to every American. I strongly support the ACA, but I know we can do more. The Trump/Knight plan is a disaster that would cause over 70,000 of our neighbors to lose coverage. I will be a strong advocate for Medicare for all Americans.

Education

As a scientist and educator, I know how critical education is. Every child deserves a world-class education that gives them the opportunity and skills to compete. I will stand up to the Betsy DeVos and Steve Knight agenda that threatens our children's education and makes college impossible.

Gun Violence Prevention

I was a seventeen year old high school student living in Littleton, Colorado in 1999 when the Columbine shootings occurred. I saw firsthand how gun violence shatters lives and tears apart communities. Since then, we have seen too many mass shootings with no end in sight. Domestic violence and suicide attempts are also made worse when guns are involved. We need common-sense gun reforms that will help prevent mass shootings, domestic violence, and suicides. This means closing background check loopholes, opposing Concealed Carry Reciprocity, directing the Centers for Disease Control to study the gun violence epidemic and fully funding their efforts, and forming a Congressional Select Committee to investigate the causes and solutions to our country's gun violence problem.

Our Veterans

Since the conception of our Constitution, serving our veterans has been the one obligation we commit to in exchange for protection by our military. The Trump administration’s budget will increase funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs, but it doesn’t come close to the increase given to the Department of Defense. Their proposal also cuts programs in the VA’s budget, which will harm our service members and their families. In Congress, I will stand up for our veterans, here in CA-25 and across the nation.

Immigration

We need a clean bill, and then we must pursue comprehensive, bipartisan immigration reform. We need to immediately approve citizenship for DACA recipients who are in good standing, and create a pathway to citizenship for all undocumented immigrants with no criminal record who meet requirements like paying back taxes and holding jobs. Our immigration policies must be revamped to be both fair and humane. We also need to focus on border security measures and deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal histories. We must balance family-based immigration with a merit-based system to insure we’re being humane and compassionate while securing our borders.

LGBTQ+ Rights

I believe access to healthcare, protection against discrimination, and bullying prevention are some of the most critical issues facing our LGBTQ+ communities today. I will work to enact legislation that creates federal programs that fund training for healthcare providers specifically around LGBTQ-specific issues, with an emphasis on Transgender healthcare. I will work for taking California’s Gender Recognition Act nationwide, and advocate for a non-binary gender option to be included on the US Census. We must prioritize work on legislation that would direct federal agencies to collect gender and sexual orientation data to ensure that LGBTQ community needs are addressed by federal programs, and particularly those that involve workplace rights.

Justice Reform

I will introduce legislation to strengthen the Voting Rights Act, and fight against discriminatory policies like voter identification laws and the elimination of early voting in predominantly minority communities. Our justice system should not be privatized. We need to eliminate private prisons, eliminate mandatory minimum sentences, and pursue treatment before incarceration for drug offenses. Our bail system must be reformed immediately to prevent further civil rights abuses. We must incorporate civilians into the law enforcement oversight process, as well as community policing initiatives. Recruiting officers from the communities in which they will serve is critical to fairness in the justice system.

Drug Policy

I am firmly committed to drug law reform and supporting Senator Booker's Marijuana Justice Act. Marijuana has excellent potential for helping our veteran population and patients suffering from serious medical conditions. The mass incarceration of people who have committed marijuana-related offenses is a travesty. In addition, we must address our nation's opioid and heroin crisis. We need compassion and evidence-based treatment options that are accessible to everyone. We need funding for treatment and rehabilitation programs which have been proven to help people with addiction. We need to expand healthcare coverage to include every American, not take it away.

Women's Rights

I support passing the Equal Rights Amendment immediately. Affirmative consent laws are necessary, and consent needs to be discussed thoroughly with children, so future generations understand why enthusiastic, continued consent is essential for all sexual relations. A woman’s right to an abortion is between her and her doctor, and I will protect reproductive healthcare providers and those who use their services. We must fund science-based sex education in public schools, and ensure that contraceptives are accessible and affordable for all who need them . Sexual harassment or assault against anyone of any gender must be taken seriously and investigated thoroughly.

Net Neutrality

Net Neutrality is the principle of an open internet, where service providers do not unfairly block or favor particular content, products, or sites. It levels the playing field for all internet users, and we must preserve this principle in our country. The free and open exchange of information is vital for the pursuit of knowledge. I will resist attempts to remove or modify net neutrality, and I will work to introduce legislation to protect this important principle for generations to come.[27]

Policy platforms

Caforio, Hill, Knight, and Phoenix spoke to The Signal about their platforms, and the conversations were recorded and published by the outlet. You can view the videos below.[28]

Bryan Caforio
Decision 2018: Bryan Caforio, 25th Congressional District, published May 21, 2018
Katie Hill
Decision 2018: Katie Hill, 25th Congressional District, published May 21, 2018
Steve Knight
Decision 2018: Steve Knight, 25th Congressional District, published May 21, 2018
Jess Phoenix
Decision 2018: Jess Phoenix, 25th Congressional District, published May 21, 2018

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
California's 25th Congressional District Election
Poll Knight (R) Hill (D)Undecided/someone else/didn't answerMargin of ErrorSample Size
NYT Upshot/Siena College
October 25-28, 2018		 48%44%8%+/-4.8504
UC Berkley/Los Angeles Times
September 16-23, 2018		 46%50%4%+/-5%680 likely voters
NYT Upshot / Siena College Poll
September 17-19, 2018		 47%45%7%+/-5%500 likely voters
Global Strategy Group
June 11-21, 2018		 45%40%15%+/-4.9%400 likely voters
Note: A "0%" finding means the question 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

Republican district won by Hillary Clinton

See also: U.S. House districts represented by a Republican and won by Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Split-ticket districts in the 2016 presidential and U.S. House elections

This district was one of 25 Republican-held U.S. House districts that Hillary Clinton (D) won in the 2016 presidential election.[29] 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.


2018 election results in Republican-held U.S. House districts won by Hillary Clinton in 2016
District Incumbent 2018 winner 2018 margin 2016 presidential margin 2012 presidential margin
Arizona's 2nd Republican Party Martha McSally Democratic Party Ann Kirkpatrick D+9.5 Clinton+4.9 Romney+1.5
California's 10th Republican Party Jeff Denham Democratic Party Josh Harder D+2.6 Clinton+3.0 Obama+3.6
California's 21st Republican Party David Valadao Democratic Party TJ Cox D+0.8 Clinton+15.5 Obama+11.1
California's 25th Republican Party Steve Knight Democratic Party Katie Hill D+6.4 Clinton+6.7 Romney+1.9
California's 39th Republican Party Ed Royce Democratic Party Gil Cisneros D+1.4 Clinton+8.6 Romney+3.7
California's 45th Republican Party Mimi Walters Democratic Party Katie Porter D+1.6 Clinton+5.4 Romney+11.8
California's 48th Republican Party Dana Rohrabacher Democratic Party Harley Rouda D+5.8 Clinton+1.7 Romney+11.7
California's 49th Republican Party Darrell Issa Democratic Party Mike Levin D+7.4 Clinton+7.5 Romney+6.7
Colorado's 6th Republican Party Mike Coffman Democratic Party Jason Crow D+11.2 Clinton+8.9 Obama+5.1
Florida's 26th Republican Party Carlos Curbelo Democratic Party Debbie Mucarsel-Powell D+1.8 Clinton+16.1 Obama+11.5
Florida's 27th Republican Party Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Democratic Party Donna Shalala D+6.0 Clinton+19.7 Obama+6.7
Illinois' 6th Republican Party Peter Roskam Democratic Party Sean Casten D+5.6 Clinton+7.0 Romney+8.2
Kansas' 3rd Republican Party Kevin Yoder Democratic Party Sharice Davids D+9.1 Clinton+1.2 Romney+9.5
Minnesota's 3rd Republican Party Erik Paulsen Democratic Party Dean Phillips D+11.4 Clinton+9.4 Obama+0.8
New Jersey's 7th Republican Party Leonard Lance Democratic Party Tom Malinowski D+4.7 Clinton+1.1 Romney+6.2
New York's 24th Republican Party John Katko Republican Party John Katko R+6.3 Clinton+3.6 Obama+15.9
Pennsylvania's 1st Republican Party Brian Fitzpatrick[30] Republican Party Brian Fitzpatrick R+2.6 Clinton+2.0 Obama+2.6
Pennsylvania's 5th Republican Party Pat Meehan[31] Democratic Party Mary Gay Scanlon D+30.2 Clinton+28.2 Obama+27.7
Pennsylvania's 6th Republican Party Ryan Costello[32] Democratic Party Chrissy Houlahan D+17.6 Clinton+9.3 Obama+3.2
Pennsylvania's 7th Republican Party Charlie Dent[33] Democratic Party Susan Wild D+11.3 Clinton+1.1 Obama+7.0
Texas' 7th Republican Party John Culberson Democratic Party Lizzie Pannill Fletcher D+5.0 Clinton+1.4 Romney+21.3
Texas' 23rd Republican Party Will Hurd Republican Party Will Hurd R+0.5 Clinton+3.4 Romney+2.6
Texas' 32nd Republican Party Pete Sessions Democratic Party Colin Allred D+6.3 Clinton+1.9 Romney+15.5
Virginia's 10th Republican Party Barbara Comstock Democratic Party Jennifer Wexton D+12.4 Clinton+10.0 Romney+1.6
Washington's 8th Republican Party David Reichert Democratic Party Kim Schrier D+6.2 Clinton+3.0 Obama+1.6


Click here to see the 13 Democratic-held U.S. House districts that Donald Trump (R) won.

Click here to see an overview of all split-ticket districts in the 2016 presidential and U.S. House elections..

Race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods
Race ratings: California's 25th Congressional District election, 2018
Race tracker Race ratings
October 30, 2018 October 23, 2018October 16, 2018October 9, 2018
The Cook Political Report Toss-up Toss-upToss-upToss-up
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales Toss-up Toss-upToss-upToss-up
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball Toss-up Toss-upToss-upToss-up
Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every two weeks throughout the election season.

Campaign finance

The chart below details the campaign finance reports in this election through March 31, 2018.



Satellite spending

  • On March 26, 2018, the American Action Network announced a $1 million ad campaign targeting California's 25th District and 25 other congressional districts. The group's 25th District ad asked voters to thank incumbent Steve Knight (R) for supporting the tax bill passed by Congress in December 2017.[34]
  • The Los Angeles Times reported on January 3, 2018, that the American Action Network had made a six-figure TV and digital ad buy in support of Steve Knight and three other Republican members of the California congressional delegation. The group's ads thank the members for their support for the tax bill that was passed by Congress in December 2017.[35]
  • The progressive super PAC Courage Campaign Super PAC reported spending $1,607.90 to oppose Knight in 2017.[36]
  • PAC for a Change, a political action committee led by former U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), reported spending $3,806.40 to oppose Knight through February 28, 2018.[37]

Debates and forums

April 28 debate

Bryan Caforio, Katie Hill, and Jess Phoenix participated in a debate on April 28. Click here for coverage of the debate.

March 15 candidate forum

Caforio, Hill, and Phoenix participated in a candidate forum on March 15. Click here for coverage of the debate.[16]

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 25th Congressional District the 235th most Republican nationally.[38]

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 0.97. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 0.97 points toward that party.[39]

State overview

Partisan control

This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in California heading into the 2018 elections.

Congressional delegation

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:

Demographics

Demographic data for California
 CaliforniaU.S.
Total population:38,993,940316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):155,7793,531,905
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).[40][41]

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 Democratic Party Hillary Clinton 61.7% Republican Party Donald Trump 31.6% 30.1%
2012 Democratic Party Barack Obama 60.2% Republican Party Mitt Romney 37.1% 23.1%
2008 Democratic Party Barack Obama 61.1% Republican Party John McCain 37% 24.1%
2004 Democratic Party John Kerry 54.4% Republican Party George W. Bush 44.4% 10%
2000 Democratic Party Al Gore 53.5% Republican Party 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 Democratic Party Kamala Harris 61.6% Democratic Party Loretta Sanchez 38.4% 23.2%
2012 Democratic Party Dianne Feinstein 62.5% Republican Party Elizabeth Emken 37.5% 25%
2010 Democratic Party Barbara Boxer 52.2% Republican Party Carly Fiorina 42.2% 10%
2006 Democratic Party Dianne Feinstein 59.5% Republican Party Richard Mountjoy 35.1% 24.4%
2004 Democratic Party Barbara Boxer 57.8% Republican Party Bill Jones 37.8% 20%
2000 Democratic Party Dianne Feinstein 55.9% Republican Party 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 Democratic Party Jerry Brown 60% Republican Party Neel Kashkari 40% 20%
2010 Democratic Party Jerry Brown 53.8% Republican Party Meg Whitman 40.9% 12.9%
2006 Republican Party Arnold Schwarzenegger 55.9% Democratic Party Phil Angelides 39.0% 16.9%
2002 Democratic Party Gray Davis 47.3% Republican Party 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 Democratic Party 39 73.5% Republican Party 14 26.4% D+25
2014 Democratic Party 39 73.5% Republican Party 14 26.4% D+25
2012 Democratic Party 38 71.7% Republican Party 15 28.3% D+23
2010 Democratic Party 34 64.1% Republican Party 19 35.8% D+15
2008 Democratic Party 34 64.1% Republican Party 19 35.8% D+15
2006 Democratic Party 34 64.1% Republican Party 19 35.8% D+15
2004 Democratic Party 33 62.3% Republican Party 20 37.7% D+13
2002 Democratic Party 33 62.3% Republican Party 20 37.7% D+13
2000 Democratic Party 32 61.5% Republican Party 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

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Daily Kos, "Check out our maps and analysis comparing 2016's presidential and congressional results by district," January 31, 2017
  2. ↑ Los Angeles Daily News, "Attorney Bryan Caforio seeks rematch against Rep. Steve Knight next year," May 14, 2017
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Katie Hill for Congress, "Join," accessed January 26, 2018
  4. ↑ Roll Call, "New Democrats' PAC adds 16 candidates to watch list," March 26, 2018
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named fec
  6. ↑ Press Pass LA, "Patton Oswalt, Piper Perabo, and more endorse Jess Phoenix for Congress," December 17, 2017
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Los Angeles Times, "For some California Democrats, early endorsements deliver boost in House races," January 30, 2018
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Los Angeles Times, "Here's how California's Democratic Party endorsements are shaping up this weekend in crucial House races," February 24, 2018
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 California Secretary of State, "Election dates and resources," accessed January 31, 2018
  10. ↑ Ballotpedia staff, "Phone call with the California Secretary of State's Office," January 31, 2018
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Bryan Caforio 2018 campaign website, "Meet Bryan," accessed March 30, 2018
  12. ↑ Katie Hill 2018 campaign website, "About Me," accessed March 30, 2018
  13. ↑ Katie Hill 2018 campaign website, "Issues," accessed March 30, 2018
  14. ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed March 13, 2014
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Information submitted on Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form on May 10, 2018
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Ventura County Star, "Rep. Steve Knight's Democratic foes make their case at forum," March 17, 2018
  17. ↑ Bryan Caforio for Congress, "Bryan Caforio earns overwhelming support from California Democratic Party delegates," January 27, 2018
  18. ↑ Facebook, "CSUN Young Democrats on November 29, 2017," accessed February 10, 2018
  19. ↑ Bryan Caforio for Congress, "Bryan Caforio announces run for California's 25th Congressional District," May 13, 2017
  20. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named caforioendorsements
  21. ↑ Elisabeth Moore, "Email exchange with Carlos Phoenix," May 22, 2018
  22. ↑ Smith initially endorsed Caforio but changed her endorsement to Hill in February 2018.
  23. ↑ The Signal, "Dems choice for 38th Assembly District changes support for 25th Congressional District," February 27, 2018
  24. ↑ Bryan Caforio 2018 campaign website, Bryan's Plan," accessed May 14, 2018
  25. ↑ Katie Hill 2018 campaign website, "Issues," accessed May 14, 2018
  26. ↑ Steve Knight 2018 campaign website, "Policy," accessed May 14, 2018
  27. ↑ Jess Phoenix 2018 campaign website, "Issues," accessed May 30, 2018
  28. ↑ The Signal, "VIDEO: 25th Congressional District candidates speak to The Signal," May 21, 2018
  29. ↑ This figure includes Pennsylvania districts that were redrawn by the state Supreme Court in early 2018 and districts that flipped in special elections.
  30. ↑ 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.
  31. ↑ 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.
  32. ↑ 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.
  33. ↑ 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.
  34. ↑ American Action Network, "American Action Network continues promoting tax reform with $1 million campaign," March 26, 2018
  35. ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Ads thank four California Republicans for their votes to pass tax plan," January 3, 2018
  36. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Courage Campaign Super PAC," accessed March 22, 2018
  37. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "PAC for a Change," accessed March 22, 2018
  38. ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
  39. ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
  40. ↑ California Demographics, "California Cities by Population," accessed April 2, 2018
  41. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "Quickfacts California," accessed April 2, 2018


California's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Alex Padilla (D)
Adam Schiff (D)
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
Ami Bera (D)
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
Adam Gray (D)
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
Ro Khanna (D)
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
Jim Costa (D)
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
Raul Ruiz (D)
District 26
District 27
District 28
Judy Chu (D)
District 29
Luz Rivas (D)
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
Ted Lieu (D)
District 37
District 38
District 39
District 40
Young Kim (R)
District 41
District 42
District 43
District 44
District 45
District 46
District 47
Dave Min (D)
District 48
District 49
District 50
District 51
District 52
Democratic Party (45)
Republican Party (9)


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