California's 45th Congressional District election, 2020 (March 3 top-two primary)

Elections in California, 2020

• Primary date: March 3
• Primary type: Top-two
• Registration deadline(s): Feb. 18
• Online registration: Yes
• Same-day registration: Yes

• Early voting starts: Varies locally
• Absentee/mail voting deadline(s): March 3 (postmarked); March 6 (received)
• Voter ID: No ID
• Poll times: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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Date of California presidential primary: March 3

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On the ballot: U.S. House • Congressional special elections • State Senate • State Assembly • Special state legislative • Local judges • State ballot measures • Local ballot measures • School boards • Municipal • Recalls • 

2022 → ← 2018
California's 45th Congressional District
Top-two primary General election
Election details
Filing deadline: December 6, 2019
Primary: March 3, 2020 General: November 3, 2020 Pre-election incumbent: Katie Porter (Democratic)
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voting in California
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid 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, 2020
See also
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Incumbent Katie Porter (D) and Greg Raths (R) were the top two finishers from among the seven candidates who ran in the March 3, 2020, top-two primary for California's 45th Congressional District. Porter, who was first elected in 2018, was the only Democrat who ran, alongside six Republicans. The only other candidates with more than 10% of the vote were Don Sedgwick (R) and Peggy Huang (R). Porter and Raths ran in the district's general election on November 3, 2020.

As of this election, one Democrat and one Republican had advanced from the district's primary in each congressional election since California's top-two primary system went into effect in 2011.

Media coverage and endorsements focused on four candidates in addition to Porter: Huang, Raths, Sedgwick, and Lisa Sparks (R).

On the Democratic side, Porter received endorsements from Democracy for America, EMILY's List, and NARAL. On the Republican side, Huang was endorsed by the Orange County Congress of Republicans and U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.). Raths was endorsed by Greater Irvine Republicans, the Combat Veterans For Congress PAC, and former U.S. Rep. Barry Goldwater Jr. (R-Calif.). Sedgwick received endorsements from former U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and former U.S. Rep. Ron Packard (R-Calif.). Sparks was endorsed by California State Assemblymen Phillip Chen (R) and Tyler Diep (R). To view a full list of endorsements, click here.

Rhonda Furin (R) and Christopher Gonzales (R) also ran in the primary.

In the 2018 general election, Porter defeated incumbent Mimi Walters (R) 52% to 48%. Major race rating outlets rated the general election as Lean Democratic or Likely Democratic. The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+3, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 3 percentage points more Republican than the national average. Click here to learn more about what's at stake in the general election.

Click on candidate names below to view their key messages:

Porter

Huang

Raths

Sedgwick

Sparks

For more information about the general election, click here.

Candidates and election results

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 45

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Katie Porter (D)	50.8	112,986
✔		Greg Raths (R)	17.9	39,942
		Don Sedgwick (R)	12.8	28,465
		Peggy Huang (R)	11.1	24,780
		Lisa Sparks (R)	4.0	8,861
		Christopher Gonzales (R)	2.4	5,443
		Rhonda Furin (R)	1.0	2,140

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 222,617
= 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

• Brian Forde (D)
• Julie Proctor (R)
• Mimi Walters (R)
• Brenton Woolworth (R)
• Ray Gennawey (R)
• Aditya Pai (D)

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways. Either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey or Ballotpedia staff created a profile after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. Ballotpedia staff compiled profiles based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements.

Katie Porter

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: Yes

Political Office: 

U.S. House (Assumed office: 2019)

Biography:  Porter graduated with a B.A. from Yale University in 1996 and received a J.D. from Harvard University in 2001. At the time of her 2020 campaign, her professional experience included working as a law professor and as a consumer and bankruptcy attorney.

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Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

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Porter described herself as "a middle-class mother of three and consumer advocate who has spent decades taking on the big banks that hurt middle-class families – and winning."

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Porter’s campaign website said, "Katie refuses to take a dime from Corporate PACs and, in Congress, she will always stand up to the powerful special interests and leaders of both parties – starting with Donald Trump – to do what’s right for Orange County families."

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Show sources

Sources: Katie Porter 2020 campaign website, "Home," accessed February 2, 2020; Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "PORTER, Katie (1974-)," accessed February 2, 2020 Abbey Smith, “Email communication with Erica Kwiatkowski, Campaign Manager Katie Porter for Congress," January 17, 2018

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House California District 45 in 2020.

Peggy Huang

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

Yorba Linda City Council (Assumed office: 2014), Yorba Linda Mayor (2017), Yorba Linda Mayor Pro Tem (2016)

Submitted Biography:  "I serve the people of California as a Deputy Attorney General. I was born in Taiwan & came to America at age 7. Graduated from University High School in Irvine; earned my Bachelor's Degree at UC Berkeley & Juris Doctorate from University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. During law school I interned at the school's Community Legal Services & worked on family law & small claims cases. Interned with the Senate Judiciary Committee working on bills in the areas of family law, domestic violence, & child abuse. I also worked for Family Services of America in WDC, worked on the Welfare Reform Act where I authored 2 bills and worked on the Adoption Assistance Act & the Illegal Immigrant Reform & Immigrant Responsibility Act. I also helped start a battered women's shelter in metro WDC. While in my 3rd year of law school, I worked at the US Attorney's Office involved with drug busts; civil rights violation cases & the Unabomber case (death penalty provision). I serve as the President of the BOD for Lifesteps Children & Family Services providing services to developmentally delayed children statewide. Currently I serve as a City Councilwoman & on the Transportation Corridor Agencies & Orange County Mosquito & Vector Control District; the Regional Council for SoCal Agencies of Governments & Chairs the Community, Education, & Human Development Committee & Regional Housing Needs Assessment. Mom to 2 teenage daughters (attending public school) & married to a Primary Care Physician"

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Key Messages

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

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Health Care Reform

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Immigration Reform

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Jobs & the Economy

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House California District 45 in 2020.

Greg Raths

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

Mission Viejo City Council (Assumed office: 2014), Mission Viejo Mayor (2019), Mission Viejo Mayor Pro Tem (2015, 2018)

Submitted Biography:  "i served our nation for 30 years in the United States Marine Corps, retiring at the rank of Colonel. I am decorated combat fighter pilot and flew in over 75 combat missions during Operation Desert Storm, Southern Watch & Restore Hope. I was then promoted to a F/A-18 Hornet Fighter Squadron Commanding Officer aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. I was then asked to serve as the Chief of Staff for the White House Military Office. Education is also important to me, and I have earned multiple degrees including a Master's Degree from the National Defense University, a BS from Arizona State University in Business and a BA from California State University, Fullerton in History and Political Science. I have been part of the Orange County community for many years and am blessed to call this place home. I came to Mission Viejo in 1978 as a young First Lieutenant, where I was assigned to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at the Marine Corps Air Station in El Toro. During this time, I met and married Luci, and together we have three children and six grandchildren. Since retiring from the United States Marine Corps, I have continued my service and dedication to those who have served. I currently serve as Vice-Chairman of the Orange County Veterans Advisory Council, where I am able to assist veterans in my local community. I was first elected to the Mission Viejo City Council in 2014, and re-elected in 2018. In 2019, I am proud to have been unanimously appointed by my colleagues on the Mission Viejo City Council to Mayor. I am also a member of many community organizations including President of the Mission Viejo Rotary Club, Charter member of the Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce, Mission Viejo Elks Lodge 2444, Mission Viejo VFW Post 6024, American Legion Post 291, OSO Valley Greenbelt HOA Board-member, St. Kilian's Knights of Columbus Council 6332, Association of Naval Aviation, Marine Corps Aviation Association, and UniteOC Toastmasters."

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Key Messages

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

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Service Before Self

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Standing together to strengthen our community.

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Integrity. Accountability. Respect. Honor.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House California District 45 in 2020.

Don Sedgwick

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

Laguna Hills City Council (Assumed office: 2014), Laguna Hills Mayor (2017, 2019), Laguna Hills Mayor Pro Tem (2016)

Submitted Biography:  "I am a proud American, husband and father. Mayor of Laguna Hills; small business owner; candidate for Congress CA 45."

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Key Messages

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

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Putting Orange County values first

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Solve veteran homelessness

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Strengthen our military and fight to keep us safe

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House California District 45 in 2020.

Lisa Sparks

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

Orange County Board of Education (Assumed office: 2018)

Biography:  Sparks graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a B.A. in journalism and French in 1988, an M.A. in health communication and aging in 1993, and a Ph.D. in the same field in 1998. As of her 2020 campaign, her professional experience included working as a professor and researcher.

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Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

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Sparks described herself as "a mother, wife, educator, public servant, leader, and a consensus builder committed to making Orange County a better place for our families to live, work, and thrive."

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Sparks stated, "Instead of fighting for policies to help Californians, Rep. Katie Porter is busy campaigning for Democrats in Iowa."

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Show sources

Sources: Lisa Sparks 2020 campaign website, "Meet Lisa," accessed February 2, 2020 Facebook, "Lisa Sparks on January 13, 2020," accessed February 2, 2020; LinkedIn, "Lisa Sparks, PhD," accessed February 2, 2020

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House California District 45 in 2020.

Endorsements

This section lists endorsements issued in this election. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please email us.

Top-two primary endorsements
Endorsement	Porter	Gonzales	Huang	Raths	Sedgwick	Sparks
Elected officials
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.)			✔
State Sen. Ling Ling Chang (R)			✔
State Assemblyman Phillip Chen (R)			✔			✔
State Assemblyman Tyler Diep (R)						✔
Orange County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen			✔	✔
Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner			✔	✔
Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do			✔		✔
Orange County Board of Education Trustee Mari Barke			✔
Orange County Board of Education Trustee Ken Williams			✔
Irvine Mayor Christina Shea			✔	✔
La Habra Mayor James Gomez			✔
Newport Beach Mayor Diane Dixon			✔
Stanton Mayor David Shawver			✔
Westminster Mayor Tri Ta			✔
Yorba Linda Mayor Tara Campbell			✔
San Marino Mayor Steven Huang			✔
San Juan Capistrano Mayor Troy Bourne					✔
Laguna Hills Mayor Janine Heft					✔
Laguna Hills Mayor Pro Tempore Erica Pezold					✔
Laguna Woods Mayor Noel Hatch					✔
Stanton Mayor David John Shawver					✔
Lake Forest Mayor Neeki Moatazedi					✔
Rancho Santa Margarita Mayor Brad McGirr					✔
Cypress Mayor Rob Johnson					✔
Anaheim Councilman Trevor O’Neil			✔
Brea Councilman Marty Simonoff			✔
Brea Councilwoman Cecilia Hupp			✔
Fullerton Councilwoman Jennifer Fitzgerald			✔
Fullerton Councilman Bruce Whitaker			✔	✔
Huntington Beach Councilman Mike Posey			✔
Irvine Councilman Anthony Kuo			✔		✔
La Palma Councilman Peter Kim			✔
Laguna Niguel Councilwoman Sandy Rains			✔
Laguna Niguel Councilman Fred Minagar			✔	✔
Mission Viejo Councilman Ed Sachs			✔		✔
Monterey Park Councilman Stephen Lam			✔
Newport Beach Councilman Will O’Neill			✔
Orange Councilman Mike Alvarez			✔
Santa Ana Councilwoman Cecilia Iglesias			✔
San Clemente Councilwoman Laura Ferguson			✔	✔	✔
Tustin Councilman Allan Bernstein			✔
Tustin Councilman Barry Cooper			✔
Westminster Councilman Chi Charlie Nguyen			✔
Yorba Linda Councilman Gene Hernandez			✔
Yorba Linda Councilwoman Beth Haney			✔
Yorba Linda Councilman Carlos Rodriguez			✔
Mission Viejo Commissioner and former Mayor Robert Breton				✔
Rancho Santa Margarita Commissioner John Christopoulos				✔
Mission Viejo Councilwoman and former Mayor Trish Kelly				✔
Lake Forest Councilman Thomas Cagley				✔
Laguna Hills Councilman Dave Wheeler				✔	✔
Laguna Niguel Councilman Eddie Rose				✔
Orange Councilman Chip Monaco				✔
San Juan Capistrano Councilman Derek Reeve				✔
Anaheim Councilwoman Lucille Kring				✔
Brea Councilman Steven Vargas				✔
Huntington Beach Councilman Patrick Brenden				✔
Los Alamitos Councilman Dean Grose				✔
Aliso Viejo Councilman David Harrington					✔
Aliso Viejo Councilman Bill Phillips					✔
Los Alamitos Councilwoman Shelley Hasselbrink					✔
Buena Park Councilwoman Elizabeth Swift					✔
Lake Forest Councilman Dwight Robinson					✔
North Orange County Community College District Trustee Ryan Bent			✔
Rancho Santiago Community College District Trustee Phil Yarbrough			✔
Rancho Santiago Community College District Trustee Zake Hernandez				✔
Fullerton Joint Union High School District Trustee Chester Jeng			✔
Irvine Unified School District Trustee Ira Glasky			✔
Orange Unified School District Trustee John Ortega			✔
Orange Unified School District Trustee Rick Ledesma			✔
Fountain Valley School District Trustee Jim Cunneen			✔
Tustin Unified School District Board of Education President Francine Scinto					✔
Tustin Unified School District Board of Education Member Tammie Bullard					✔
Municipal Water District of Orange County Director Brett Barbre			✔
Yorba Linda Water District Director J. Wayne Miller			✔
Yorba Linda Water District Director Brooke Jones			✔
Moulton Niguel Water District Vice President Donald Froelich					✔
Rossmoor Community Services Director Jeff Barke			✔
Orange County Assessor Claude Parrish				✔
Individuals
Former U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R)					✔
Former U.S. Rep. Barry Goldwater Jr. (R-Calif.)				✔
Former U.S. Rep. Ron Packard (R-Calif.)					✔
Former state Sen. John Lewis (R)			✔
Former state Assemblyman Scott Baugh (R)			✔
Former state Assemblywoman Young Kim (R)			✔
Former state Assemblyman and Orange County Supervisor Jim Silva (R)			✔
Former state Assemblyman Travis Allen (R)				✔
Former state Assemblywoman Diane Harkey (R)					✔
Former Orange County Board of Education Trustee Linda Lindholm			✔
Former Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich			✔
Former Mission Viejo Mayor Dave Leckness				✔
Former Laguna Hills Mayor Barbara Kogerman				✔
Former Placentia Mayor Scott Nelson				✔
Former San Juan Capistrano Mayor Brian Maryott				✔
Former Laguna Hills Mayor Dore Gilbert					✔
Former Laguna Hills Mayor Joe Lautenschleger					✔
Former Laguna Hills Mayor Melody Carruth					✔
Former Laguna Hills Mayor Allan Songstad					✔
Former Villa Park Mayor Vince Rossini					✔
Former San Clemente Mayor Tim Brown					✔
Former Tustin Mayor Al Murray					✔
Former Mission Viejo Mayor Frank Ury					✔
Former Mission Viejo Mayor Robert Breton					✔
Former Anaheim Councilman James Vanderbilt			✔
Former Yorba Linda Councilman Tom Lindsey			✔
Former Lake Forest Councilman David Bass					✔
Former Orange Planning Commissioner Pat Buttress			✔
Orange County Deputy District Attorney Ray Gennawey				✔
Organizations
Asian American Action Fund	✔
California League of Conservation Voters	✔
League of Conservation Voters Action Fund	✔
Democracy for America	✔
EMILY's List	✔
Equality California	✔
NARAL	✔
NIAC Action	✔
Sierra Club Independent Action	✔
Stonewall Democrats	✔
Brady	✔
Stanford College Republicans		✔
Asian American Freedom PAC			✔
Asian Industry B2B			✔
Chinese American Citizens Alliance (Orange County)			✔
Make Cali Great			✔
Orange County Congress of Republicans			✔
The Orange Club			✔
Combat Veterans For Congress PAC				✔
Greater Irvine Republicans				✔

Timeline

2020

• January 2020 (click to collapse)

  January

  • January 31, 2020: Year-end campaign finance reports covering all fundraising and spending through December 31, 2019, were due. Porter led the candidates in total receipts with around $3.5 million, followed by Sedgwick with $826,000, Sparks with $480,000, Huang with $430,000, and Raths with $409,000.

  2019

  • August 2019 (click to expand)

    August

    • August 15-18, 2019: Fabrizio, Lee & Associates conducted a poll for the Raths campaign in which Porter received 46% support, Raths received 10%, Sedgwick received 3%, Huang received 2%, and Sparks received 1%. The poll had a margin of error of +/- 5.7 percentage points.

  Campaign themes

  See also: Campaign themes

  Campaign themes were available on campaign websites for the following candidates as of February 20, 2020.

  Rhonda Furin

  Furin’s campaign website stated the following:

  “	ISSUES EDUCATION I have been an educator all my life, but I am smart enough to know that I am always learning and I can’t possibly know all the answers. Bureaucrats in Washington D.C. think they know all the answers but we know that that’s far from the case. Common Core has been a complete disaster for students. Our education system should not be one-size-fits-all but localized as much as possible. Some positive options include school choice programs, merit-based teacher pay, and charter schools. STOPPING SOCIALISM Nancy Pelosi. Ihlan Omar. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Bernie Sanders. They’re all leading the charge to turn our country into a socialist dystopia. When I am in Congress I will swear an oath to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic. Unlike AOC and Omar, I will bear true faith and allegiance to this. It is the free market principles that I believe in, that our Founding Fathers believed in that allowed this country to flourish, that has brought more people out of poverty than any other government program, and will continue to do so if we allow it to. BRINGING BACK THE CALIFORNIA DREAM If California were a sovereign nation, it would rank as the world’s fifth-largest economy. However many Californians are being left behind. Housing has become unaffordable. Regulations on business have gotten out of control. US News and Reports ranked California as the worst quality of life in America. We can bring back the prosperity that great people like then-Governor Ronald Reagan lead us to. A good start would be to cut the red tape to bring jobs to our state, cut taxes so families can keep more in their pocket, and fix our crumbling infrastructure.	”
  —Rhonda Furin

  Christopher Gonzales

  Gonzales’ campaign website stated the following:

  “	OUR GOALS ADVANCE THE MIDDLE CLASS Advocate for additional tax relief for middle class families Continue economic growth and employment opportunities Lower education costs and find a solution for the college debt crisis Preserve and increase Social Security benefits REFORM OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM Improve coverage and affordability Reduce the cost of overpriced prescription drugs Expedite FDA reform and the drug approval process PRESERVE OUR FREEDOMS AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS Defend the 1st and 2nd Amendments Ensure the Right to Life Enhance national defense and border security Support and defend traditional American values PROPERLY MANAGE GOVERNMENT RESOURCES Reform government and eliminate waste Reduce the national debt and balance the budget Terminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood	”
  —Christopher Gonzales

  Peggy Huang

  Huang’s campaign website stated the following:

  “	Issues Public Safety & National Defense I will always support tough laws that punish violent criminals and keep our communities safe. I have been a strong advocate for setting up neighborhood watches in our cities. Police officers cannot be at every street and the first line of defense for our safety is our own citizens. Neighborhood watch is a great extension of volunteer police services. I will always stand beside and support the men and women of law enforcement who stand on the thin blue line between. I believe they represent the foundation for the enforcement of our laws and thereby must be acknowledged for their important role. I do believe that there are areas where we can improve our criminal justice system and modify some of our laws to keep nonviolent offenders out of prison, and directed through the reform structures that will benefit all of us. We must however have a strong respect for property rights and punish crimes that degrade our business community. I favor lowering the petty theft amount to $500, allowing law enforcement to take action on crimes at the early point of a potential habitual pattern of offense. I also support the three strikes law for violent/serious offenders. Healthcare Reform I support a market-based system (fee of service, health care savings accounts, direct patient care, managed care, and Medicare Advantage) and coverage for pre-existing conditions. Additionally, I want to work with insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies on ways to lower costs without reducing reimbursements to healthcare providers. I also want to work with the food industry on promoting healthy eating and lifestyles as preventative care. Furthermore, external costs on the health care system such as malpractice lawsuits and failure to sign a “do not resuscitate” have contributed to the high cost of health care. I support a cap on punitive damages and encourage patients to sign a DNR. Sadly, our national political discourse has descended into platitudes and sound bites, providing little to no substance on important issues. Some Democrats, including the current occupant in Washington who is supposed to be representing our district, advocates for “Medicare For All” which amounts to Medicare for None. There are no details offered in the “Medicare for All” proposal by these Democrats. If “Medicare for all” is designed to be like the current Medicare model, there would be a diminishment of service quality, explosive cost increases, and reduction in services for seniors and the most vulnerable among us. Jobs & Economy I believe in the free market system and that government should not be picking winners and losers in our economy. I believe that our local, state, and national economy does best when trade is fair, free, and open trade. We should look to avoid tariffs on foreign goods just as we should oppose limitations on our exports to other countries. Likewise, subsidies should not be given to wealthy corporations at the expense of small business, entrepreneurs, and hard-working families. Several economic studies have shown that revenues projected from tax policies do not match with the tax incentives. I support more technical/vocational jobs while looking to the jobs of the future for our children and grandchildren’s generation. Improve Education I believe that every student deserves the opportunity to succeed in life. This is why education is among the most important investments we can make to guarantee a brighter future. We know that the best performing students are those which learn in environments with high levels of safety, quality instructors, proper tools for learning, and a culture that lifts expectations. We also know that every child learns differently, and that the emergence of technology has rapidly changed the face of our economy. The jobs of the future will require more critical thinking and communication skills, especially as they overlap STEAM Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. While many of the public schools in our district are excellent, there are some that are falling behind. I believe innovation and choice are important catalysts for improving education across the board. We are fortunate to have some excellent private and charter schools in our district as well. No matter what type of school, we don’t need bureaucrats in Sacramento or Washington DC pushing our teachers and students to follow the mandates of their social experimentation agendas. Our classrooms should empower teachers to do what they do best, allowing children to learn and grow as opposed to teaching to the test. I will be a strong advocate for inclusion of vocational and workforce skill training in our high schools. Not all students should go to college, some do not want to, others do and never finish, leaving behind lost opportunity and mountains of debt. We must respect that students have interests or aptitude for enduring jobs that will provide a good living. I support making personal finance and what was once called home economics classes mandatory for all high school students. The class (like those offered to foster children) will teach budgeting, how to apply for a job, and loan repayment/debt management. Student Loans I support low taxes and helping families lower the burden of student loans. I propose that we work with banks on finding a compromise that would allow interest-free loans while a student is in school. Under such a proposal there would be a cap on the number of years an individual can be enrolled in school so that we put an end to the endless debt cycle and the failed strategy of financing living costs for perpetual students. Employees are the greatest assets of our country’s business. If properly structured, I would support a tax policy that would provide incentives for businesses who would cover the cost of student loans for their employees. Additionally these employees would not pay taxes on the money granted for loan repayment. This is a win-win for employers and employees. Reform Immigration Our immigration system needs to be reformed. I support expanding work visas and student visas that could be converted to green cards. Foreign students who come to America for graduate schools are often the top students in their classes. They obtain a valuable education and can contribute to our economy. Because we train them, they should be allowed to stay in the U.S. and be a great addition to our workforce. I support strong border enforcement and thorough screening of immigrants. We also have to reform the visa quota system assigned to each country. Historically, fewer people from Europe apply for visas to legally immigrate to the U.S. and visas go “unused” for those countries. Central America and Asian countries have more people who want to immigrate but the limitation on visas cause them to endure long wait times. As a result, residents from countries that have long wait times come to America illegally or overstay their tourist visas. Reducing Traffic The 45th Congressional District is facing systemic traffic pressure on the 405 and 5 Freeways as well as on our local streets. The safety of our communities and the quality of life is tied to the amount of time they spent idling in traffic, especially in our local neighborhoods. This is why I have spent so much of my time working with the federal, state, and county agencies on a path to better infrastructure. As a board member on our regional transportation Joint Power Authority, I have stood up for our constituents and led the effort to reduce traffic. I will work to find federal transportation dollars for regional mobility and ensure that we get our fair share in tax dollars for our district. Protecting Our Environment/Fire Protection We have several wildlife preserve areas in CD-45. Wildlife and forest management is necessary to ensure that residents are safe in wildlife interface zones. I intend to work with the constituents in my district to preserve and protect our natural wildlife areas. I will work with our local officials and firefighters to ensure that natural resources are preserved and firefighters can safely do their jobs. I also believe in good forest management to reduce fuel for wildfires. I think city planners, environmentalists, fire fighters, and federal forest management have to work together on forest management and wildlife interface. To combat fire, I propose that we install these (link to article) $50,000 Heli-tanks to protect residents and structures from wildfires in urban-wildlife interfaces.	”
  —Peggy Huang

  Greg Raths

  Raths' campaign website stated the following:

  “	Issues Veterans California is home to 2,000,000 Veterans. President Trump’s Forever GI Bill was enacted in 2017 and was supported by every member of Congress. In other words, both major parties, Republicans and Democrats, agreed unanimously to support our Veterans nationwide in all arenas of life: healthcare, housing, employment, education, to name a few. We must ensure the proper enforcement and efficiency of this bill in order to serve the ones who have served us. The VA has made significant improvement since the Trump Administration; nonetheless, there are some key areas where we can improve. Mental health disorders such as PTSD and depression are among the top contributors for the decline in the overall well-being of a Veteran. Suicide rates have increased among the Veterans and non-veterans at the same level, i.e. approximately 20 suicides per day. However, the suicide rate increased among Veterans who failed to receive quality healthcare compared to Veterans that did receive healthcare. To properly help the Veterans assimilate in the civilian life, we must hold our government accountable to do its job. We must hold ourselves accountable by allowing a smooth and effective transition for all Veterans into civilian life. If we believe that healthcare is something that should be made a priority for all Americans, then certainly, Veterans should not be alienated from this top-level healthcare. Most importantly, it is our civic duty to ensure that Veteran care in all arenas of life is one of the top priorities. Orange County Veteran Cemetery Orange County Veterans do not have the option of choosing Orange County as a place to be laid to rest. I am advocating we build a Veteran Cemetery at the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in Irvine. Our neighbor counties: Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Diego, all have a veteran cemetery; it is time we build one for Veterans here in the 45th Congressional District. I will work with the Irvine City Council and the California State Legislature to expedite the creation of an Orange County Veteran Cemetery. Economy California is the highest taxed state in the Country. We have given $419 billion to the state of California and another $370 billion to the Federal Government while both the state and federal government run billions and even trillions in deficits and debt. Since the 2018 election, taxes have gone up in Orange County cities by 3%. If the taxes we pay can’t even be used effectively or efficiently, why should we give the government more? The last thing an average middle-class family needs is an increase in taxes. We need a tax break with a cut in both state and federal spending. We must help families stay out of poverty or becoming homeless by reducing the tax burden many families are saddled with. Over 50% of the average Californians income goes to taxes, and the state and federal governments are still running deficits! I oppose any and all tax increases. We need to spend our money more effectively and efficiently, and stop burdeining our citizenry with unncessary taxes. Our national debt has doubled since 2009 and is projected to exceed annual GDP by 2026. It is unacceptable to borrow from future generations. If our debt continues to increase, we face higher interest rates that will reduce investment and damper economic growth permanently. Our credit will also significantly suffer as foreign investors will be less likely to purchase our debt, causing the value of the U.S. dollar to collapse. It’s time to start making some common-sense decisions about our nation’s financial obligations before it is too late. And we can start this by making effective choices in Orange County. Border Security The government is neither a humanitarian agency nor a non-profit religious organization; it is solely responsible for the people who reside within its’ borders. Our country, our local economy, and local culture have been enriched by those who come to our country seeking the American Dream and a chance at a better life. But millions of illegal immigrants continually crossing our border without our knowledge, thus threatening our national security. I oppose amnesty. Those who are not American Citizens or legal immigrants, do not have a right to our services. We must secure our borders and stop playing games. Legal immigration is a tremendous benefit to our country. But in order to protect our nation and reform the immigration process, we must know who is and is not entering our country. That cannot be done without securing our border. Make no mistake –I am empathetic to the obstacles of our neighboring nations; however, it is my civic duty to serve the people in our country first. Serving the people of the United States of America is my number one priority; similarly, it is my recommendation that other nations should step-up so that their vulnerable population is not forced to break our laws, such as crossing the border illegally. Healthcare Since the inception of our nation, healthcare debate has always followed economic debate, making it one of the top two issues near and dear to all Americans. For as long as I can remember, I was taught to serve and to never leave a fellow American behind. I hold the same values when it comes to healthcare and its relationship to people. Everyone has the right to affordable healthcare no man or woman should be left behind. While there is no doubt that every individual should have access to healthcare, the solutions to achieving this goal is subjective, i.e. it varies from group. Insurance ·Veteran Healthcare ·Small Business Employer-Employee Healthcare ·Corporate Health Care ·Student Healthcare ·Disabled, Vulnerable Healthcare ·Crisis Mode Healthcare ·Senior Healthcare The needs of each group is specific and too large to generalize it under one-plan-fits-all approach. For example, an annual blood screening is enough for a typical college-age student; however, this is not the case for our seniors and at times, among the vulnerable and disable population. I will work to tackle healthcare one group at a time. Mental Health Psychiatric hospitalizations have increased in Orange County in the last five years. Anxiety and depression are the leading mental health diagnosis among teenagers. Typically, patients go through 5-6 psychiatric hospitalizations before they are stabilized. Finding the right medication is challenging and a journey in itself. With proper guidance and effective advocacy, mental health issues can be resolved; however, if left unchecked, it can add to homelessness and rise in crime. Prescription Drugs and Pharmaceuticals We must carefully assess and enforce effective prescribing procedures. Opioid addiction is an epidemic across the nation and Orange County is not an exception. Approximately, 130 people die in America daily due to opioid overdose. One answer to this is to hold doctors accountable in their prescribing practices. Another answer is to generate innovative methods to dispose unwanted medication, thereby, preventing unethical distribution of drugs. We must also work with the FBI to go after the criminal elements that are distributing prescription opioid drugs through the dark web and inside the US postal system. National Security As much as I am passionate about Veterans, healthcare and our economy, we will not be able to talk about them if we overlook national security issues. Given that I know my way around the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. and Congress it should not come to you as a surprise that I am well versed in national security issues. Homegrown terrorism, international terrorism, manufactured global health crisis, nuclear weapons across the globe are problems that must be addressed. Issues in the Western Hemisphere, Middle East, Asia, Africa, Eastern-Europe are all the regions that affect Orange County directly and indirectly when it comes to implementing strategic domestic and foreign policy. My world and national experience make me a perfect fit to go to Washington, D.C. to work on these critical problems.	”
  —Greg Raths

  Don Sedgwick

  Sedgwick's campaign website stated the following:

  “	ISSUES SECURING OUR NATION The core constitutional function of Government is to protect our nation. With a strong and engaged defense we can keep our country safe. Congress must prioritize defense spending to revive our military without ballooning the national debt. Our main focus should be funding technology development and modernization. I’ll take a tough line against foreign adversaries by supporting military innovation to maintain superiority in both our conventional and cyber warfare capabilities against Russia, China and other rogue regimes. In Congress, I’ll make sure our armed forces and law enforcement officials have the tools they need to fight the war on terror. I understand that fighting terrorism doesn’t just happen abroad and that we must remain vigilant to ensure we are always one step ahead of terrorist threats at home. ENDING VETERAN HOMELESSNESS California is facing a homelessness crisis. The sheer number of homeless individuals living on our streets is staggering. A shamefully high percentage of our homeless are veterans. After 15 long years of war, these heroes have returned home and need our help. They served our country; now it’s time we serve them. We must improve the quality of life for all of California’s veterans, especially those who currently find themselves on the street. I’ll fight for more permanent supportive housing units for homeless veterans and their families. Because veteran homelessness is frequently associated with inadequate mental healthcare, I’ll demand that Congress and the VA prioritize getting our heroes the medical benefits and care they deserve. I’ll demand accountability at the VA, to cut the bureaucracy that continues to deny our valued veterans the timely, quality care they’ve been promised, and consistently deliver for our veterans. I’ll also fight for support to local communities that increase access to mental health treatment services for veterans and their families. FIGHTING FOR GOOD SCHOOLS Education should be a local issue. But federal intervention and Washington bureaucracy continue to drag down educational standards in California. I believe experienced teachers, dedicated school board members and engaged parents should be empowered to make critical educational decisions on the local level, where local needs and desired outcomes are best understood. I know this local approach works because I did it for 18 years on the Saddleback Valley Unified School Board. As a parent and school board member, I fought for smaller class sizes, high-tech vocational programs and stricter teaching standards, leading to high school graduation rates that are currently at all- time highs. But it wasn’t easy, with government red tape seemingly blocking common-sense local efforts at almost every turn. Parents should not feel uncomfortable sending their children to public schools out of fear that a social agenda will be taught, an agenda that might be inconsistent with what they are teaching in the home. Teachers should teach what they teach best — reading, writing, math, and science, with arts, athletics, leadership and vocational training being offered, too. Education cannot be governed with a one-size-fits-all approach, and yet that’s the only approach Washington knows! That’s why I oppose national mandates, and any required uniformity that stifles our teachers, hobbles local school boards and parents, and takes the creativity out of teaching and learning. CREATING QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE America has the finest healthcare system in the world, but it only works for those who can afford to access it. I believe that every American should have access to quality, affordable healthcare from which they cannot be turned away. Obamacare, which was once touted as a universal solution, instead saddled millions of Americans with skyrocketing premiums, limited choices and burdensome taxes and regulations. Again and again, Washington politicians have dazzled voters with grand schemes for reforming healthcare, but the reality has fallen far short of the promise. In Congress, I will work towards meaningful systematic reform that gives patients control over their own healthcare choices, and does not burden them with excessive costs. I will support healthcare reform that takes power and control away from Washington regulators, and gives it back to states and localities to help their individual markets provide more choices, protect insurance consumers and better meet the needs of their residents. Allow americans to shop across state lines for health insurance, and allow insurance companies and institutions to offer large varieties of options for insurance, including low cost alternative insurance plans. BALANCING OUR NATION’S BUDGET Congress, not the President, controls the power of the purse. It’s Congress’ job to pass a budget, but rather than do the hard work of bipartisan compromise, Washington politicians have repeatedly “kicked the can down the road,” jumping from one fiscal deadline to the next with short-term band-aid spending bills instead of a real plan. The result? Constant partisan squabbling, billions in wasteful spending and painful government shutdowns. It’s a national outrage. Congress must do its job. We must cut billions in wasteful spending from our next – and all future – budgets. The Federal Debt surpassed $22 trillion this year, and its escalation is only accelerating. In Congress, I’ll work to drive down the debt by cutting unnecessary spending and putting deficit reduction back on Congress’ agenda. I know how to tame government budgets. In my time on the City Council and as Mayor of Laguna Hills, we implemented measures that are projected to soon make Laguna Hills one of the few cities in California that is debt-free. I know balanced budgets and debt reduction are possible, because I’ve done it! I am committed to getting a real and workable budget out of Congress – so committed, in fact, that I support a “No Budget, No Pay provision.” That means if Congress doesn’t pass a budget, we don’t get paid. It’s time the politicians put their money where their mouth is. IMPROVING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY I run a small business in Orange County and one thing I’ve learned is that when people keep more of their money they’ll invest it – growing their business and creating more jobs. I understand first hand how legislation affects small businesses. I’ll slash burdensome regulations that hold back growth. Trump’s tax reform was a step in the right direction but it hurts high tax states like California disproportionally by cutting the amount of state and local taxes (SALT) that Californians can write off. In Congress, I’ll fight to reinstate the SALT deduction in the tax law to protect every Californian. BORDER SECURITY AND ENDING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION America has the right to control its borders and keep our citizens safe. The southern border must be secured, and that starts with a physical barrier to protect our homeland from drug smugglers, human traffickers and gangs. I will always support a nation that welcomes immigrants, but we must do so in an orderly, firm, and just way by enforcing our immigration laws and fairly adjudicating immigration applications while protecting Americans. We can firmly end illegal immigration, while treating the applicants with compassion. To end unlawful, undocumented immigration we need to cut out the root of the problem by eliminating the employment of illegal residents, mandating that employers use a modern employee verification system. Without the possibility of work, they will not come. In addition, I support legislation that will put an end to the ongoing abuse of our asylum laws, while still protecting legitimate asylum seekers. We must streamline the U.S. asylum system by increasing the number of judges to help clear the immigration court backlog. In Congress, I’ll stand up to California’s Sanctuary State law that frees and shields criminals by restricting cooperation between local police and federal law enforcement agencies. Sanctuary Cities are unconstitutional, unlawful and unsafe. PROTECTING OUR RIGHTS As your next Republican Congressman I will fight for limited government and defend the rights of the individual, so you can make your own choices. I will always vote to protect and preserve our Second Amendment rights. I will not let liberals take away our guns, dismantle our way of life or infringe on our constitutional rights. Free speech is under attack in America, especially on university and college campuses. There’s no exception to the First Amendment. I am committed to defending Americans’ first freedom at institutions of higher education. I will fiercely defend freedom of religion. Religious freedoms are under attack in our country like never before. I believe in the separation of church and state, but our laws and our public discourse should not discount or discourage respect for deity, our faiths or the faiths of those around us. I will defend every American’s right to worship according to his or her conscience, and won’t allow our voices to be silenced in the public square just because our social and political views may be rooted in our respective faiths.	”
  —Don Sedgwick

  Lisa Sparks

  Sparks' campaign website stated the following:

  “	On the Issues Our taxes are too high, gas is outrageously expensive, and a liberal socialist agenda is hurting the economy. A failure of leadership in Washington, D.C. has hurt Orange County residents and we definitely deserve better. Lower Taxes Californians pay the highest income, sales, and gas taxes. I pledge to vote against every tax increase, work to lower the tax burden on all Californians, and oppose any attempts to increase the federal gas tax. Create Jobs A rampant socialist agenda and over-regulations are hurting California businesses. I’ll promote free market principles that grow jobs in California and spur the economy. Stop Illegal Immigration A strong and secure border makes our country safer. Cities should not work against our nation’s security and shield illegal immigrants. We need to invest in our border and end the practice of sanctuary cities. Take Care of Our Veterans Our veterans are a national treasure and deserve the highest quality of care we can give. I’ll fight to restore accountability at the VA to ensure veterans are getting the necessary healthcare they need and deserve in a timely manner. Prioritize Public Safety Public safety is the most fundamental responsibility of government and I’ll make sure our law enforcement officials have the necessary resources to be tough on crime. I’ll also continue to fight the early release of convicted felons that endanger our families and communities. Establish a Strong National Security Promote peace and prosperity through a strong military and national defense. For America to continue to lead globally, we need to invest in our military and protect our nation from those who attack our ideals. From cyber-attacks to foreign affairs, America needs a defense system built for this century. Make Healthcare Accessible Americans deserve quality, affordable, and accessible health care that covers those with pre-existing conditions and gives Americans access to affordable prescription drugs that they need. Medicare-for-All or the government takeover of healthcare is not the answer when trying to fix our broken system. Improve Education As a mother, I had three children go through the Orange County public school system, and I saw first-hand how broken our education system is. Our classrooms are too full, the curricula is often not innovative with a one size fits all approach that is failing, and our teachers lack the necessary resources our students need to succeed. I’ll fight to ensure Orange County families have school choice, improve the quality of our education, modernize our schools and provide innovative 21st century classrooms, and hold our administrators accountable for student performance.	”
  —Lisa Sparks

  Campaign advertisements

  This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.

  Rhonda Furin

  
  A sample ad from the candidate's Facebook page is embedded below. Click here to see the candidate's Facebook Video page.

  
  

  Christopher Gonzales

  "Chris Gonzales for Congress, v2" - Gonzales campaign ad, released January 30, 2020

  Peggy Huang

  "Peggy Huang For Congress" - Huang campaign ad, released January 6, 2020

  Greg Raths

  "One Last Mission" - Raths campaign ad, released Febraury 5, 2020

  "We Can Do Better" - Raths campaign ad, released January 3, 2020

  "Quality Healthcare" - Raths campaign ad, released January 3, 2020

  "You Have My Word" - Raths campaign ad, released January 3, 2020

  "Serving With Integrity" - Raths campaign ad, released November 30, 2019

  Don Sedgwick

  Supporting Sedgwick

  "Beholden To You" - Sedgwick campaign ad, released January 15, 2020

  "Standing Up" - Sedgwick campaign ad, released March 7, 2019

  Opposing Porter

  "100% Orange County" - Sedgwick campaign ad, released April 16, 2019

  
  

  Polls

  See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

  California's 45th Congressional District election, 2020: Top-two primary election polls
  Poll	Date	Porter	Raths	Sedgwick	Huang	Gennawey	Sparks	Undecided	Margin of error	Sample size	Sponsor
  Fabrizio, Lee & Associates	August 15-18, 2019	46%	10%	3%	2%	2%	1%	38%	5.7	300	Raths campaign

  
  

  
  

  Campaign finance

  This section contains campaign finance figures from the Federal Election Commission covering all candidate fundraising and spending in this election. It does not include information on fundraising before the current campaign cycle or on spending by satellite groups. The numbers in this section are updated as candidates file new campaign finance reports. Candidates for Congress are required to file financial reports on a quarterly basis, as well as two weeks before any primary, runoff, or general election in which they will be on the ballot and upon the termination of any campaign committees. The chart below contains data from financial reports submitted to the Federal Election Commission.

  Name	Party	Receipts*	Disbursements**	Cash on hand	Date
  Katie Porter	Democratic Party	$16,901,194	$6,717,188	$10,267,752	As of December 31, 2020
  Rhonda Furin	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
  Christopher Gonzales	Republican Party	$43,892	$43,892	$0	As of September 30, 2020
  Peggy Huang	Republican Party	$639,009	$639,009	$0	As of September 30, 2020
  Greg Raths	Republican Party	$1,412,757	$1,408,703	$1,998	As of December 31, 2020
  Don Sedgwick	Republican Party	$895,705	$895,705	$0	As of March 31, 2020
  Lisa Sparks	Republican Party	$519,919	$519,919	$0	As of June 30, 2020
  Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2020. 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.

  
  

  Satellite spending

  See also: Satellite spending

  Satellite spending, commonly referred to as outside spending, describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.

  This section lists satellite spending in this race reported by news outlets in alphabetical order. If you are aware of spending that should be included, please email us.

  Primaries in California

  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.

  What's at stake in the general election?

  U.S. House elections were held on November 3, 2020, and coincided with the 2020 presidential election. All 435 House districts were up for election, and the results determined control of the U.S. House in the 117th Congress.

  At the time of the election, Democrats had a 232-197 advantage over Republicans. There was one Libertarian member, and there were five vacancies. Republicans needed to gain a net 21 seats to win control of the House. Democrats needed to gain seats or lose fewer than 14 net seats to keep their majority.

  In the 2018 midterm election, Democrats had a net gain of 40 seats, winning a 235-200 majority in the House. Heading into the 2018 election, Republicans had a 235-193 majority with seven vacancies.

  In the 25 previous House elections that coincided with a presidential election, the president's party had gained House seats in 16 elections and lost seats in nine. In years where the president's party won districts, the average gain was 18. In years where the president's party lost districts, the average loss was 27. Click here for more information on presidential partisanship and down-ballot outcomes.

  
  

  General election race ratings

  See also: Race rating definitions and methods

  Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

  • Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
  • Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
  • Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.
  • Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

  Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.

  Race ratings: California's 45th Congressional District election, 2020
  Race tracker	Race ratings
  	November 3, 2020	October 27, 2020	October 20, 2020	October 13, 2020
  The Cook Political Report	Solid Democratic	Solid Democratic	Solid Democratic	Solid Democratic
  Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales	Solid Democratic	Solid Democratic	Solid Democratic	Solid Democratic
  Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball	Safe Democratic	Safe Democratic	Safe Democratic	Safe Democratic
  Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every week throughout the election season.

  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 R+3, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 3 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made California's 45th Congressional District the 211th most Republican nationally.

  FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 0.95. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 0.95 points toward that party.

  District election history

  2018

  See also: California's 45th Congressional District election, 2018

  General election

  General election for U.S. House California District 45

  Katie Porter defeated incumbent Mimi Walters in the general election for U.S. House California District 45 on November 6, 2018.

  		Candidate	%	Votes
  ✔		Katie Porter (D)	52.1	158,906
  		Mimi Walters (R)	47.9	146,383

  ---

  	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 305,289 (100.00% precincts reporting)
  = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
  If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
  Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

  Nonpartisan primary election

  Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 45

  The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House California District 45 on June 5, 2018.

  		Candidate	%	Votes
  ✔		Mimi Walters (R)	51.7	86,764
  ✔		Katie Porter (D)	20.3	34,078
  		Dave Min (D)	17.8	29,979
  		Brian Forde (D)	6.0	10,107
  	Submit photo	John Graham (Independent)	2.3	3,817
  		Kia Hamadanchy (D)	1.9	3,212

  ---

  	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 167,957
  = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
  If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
  Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

  Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

  • Greg Ramsay (D)
  • Eric Rywalski (D)
  • Ron Varasteh (D)

  2016

  See also: California's 45th Congressional District election, 2016

  Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Incumbent Mimi Walters (R) defeated Ron Varasteh (D) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Walters and Varasteh defeated Greg Raths (R) and Max Gouron (D) in the top-two primary on June 7, 2016.

  U.S. House, California District 45 General Election, 2016

  Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
  	Republican	Mimi Walters Incumbent	58.6%	182,618
  	Democratic	Ron Varasteh	41.4%	129,231
  Total Votes				311,849
  Source: California Secretary of State

  
  

  U.S. House, California District 45 Primary, 2016

  Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
  	Republican	Mimi Walters Incumbent	40.9%	65,773
  	Democratic	Ron Varasteh	27.6%	44,449
  	Republican	Greg Raths	19.2%	30,961
  	Democratic	Max Gouron	12.3%	19,716
  Total Votes				160,899
  Source: California Secretary of State

  2014

  See also: California's 45th Congressional District elections, 2014

  The 45th Congressional District of California held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Mimi Walters (R) defeated Drew Leavens (D) in the general election.

  U.S. House, California District 45 General Election, 2014

  Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
  	Republican	Mimi Walters	65.1%	106,083
  	Democratic	Drew Leavens	34.9%	56,819
  Total Votes				162,902
  Source: California Secretary of State

  State profile

  See also: California and California elections, 2020

  

  Partisan data

  The information in this section was current as of January 23, 2020

  Presidential voting pattern
  

  • California voted for the Democratic candidate in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

  Congressional delegation
  

  • Both U.S. Senators from California were Democrats.
  • California had 45 Democratic and six Republican U.S. Representatives, with two vacancies.

  State executives
  

  • Democrats held 10 and Republicans held one of California's 21 state executive offices. Elections for the other offices are nonpartisan.
  • California's governor was Gavin Newsom (D).

  State legislature
  

  • Democrats controlled the California State Senate with a 29-10 majority, with one vacancy.
  • Democrats controlled the California State Assembly with a 61-19 majority.

  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
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  California quick stats
  

  • Became a state in 1850
  • 31st state admitted to the United States
  • As of 2018, California was the most populous state in the country.
  • Members of the California State Senate: 40
  • Members of the California State Assembly: 80
  • U.S. senators: 2
  • U.S. representatives: 53

  More California coverage on Ballotpedia:

  • California elections, 2020
  • Presidential voting trends in California
  • United States congressional delegations from California
  • Public policy in California
  • Influencers in California
  • Almanac of American Politics state profile
  • More...

  
  

  Demographic data for California
  	California	U.S.
  Total population:	38,993,940	316,515,021
  Land area (sq mi):	155,779	3,531,905
  Race and ethnicity**
  White:	61.8%	73.6%
  Black/African American:	5.9%	12.6%
  Asian:	13.7%	5.1%
  Native American:	0.7%	0.8%
  Pacific Islander:	0.4%	0.2%
  Two or more:	4.5%	3%
  Hispanic/Latino:	38.4%	17.1%
  Education
  High school graduation rate:	81.8%	86.7%
  College graduation rate:	31.4%	29.8%
  Income
  Median household income:	$61,818	$53,889
  Persons below poverty level:	18.2%	11.3%
  Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in California. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

  
  

  See also

  • California's 45th Congressional District election, 2020
  • United States House elections in California, 2020 (March 3 top-two primaries)
  • United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2020
  • United States House Republican Party primaries, 2020
  • United States House of Representatives elections, 2020
  • U.S. House battlegrounds, 2020

  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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