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California's 45th Congressional District election (June 5, 2018 top-two primary)

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California's 45th 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:
Mimi Walters (Republican)
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voting in California
Race ratings
Cook Partisan Voter Index (2018): R+3
Cook Political Report: Toss-up
Inside Elections: Toss-up
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Lean Democratic
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 45th 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 Mimi Walters (R) and Katie Porter (D) advanced from the 2018 top-two primary to the general election in California's 45th Congressional District.

The 45th District primary was a battle between Porter and Democrats Dave Min, Brian Forde, and Kia Hamadanchy. Walters was the only Republican running. The 45th District was the only one of seven potentially vulnerable Republican-held California House seats where Democrats were not at risk of being shut out of the November general election.[1]

Prominent state and national endorsements were split among the Democratic candidates. A former aide to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Min was endorsed by the California Democratic Party.[1]

Porter, a consumer protection lawyer, was endorsed by progressive U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) as well as EMILY's List and Democracy for America.[1]

Forde worked in the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Obama Administration and touted his experience in tech entrepreneurship and cryptocurrency.[2] He led the Democratic field in fundraising.

Hamadanchy was a former staffer for U.S. Sens. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Sherrod Brown (D-Oh.), both of whom endorsed him.

A major issue dividing the Democratic field was support for a single-payer health insurance system. Min was the only Democrat to oppose it, saying voters in the traditionally Republican district would prefer a public option for Medicare. The fight over ideology took center stage at the February 2018 state Democratic convention, where Min's opponents attempted to block his endorsement by the party by saying he was not progressive enough.

Hillary Clinton (D) beat Donald Trump (R) in the 45th District by five percentage points in the 2016 presidential election.[1] Walters, however, won re-election by 17 percentage points. A Main Street Partnership Republican, she focused on fiscal, immigration, and military issues. She led all candidates in fundraising.[1]

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[3]
Absentee application deadlineMay 29, 2018[3]
General electionNovember 6, 2018
Voting information
Primary typeTop-two
Early voting deadlineAvailable from May 7, 2018, to June 5, 2018[4]
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

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

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 45

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

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

Total votes: 167,957
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

Election updates

Satellite spending

  • May 30, 2018: The Progressive Change Campaign Committee spent $20,000 opposing Dave Min.
  • May 29, 2018: EMILY's List disclosed more than $31,000 in spending to support Katie Porter, bringing its investment in her candidacy to over $240,000.
  • May 25, 2018: 314 Action, a super PAC supporting candidates with scientific backgrounds, announced it would spend $285,000 supporting Brian Forde.[5]

Campaign finance

  • May 16, 2018: Campaign finance disclosures from May 16, 2018, showed the following:
    • Mimi Walters had raised more than $2.5 million and had nearly $1.6 million in cash on hand.
    • Brian Forde had raised nearly $1.5 million and had nearly $550,000 in cash on hand.
    • Katie Porter had raised about $1.15 million and had about $172,000 in cash on hand.
    • David Min had raised about $1.1 million and had nearly $250,000 in cash on hand.
    • Kia Hamadanchy had raised more than $620,000 and had nearly $90,000 in cash on hand.
  • March 31, 2018: Campaign finance disclosures for the first quarter of 2018 showed the following:
    • Mimi Walters had raised more than $2.2 million and had nearly $1.7 million in cash on hand.
    • Brian Forde had raised more than $1.2 million and had more than $660,000 in cash on hand.
    • Katherine Porter had raised more than $1 million and had more than $575,000 in cash on hand.
    • David Min had raised almost $900,000 and had more than $385,000 in cash on hand.
    • Kia Hamadanchy had raised almost $575,000 and had nearly $150,000 in cash on hand.

Candidates

Democratic Party Brian Forde

Brian Forde.JPG

Campaign website Facebook Twitter

A tech researcher and entrepreneur who worked in the Obama White House, Brian Forde ran for Congress saying he would focus on the tech industry, particularly cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, and bring greater understanding of the issues to Washington. His campaign was supported by a number of individuals involved in Bitcoin markets, and, according to the FEC, he received more contributions via Bitcoin than all previous donations combined.[6] He led the Democratic field in fundraising as of April 2018, but trailed incumbent Mimi Walters (R).

In addition to his experience in the tech industry, Forde's campaign highlighted his opposition to President Donald Trump, his desire to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord, and his support for a single-payer healthcare system.[7] Forde was registered as a Republican until he changed it to Democratic in 2017. He said the registration change was overdue and that he had consistently voted Democratic since 2008.[8]

Forde served in the Obama White House for three-and-a-half years as a senior technology advisor before leaving to research and teach about digital currencies at the MIT Media Lab. He joined the Peace Corps and was based in Nicaragua in the early 2000s. He stayed in the country following his Peace Corps service and founded Llamadas SA, an internet phone service company.[9]

Democratic Party Kia Hamadanchy

Kia Hamadanchy.jpg

Campaign website Facebook Twitter

A former staffer for U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown and Tom Harkin, Kia Hamadanchy said he decided to run for Congress when he heard President Donald Trump had issued an executive order restricting travel and immigration from seven majority Muslim nations, including Iran. Hamadanchy, whose parents immigrated from Iran, said “I couldn’t fathom the idea that my family, and families like my family, were being targeted in such a discriminatory and hateful way,” and decided to run the same day.[10] Harkin and Brown both endorsed his run for office as did U.S. Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.) and Washington Lieutenant Gov. Cyrus Habib (D).

Aside from addressing Trump's travel restrictions, Hamadanchy said he would focus on healthcare, environmental, and education policy. He said he supports debt-free college and a single-payer healthcare system.[10]

Hamadanchy worked first for Harkin on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and then later for Brown's personal staff. Before working in the Senate, he attended the University of Michigan, where he received his bachelor's degree and his J.D.[11]

Democratic Party Dave Min

Dave Min headshot.jpg

Campaign website Facebook Twitter

Dave Min ran for Congress with the endorsement of the California Democratic Party after receiving 60 percent of the delegate vote at the state party's nominating convention.[12] He criticized incumbent Mimi Walters (R) for supporting President Donald Trump on healthcare policy and for not holding townhalls for constituents.[13] His campaign was also endorsed by ten of California's congressional Democrats.

Min's campaign website included sections on opposing travel restrictions that President Donald Trump placed on majority Muslim countries, working toward universal healthcare by allowing Americans to buy into Medicare and offering a public option, and limiting carbon emissions. He also spoke about his parents, both of whom immigrated from Korea.[14]

Prior to running for office, Min worked as a law professor at the University of California, Irvine. While living in Washington, D.C., he worked as an aide for U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), a policy director for the Center for American Progress, and a lawyer for the Securities and Exchange Commission. He received his bachelor's degree from Wharton and his J.D. from Harvard Law.[15]

Democratic Party Katie Porter

Katie Porter.jpg

Campaign website Facebook Twitter

A law professor and consumer protection attorney, Katie Porter ran for Congress by touting her endorsements from potential 2020 presidential contenders and progressive influencers Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.). She also criticized incumbent Mimi Walters for supporting President Donald Trump on healthcare and tax policy. In addition to Warren and Harris, she was endorsed by EMILY's List, Democracy for America, and the Off the Sidelines PAC managed by U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), another potential 2020 presidential candidate.

Porter's campaign emphasized her support for Bernie Sanders' Medicare for All healthcare program, a ban of assault-style weapons, and reversing the 2017 tax bill supported by congressional Republicans.

Porter's professional experience includes serving as a law professor at the University of California, Irvine, and working as a consumer protection attorney. In 2012, she worked with then-California Attorney General Kamala Harris on banking oversight. She received a bachelor's degree from Yale University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School, where Elizabeth Warren was one of her professors.[16]

Republican Party Mimi Walters

Mimi Walters.jpg

Campaign website Facebook Twitter

The district's incumbent since first being elected in 2014, U.S. Rep. Mimi Walters emphasized her plans to reduce taxes and the national debt; allow DACA recipients to stay in the country while also increasing border security, ending the diversity visa lottery, and tightening eligibility for family-based immigration; and increasing military pay and changing the reporting process for sexual assaults in the armed forces.[17] Walters was the only Republican who ran in the District 45 top-two primary.

Despite representing a district that voted for Hillary Clinton (D) in the 2016 presidential election, Walters expressed her support for Trump, saying, "He stands for what we stand for," and voted for nearly all of his preferred policies, including plans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act and overhaul the tax code.[18] After being elected, she joined the Republican Main Street Partnership, a group of centrist GOP lawmakers describing themselves as "solutions-oriented fiscal realists and defenders of national security, advancing positive policies that can command bipartisan support."[19]

Prior to being elected to Congress in 2014, Walters served in the California State Senate. Her professional experience includes working as an investment advisor at Drexel, Burnham and Lambert. She was the co-chair of the Orange County branch of the recall campaign for California Gov. Gray Davis (D) in 2003. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.

List of candidates

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

General election candidates

Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:

Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

Timeline

  • May 30, 2018: The Progressive Change Campaign Committee spent $20,000 opposing Dave Min.
  • May 29, 2018: EMILY's List disclosed more than $31,000 in spending to support Katie Porter, bringing its investment in her candidacy to over $240,000.
  • May 25, 2018: 314 Action, a super PAC supporting candidates with scientific backgrounds, announced it would spend $285,000 supporting Brian Forde.[5]
  • May 22, 2018: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce disclosed $250,000 in spending to support Mimi Walters.
  • May 16, 2018: Campaign finance disclosures from May 16, 2018, showed the following:
    • Mimi Walters had raised more than $2.5 million and had nearly $1.6 million in cash on hand.
    • Brian Forde had raised nearly $1.5 million and had nearly $550,000 in cash on hand.
    • Katie Porter had raised about $1.15 million and had about $172,000 in cash on hand.
    • David Min had raised about $1.1 million and had nearly $250,000 in cash on hand.
    • Kia Hamadanchy had raised more than $620,000 and had nearly $90,000 in cash on hand.
  • March 31, 2018: Campaign finance disclosures for the first quarter of 2018 showed the following:
    • Mimi Walters had raised more than $2.2 million and had nearly $1.7 million in cash on hand.
    • Brian Forde had raised more than $1.2 million and had more than $660,000 in cash on hand.
    • Katherine Porter had raised more than $1 million and had more than $575,000 in cash on hand.
    • David Min had raised almost $900,000 and had more than $385,000 in cash on hand.
    • Kia Hamadanchy had raised almost $575,000 and had nearly $150,000 in cash on hand.
  • February 25, 2018: Dave Min received the endorsement of the California Democratic Party.
  • February 21, 2018: A Public Policy Polling survey paid for by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which endorsed Katie Porter, found Mimi Walters with 42 percent, Porter with 16 percent, Min with 12 percent, Hamadanchy with 6 percent, and Forde with 4 percent.


Endorsements

Democratic Party Brian Forde

Democratic Party Kia Hamadanchy

Democratic Party Dave Min

Democratic Party Katie Porter

Republican Party Mimi Walters

  • California Republican Party
  • Republican Party of Orange County
  • California Republican Assembly


Campaign finance

Campaign finance disclosures from May 16, 2018, showed the following:

  • Mimi Walters had raised more than $2.5 million and had nearly $1.6 million in cash on hand.
  • Brian Forde had raised nearly $1.5 million and had nearly $550,000 in cash on hand.
  • Katie Porter had raised about $1.15 million and had about $172,000 in cash on hand.
  • David Min had raised about $1.1 million and had nearly $250,000 in cash on hand.
  • Kia Hamadanchy had raised more than $620,000 and had nearly $90,000 in cash on hand.

Campaign finance disclosures for the first quarter of 2018 showed the following:

  • Mimi Walters had raised more than $2.2 million and had nearly $1.7 million in cash on hand.
  • Brian Forde had raised more than $1.2 million and had more than $660,000 in cash on hand.
  • Katie Porter had raised more than $1 million and had more than $575,000 in cash on hand.
  • David Min had raised almost $900,000 and had more than $385,000 in cash on hand.
  • Kia Hamadanchy had raised almost $575,000 and had nearly $150,000 in cash on hand.

The table below contains data from FEC Quarterly October 2017 reports. It includes only candidates who reported at least $10,000 in campaign contributions as of September 30, 2017.[26] Democratic Party Democrats



Republican Party Republicans




Satellite spending

  • 314 Action had spent about $304,000 supporting Brian Forde as of May 30.[27]
  • The Courage Campaign had spent about $23,000 opposing Mimi Walters as of May 30.[27]
  • EMILY's List had spent about $310,000 as of May 30. About $241,000 went toward supporting Katie Porter, about $68,000 went toward opposing Mimi Walters, and about $700 went toward opposing David Min.[27]
  • End Citizens United had spent about $98,000 supporting Katie Porter as of May 30.[27]
  • Giffords had spent $12,000 opposing Mimi Walters as of May 30.[27]
  • PAC for a Change had spent about $7,000 opposing Mimi Walters as of May 30.[27]
  • The Progressive Change Campaign Committee spent $20,000 opposing Dave Min on May 30.[27]
  • The U.S. Chamber of Commerce had spent $250,000 supporting Mimi Walters as of May 30.[27]

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

Internal polls

California's 45th Congressional District
Poll Poll sponsor Mimi Walters (R) Brian Forde (D)Kia Hamadanchy (D)Dave Min (D)Katie Porter (D)UndecidedMargin of errorSample size
Public Policy Polling
(Feb. 20-21, 2018)		Progressive Change Campaign Committee 42%4%6%12%16%21%+/-3.9648
Note: 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.


Campaign strategies and tactics

Ideological differences and single-payer healthcare

David Min's opponents criticized him for being less progressive than them, particularly in his approach to healthcare policy.

During the debate over Min's endorsement by the California Democratic Party, Katie Porter said he was too moderate for the endorsement and that he was the preferred candidate of the moderate New Democrat Coalition.[28]

Moreover, Min did not support a federal single-payer health insurance system, while his opponents all did. Katie Porter made it the centerpiece of her campaign.[29]

Paige Hutchinson, Min’s campaign manager responded to questions about his ideology: “Dave is not the candidate who is furthest to the left. Do we think that better represents the district? Yes. No Democrat has won here. It’s a conservative district that’s rapidly changing, but people here care a lot about their taxes, and single payer would be a tremendous tax increase.”[28]

Min told Vox that a single-payer healthcare proposal was “very, very open to political attack" in a district that previously elected Republicans. He also said he was more open to other ways to achieve universal healthcare coverage like a Medicare public option or letting individuals 55 and older buy into Medicare.

He said, “I think there’s a distinction here between goals and means. Single-payer is one way of getting there, but it’s a far leap, and if single-payer becomes a detriment to getting to universal coverage, then I think you’re doing yourself a disservice.”[30]

At a debate in late May, Min said he was open to a single-payer system. According to the Washington Examiner, the change in his position came shortly after the Progressive Change Campaign Committee began running negatives ads against him that highlighted his opposition to single-payer.[31]

Porter's history with domestic abuse

On May 11, the Huffington Post wrote that individuals associated with Dave Min's campaign criticized Katie Porter for legal matters related to her divorce, which involved allegations of domestic abuse against her husband.

Kia Hamadanchy said that Min's campaign spread information about Porter's divorce and said that the details would make Porter unelectable.

Min's campaign responded with the following statement: “Dave won the endorsement of the California Democratic Party by running a positive campaign about the issues. To suggest otherwise is complete and utter nonsense."[32]

Min later wrote the following on Facebook: "Unfortunately, the [Huffington Post] story also falsely claims that Dave’s campaign started a whisper campaign around Katie’s domestic violence experiences in an attempt to win over Democratic Party delegates and win the party’s endorsement. This is absolutely untrue. This claim that we started a whisper campaign was based entirely on speculation by opposing campaigns or their surrogates...In our search, we identified only 4 delegates who heard details of Porter’s divorce. However, these four had not heard about the matter from Dave but rather from Kia Hamadanchy, who is one of the four sources for this story and a rival Democratic candidate. It is unfortunate that these facts were never presented in the story, despite our best efforts to connect the publication with these individuals."[33]

Campaign advertisements

Democratic Party David Min

"Claim," released May 17, 2018


Democratic Party Katie Porter

"What's New," released May 16, 2018
"Two Senators," released May 2, 2018
"Minivan," released May 2, 2018

Republican Party Mimi Walters

"Todd," released May 21, 2018
"Patricia," released April 25, 2018


Campaign themes and policy stances

Democratic Party Brian Forde

Campaign website

Forde’s campaign website stated the following:

“

COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE
Our climate is changing – and we need to reverse it. From building out a national energy-saving program in Nicaragua to launching President Obama’s Climate Data Initiative – I have spent my life fighting to reverse Climate Change. This isn't just about protecting the natural beauty that I grew up with Orange County; it's about protecting our homes from wildfires, mudslides, floods, and other devastating natural disasters.

In Congress, I will fight to:

Rejoin the Paris Climate Accord Achieve 100% renewable energy by 2050 Divest of all federal funds from the fossil fuel industry Prevent offshore oil drilling Transition immediately to a clean energy economy that limits global average temperature increase to 1.5–2 C° above pre-industrial levels.

PROVIDING A MODERN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
Healthcare is a human right -- that's why I believe in Medicare for everyone. I've lived under a single-payer healthcare system and I know the good and the bad. I also know what it's like to get denied health insurance for a pre-existing condition. I'll never forget going to the pharmacy without health insurance and trying to buy an inhaler – health insurance or not I needed to breathe – and being charged $400 instead of the $7 everyone else was paying.

In Congress, I will fight to:

Expand Medicare for all – limiting excess spending and curbing cost overages while providing exceptional healthcare for all Americans Create an Open Source Electronic Medical Record system Expand Medicaid and prevent applicants from having to drug test or meet work requirements in order to qualify Expand funding for the NIH and advocate for evidence-based research and practice guidelines Expand WIC, CHIP, and other programs for underserved and marginalized communities Protect Planned Parenthood and expand Title X family planning funding

PROTECTING SOCIAL SECURITY & MEDICARE
My parents worked their entire lives and deserve the benefits they paid into. My grandma was on Medicare. Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income serve millions of Americans who are physically restricted in their ability to be employed because of a notable disability, usually a physical disability. These federal programs exist to support the most vulnerable in our society, many of whom have contributed to the system to the best of their ability. It is a compact between our generations and a reflection of our values as a society.

In Congress, I will:

Fight efforts to privatize Social Security and leave it vulnerable to the whims of the stock market Resist any attempts to cut benefits, raise the retirement age, or pull money out of Social Security to pay for other government programs Oppose efforts to turn Medicare into a voucher system, leaving the burden of health care on to the backs of seniors Allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices as the Department of Veterans Affairs and Medicaid currently do Demand better transparency from Medicare to diminish fraud and waste

PREVENTING GUN VIOLENCE
Stop. Gun. Violence. Now.

From Sandy Hook to San Bernardino, gun violence has impacted far too many in our nation. One in three Americans knows someone who has been shot, including me. It's time we put books before bullets and focus on learning, not lockdowns. It's time we get rid of 18th century laws that do not reflect the reality of dangerous 21st century weapons of war. It's time 60- to 70-year olds in Congress fought the NRA with the tenacity with which 16- and 17-year-olds who cannot legally vote fight.

I am proud to be a Moms Demand Action "Gun Sense Candidate of Distinction" and refuse any contributions from the NRA.

In Congress, I will fight to:

Digitize gun records Demand universal background checks Close the gun show and online loopholes that allow guns to be sold without background checks Create tax incentives and research funds for Gun Safety Technology Ban bump stocks Mandate National Gun Violence Restraining Orders Halt the sale of high-capacity magazines and the AR-15 assault-style rifle used in the Stoneman Douglas shooting Reinstate the Federal Assault Weapons Ban

DEFENDING WOMEN'S RIGHTS & HEALTH
We cannot and should not discriminate against 50% of our community and our country. As an employer and as a policymaker, I've consistently fought for women's equality. The phone company I built in Nicaragua had strong female-male parity -- in fact, 80% of our employees were women.

At the White House, I worked with the Council on Women and Girls to advance women's equality, and diversity in the technology industry. I also helped launch the Department of Labor's Equal Pay App Challenge, an innovative initiative to arm women with the tools to negotiate higher wages.

In Congress, I will fight for:

Equal Pay for Women – It's been 54 years since President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act and we are still fighting the gender wage gap. I will support the Paycheck Fairness Act to bring women's wages to equal measure with men's. Paid Family Leave Fully funding the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, to strengthen the agency's capacity to investigate sexual harassment Individual families maintaining control of decisions about family planning and a women's right to choose Planned Parenthood, a vital organization that provides healthcare for 1 in 3 women in America

PASSING COMPASSIONATE IMMIGRATION REFORM
More than 30% of our friends and neighbors in the 45th district are foreign born – including my mom. As the son of an immigrant, I understand the important contributions immigrants make to our nation – and the sacrifices they make. I'll work towards compassionate and comprehensive reform of our immigration system.

As a member of Congress, I will:

Support a clean DACA bill that provides a path to citizenship for DREAMers Provide a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million hardworking and tax-paying undocumented immigrants in the U.S. Work to reduce the fraud and abuse of H-1B and L1 visas fraud that enables companies to underpay foreign workers and replace American workers Propose the Keep Families Together Act which will prevent immigration authorities from separating undocumented parents from their children

STANDING UP FOR LGBTQ RIGHTS
I am dedicated to equal rights for all. This means crafting protections for our most vulnerable and mandating federal workplace protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. I believe that Americans have a right to religious freedom, as long as it doesn't infringe on the rights of other Americans, especially those in the LGBTQ community. Ultimately, diversity and inclusion make our communities and our country better and stronger.

In Congress, I will support:

Condemning and fighting the offensive and un-American Trump-Pence transgender troop ban – because those who step up to serve in our military deserve our thanks and respect, not discrimination Strengthening federal and state hate crime laws Funding of federal programs that serve the LGBTQ community and those living with HIV and AIDS Mandating federal workplace protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Enacting federal anti-bullying laws to protect LGBTQ students and support putting into law protections for transgender Americans

EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION
There is no better investment of taxpayer dollars than education. As a proud product of the Tustin Unified School District, and former high school teacher in the Peace Corps, I know the impact of a high-quality public education for kids and for our community.

In Congress, I will fight for:

Debt-free college education Improved access to Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Math Comprehensive computer science and coding instruction from 1st to 12th grade Pre-K for All Loan forgiveness for public school teachers

DEFENDING OUR NATIONAL SECURITY
I believe in the defense of our country through diplomacy. Whether it's our diplomats at the State Department or our members of the military and volunteers in the U.S. Peace Corps – they are all the face of America abroad. That's why I served our country in Nicaragua as a volunteer in the U.S. Peace Corps and went to Iraq with the U.S. Institute of Peace.

But I also know that 21st century warfare is being fought online. Companies are being hacked, elections are being manipulated, and our electrical grid is vulnerable to attack by foreign governments.

In Congress, I will fight to:

Put further sanctions on North Korea Put pressure on the President to rejoin the Iran Nuclear Deal Increase federal funding for the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) Upgrade our government's technology with a $3B IT Modernization Fund Pass the Protecting Our Democracy Act which would create an independent, bipartisan-appointed commission to investigate foreign interference in the 2016 election and prevent future attacks

PROTECTING YOUR PRIVACY & DATA
Just because you're online doesn't mean you've given up your right to protect your private information and communication from companies and your government. According to the Department of Justice, theft of physical property costs Americans $5 billion a year. However, identity theft is estimated to cost Americans more than $17 billion a year.

Facebook to Equifax – if companies choose to profit off of your data, they have a solemn responsibility to protect your private information from being stolen. Oil companies are responsible for paying for their oil spills – and data companies should be responsible for paying for their data spills.

In Congress, I will fight to:

Protect all citizens from warrantless data collection Inform citizens about who can access the information that they put on the Internet Defend our constitutional rights to individual privacy Ensure an open and free Internet by supporting legislation to reinstitute net neutrality

GROWING A STRONG ECONOMY & JOBS
Having been a small business owner, I know how important it is to have a regulatory structure that incentivizes small business growth and helps to create more jobs. As a technologist, I also know that preparing our future workforce for 21st century jobs is essential. Economist Enrico Moretti has explained that, because of a multiplier effect, each new high-tech job in the U.S. creates five additional jobs in the service economy. Encouraging growth in the technology sector helps support growth throughout our economy.

Of course, at the center of a stable economy ought to be a robust middle class – where all children grow up in safe, state-of-the-art schools; where college is affordable and workers are paid a livable wage; where every family has access to quality, affordable health care; and where seniors are guaranteed their benefits after a lifetime of hard work.

In Congress, I will:

Fight to increase wages and benefits to address the high cost of living in Orange County Support an increase in the minimum wage to $15 and peg it to inflation Expand support for job training programs for veterans Work to grow our investments in alternative and renewable “green energy” that creates 21st century jobs Support expansion of technical and vocational schools, as an alternative to higher education, so students can gain the skills and hands-on experience they need to jump into specialized careers with companies that are ready and eager to hire

REFORMING OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
Growing up, it never failed to impress me when my Dad hired people who were formerly incarcerated. He always felt that individuals who have paid their debt to society deserve a second chance. Yet, today, most states spend more annually on each inmate in the prison system than they do on each student in public schools.

Americans also deserve equal protection under the law. Yet, when minorities are arrested at higher rates than Caucasians, injustice prevails. I believe in safeguarding the civil liberties of all Americans.

In Congress, I will:

Focus on investing in education, economic growth, and jobs -- investing in opportunity instead of squandering tax dollars building more prisons Fight to diminish the prevalence of extended solitary confinement Support programs that keep children who have been in the juvenile justice system from falling into a lifetime in the prison system Support services that facilitate successful reintegration of inmates into communities Sponsor the Racial Profiling Prevention Act Work to rebuild the civil rights protections broken down by the Trump administration

HONORING OUR VETERANS
If you served our country, we are forever indebted to you for your service. My grandfather and father-in-law are proud veterans of the U.S. Navy. That’s why I was proud to launch the Veterans Job Bank when I was at the White House. The Veterans Job Bank connected unemployed veterans to job openings with companies that were ready to hire veterans.

In Congress, I will fight to:

Fully fund the Veterans Administration Support all efforts to address the Veterans claims processing backlog Resist efforts by the Trump Administration to privatize the Veterans Administration Propose the G-IT Bill to provide funding to teach coding to returning veterans, to prepare them for leadership roles in the 21st-century economy. This bill would cover computer science degrees at universities, coding boot camps, incentives for businesses to hire G-IT grads, and allow service-members wounded in combat to finish their service attaining a computer science education.

ADDRESSING INCOME INEQUALITY
The gap between the rich and the poor has worsened significantly in the past 30 years, so much so that President Obama called it "the defining challenge of our time." It certainly hasn't gotten any better under Trump.

In Congress, I will fight to:

Repeal the GOP Tax Bill which gives $1.5 trillion gift to large corporations and dramatically increases our deficit Raise the minimum wage to $15 and peg it to inflation Develop a fairer tax code that ensures everyone to pays their fair share

SUPPORTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
The challenge for most of my friends who grew up here in Orange County is they can't afford to move back. Homelessness is on the rise. A sizeable homeless population encircles the Tustin Library where I went every week as a child.

In Congress, I will fight to:

Strengthen and expand the Housing Credit, to incentivize developers to create more affordable housing in our community Better fund federal rental housing subsidies for individuals and families most at risk for homelessness

DEFINE OUR FUTURE
The people of Orange County need to know Brian Forde is a former Science and Technology Advisor under President Obama who believes in fact-based decision making to fight Trump's harmful policies; fights to protect our environment and combat climate change, supports Medicare for All, and is committed to the immigrant families in our communities.

Brian's experience and accomplishments have uniquely prepared him to serve in Congress at a time when technology is impacting every part of our lives.

Brian has spent his life fighting to reverse climate change because he believes it is an urgent and moral obligation to our future generations to preserve and protect the Earth. He was personally selected by President Obama to lead the Climate Data Initiative, an effort to leverage open government data resources to forge cross-sector partnerships and build tools that will make America's communities more resilient to climate change. Brian believes that science is fact and that technology can be an equalizer and expand opportunity for all. In the Obama White House, he led Tech Hire, a program to broaden the availability of coding bootcamps across the country and provide technology jobs for women, people of color, and veterans. Brian believes that if you served our country, we are forever indebted to you for your service. That's why he will propose a new "G-IT" Bill that would retrain veterans and prepare them for leadership roles in the 21st-century economy. The bill would cover computer science degrees at universities, incentivize businesses to hire G-IT grads, and allow service-members wounded in combat to finish their service by attaining a computer science degree or completing coding bootcamps. [34]

”
—Brian Forde’s campaign website (2018)[35]

Response to Ballotpedia

Forde provided the following description of his political philosophy to Ballotpedia:

“ Americans are looking for new leaders — people who understand where they’re coming from and actually want to get things done.

As an entrepreneur, technologist, and policymaker, I’ve spent my entire career finding ways to bring government policies and business models into the 21st century – making them serve people the way they expect and deserve to be served.

Our values are being challenged by an Administration hell-bent on taking us back to the injustices of the past, our full time jobs are turning into gigs, and our gigs are being automated out of existence.

At this unique moment in history we have a choice. We can define our future or we can be defined by it. I choose to define it.[36][34]

”
—Brian Forde, 2018

Democratic Party Kia Hamadanchy

Hamadanchy’s campaign website stated the following:

“

HEALTHCARE
Healthcare is a universal right and every single man, woman, and child in America deserves access to quality and affordable healthcare. No person in this country should ever go bankrupt or face financial ruin because they got sick. That is why I support a single-payer or “Medicare for all” system of healthcare. It represents the best and most efficient way of meeting the healthcare needs of each and every American.

The United States of America spends more on healthcare than any industrialized country in the world. Despite all this spending, we lag far behind other nations when it comes to healthcare quality, access, and outcomes. That needs to change. While the Affordable Care Act was an important step in the right direction, there is still a great deal of work to be done. More needs to be done to decrease the costs of copays, deductibles, premiums, and prescription drugs.

I strongly believe that we should not take away healthcare from 22 million Americans or remove protections from those with a preexisting condition as Mimi Walters has voted to do.

IMMIGRATION
As the son of immigrants who fled the 1979 Iranian Revolution, I believe that every single person in this country deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. Immigration has been the source of strength for our country since its founding and we must not turn our back on the ideals upon which this nation is built. It is critical that we finally reform our nation’s broken immigration system. The status quo is clearly not working, but the answer is not the forcible deportation of the more than 11 million undocumented immigrants in this country. Building a wall on our southern border would be nothing more than a colossal waste of money.

We need comprehensive immigration reform that includes a full and equal path to citizenship, which would bring millions of undocumented immigrants out of the shadows. It would also mean the creation of a guest worker program that would create a path for immigrants to come to this country temporarily when there is a demonstrated economic need. I strongly support the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and oppose all efforts to put an end to the program. I support protecting families with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) by ensuring them a path to citizenship and I will work to end family detention and the use of private immigration detention facilities.

The Trump Administration has routinely targeted California’s immigrant communities and has unfairly labeled them as criminals and freeloaders. This blatant xenophobia is un-American. In Congress, I will be a voice for our immigrant neighbors, I will oppose the addition of a citizenship question on the census, and I will work to abolish the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement known as ICE. This organization, founded only in 2003, is unnecessary for border protection and routinely abuses its power by detaining law-abiding Americans and ripping California families apart in the process. 

Furthermore, I oppose efforts in Orange County to eliminate sanctuary policies for local families. We need to focus on protecting families, respecting each other regardless of our country of origin, and standing up to far-right extremists like Donald Trump.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE
I believe campaign finance reform is needed to promote a truly democratic political system in which everyone’s voice is heard. Government is supposed to be of the people, by the people, and for the people. Unfortunately, our political system has been hijacked by those who advocate for policies that serve their own gains, rather than the public good. Corporations and lobbyists should not have a greater say in our political process than everyday working families. We must work to return power to the people and increase the voice of individual citizens. I support:

A constitutional amendment overturning Citizens United and allowing Congress to set reasonable regulations on political donations. Requiring all “dark money” groups to disclose both their donors and their spending when engaged in activity meant to influence a federal election. Requiring all publicly traded companies to disclose their campaign spending to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Reforming the Federal Election Commission so that it is empowered to actually enforce our campaign finance laws. Establishing a small donor public matching system for all federal elections. Strengthening the rules that prohibit coordination between candidates and Super PACs.

FIXING A BROKEN POLITICAL SYSTEM
Our political system is in need of reform that makes it more responsive to voters and better able to solve the problems that we face. We must rebuild the public’s trust in our government. Members of Congress, the President of the United States, and all federal government officials must be above reproach on all questions of ethics. I support:

Applying federal conflict of interest laws to the President and Vice President. Banning lobbyists from engaging in political fundraising and bundling. A lifetime ban on lobbying for members of Congress and a five-year ban for senior congressional and executive branch staff. Changing the definition of who qualifies as a lobbyist by removing the loophole that allows one to avoid registering if they spend less than 20 percent of their time lobbying. Addressing the “revolving door” issue in our government by: Prohibiting government appointees from participating in any matters involving their former employers or clients for two years. Prohibiting any government appointees from working for any private entities that have benefited from any policy decisions they have made for at least two years. Prohibiting campaign donors and bundlers from being appointed as ambassadors. An end to partisan gerrymandering.

VETERANS
Our veterans have performed the ultimate service for our country and we should spare no resources in ensuring that they have everything they need to integrate back into society and thrive. Unfortunately, there are some in our political system who never hesitate to suggest that we deploy our military abroad but who are not willing to support programs for our veterans when they come home. I believe we cannot abandon our veterans who have given so much to their country. That is why I support:

Ending veterans homelessness. Robust funding for veteran education benefits and regulations to ensure that veterans aren’t preyed upon by unscrupulous for-profit education companies. Combating veteran suicide and improving access to mental health options. Making sure veterans get the healthcare they deserve and have earned. Assistance for veterans transitioning from military life to civilian life. Standing up for undocumented veterans who served this country and are fighting deportation. Restoring VA and other service benefits for veterans who were dishonorably discharged for being gay.

ENVIRONMENT
Climate change is undeniably real and we must combat it by taking immediate action to protect our environment-not only for ourselves, but for our children and grandchildren. We have a moral imperative to act now. Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement was a complete abdication of global leadership that could potentially set us on a path from which we may never be able to recover from. His administration’s efforts to strip the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of all it’s oversight and regulatory powers is also incredibly dangerous. We can do better. We must start by raising emission and pollution standards and increasing investment and innovation in clean and renewable technologies. It also means putting a price on carbon that will be entirely revenue neutral and which will be returned to each American in the form of a dividend.

Many people move to Orange County because of our natural beauty. Whether it’s surfing, hiking, swimming, jogging, or simply strolling through the park, you can find many residents of our district outside. That is why, as your Member of Congress, I will fight to protect our local environment. I will always stand in opposition to offshore drilling along Orange County’s coastline. I will advocate for new regulations aimed at preserving our national parks. I will support and sponsor legislation to keep our water and our air clean.

FIGHTING FOR WORKING FAMILIES
I will fight for working families across Orange County. I believe that strong labor rights are necessary to ensure that workers are treated and compensated fairly for the work they provide and that every person has the opportunity to pursue the American dream. We have to ensure that we create a living wage and offer good benefits. At a time when wages are stagnant and when the cost of housing, healthcare, and higher education keep increasing we must do more to fight for and preserve the middle class. At current, there is not a state in this country where an individual working 40 hours a week and making the minimum wage actually afford the make a living. That has to change. That is why I support:

Raising the minimum wage to $15 dollars an hour and ensuring that it keeps pace with inflation. Addressing the fact that the United States is the only developed nation in the world that does not mandate paid sick and family leave. Working families deserve to know they will have the dignity and peace of mind to deal with unforeseen health issues or family issues and to take the time to be with their newborn child. Mandating that employees have advance notice of their schedules. Stopping wage theft. Access to affordable and quality childcare. Investing in early childhood education. Making sure that everyone can save for retirement by expanding savings programs. Job training and support for workers displaced because of globalization or automation.

ECONOMY
We need to build an economy that works for each and every person in Orange County and across this country. I will fight to spur wage growth and to address income inequality. This means constructing an economy where employers are incentivized to treat their employees well, shifting their focus to long-term investments as opposed to short-term profits. I will also work to encourage innovation, support entrepreneurship, and reform government to make it more responsive and responsible.

This means investing in America and in our workforce. It starts with a serious investment in infrastructure that will repair our country’s crumbling roads, bridges, and waterways, while also creating thousands of jobs. It means identifying opportunities to improve public transportation to alleviate the many traffic and congestion issues that we have in Orange County.

The federal government must dramatically increase the money we invest in science, especially when it comes to medical research and clean energy technology. We once led the world when it came to government investment in research and development, and we must do so again. Our economy has always been strongest when it is based on innovation, and we must ensure that we are laying the groundwork for success.

As the son of small business owners, I understand the important role that small businesses play in our economy. Starting your own business is the culmination of the American dream and we must make certain that entrepreneurs have the tools to thrive in our economy. This includes ensuring that people have access to the capital needed to both start and expand their businesses. It means a fair system that discourages monopolistic practices and that gives small businesses the opportunity to compete with larger corporations.

Finally, I believe that it is important to protect consumers from those who seek to take advantage of them. Business should be free to compete, but they must also operate transparently and ethically. The financial crisis was a demonstration of how predatory and deceptive activity by corporations could have a devastating impact. In Congress, I will always fight to protecting consumers and their rights.

TAX REFORM
I believe that we need to build a simpler tax code that works for middle-class families across Orange County and that rewards small businesses and corporations for doing things the right way, like paying their workers and not outsourcing jobs. That means tax relief for families that need it, not tax cuts for the wealthiest amongst us. And we should start by strengthening the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit. It also means we should be encouraging companies to bring money parked overseas back to the United States to invest it in new plants, equipment, and jobs, not so they can use those funds to pay more dividends to their shareholders.

Real tax reform should also involve making it easier for both individuals and small businesses to actually file their taxes. Because you shouldn’t need a CPA to be able to understand your taxes or have to rely on tax preparers to be able to file them. Individual taxpayers should have the option of being able to avoid filing any kind of tax return at all by having the IRS gather all relevant information, compute how much in taxes are owed, and put all that information on a postcard that is sent to for verification for everyone who opts in.

WOMEN’S RIGHTS
Kia believes in equal work for equal pay because there is never an excuse for a woman should ever be paid less than what a man would be paid for an equivalent job. It shouldn’t matter who does the job as long as the work is done and compensation is paid on the basis and merit of the work. And we should have the paycheck transparency needed to give women the ability to fight against discrimination.

Kia is unwavering in his support for a woman’s right to choose and believes that it is never the government’s place to get between a woman and her doctor. He believes that our belief in individual rights and freedoms means that no one has the right to make reproductive decisions for any woman. He also strongly supports increasing access to contraception and will proudly stand with Planned Parenthood.

Finally we must address violence against women. Campus sexual assault remains far too prevalent in our country and more must be done to combat and end the problem. We must provide more resources and support for those who have been assaulted, require minimum training standards for those who handle these cases, accurate reporting as to the extent of the problem, a uniform process for discipline, and real penalties for universities who violate Title IX. Sexual assault in the military is also far too common and reforms must be made, including taking the reporting and prosecution of these crimes outside the chain of command.

K-12 EDUCATION
I am a proud product of the Irvine public school system and know firsthand Orange County has some of the best public schools in the country. I believe that every child in America should have access to the same opportunities I had from attending high quality public schools.

To close the achievement gap, it is essential Congress increases funding for Title I to make sure schools have the resources needed to be successful. I also support expanding the use of Promise Neighborhoods and Community Schools which have a comprehensive and holistic approach in helping students. These programs take into account the many things – inside and outside of the classroom – that go into a student’s success. We need to make sure we are offering the right support outside of the classroom so that each and every student has the ability to reach their highest potential.

Congress needs to do more for teachers than just give lip service. I believe that we need to pay teachers a higher salary to retain the best talent and we must ensure that our public and private teachers and schools from preschool through college are provided with the resources they need so, in turn, they can provide our children with the most comprehensive learning environments. Parents deserve to know there are standards set for helping them to move their children forward so society as a whole can prosper.

The United States has always been at the forefront of creativity and innovation, but globally we’re beginning to lag behind. As a nation, we must renew our commitment to STEM fields. I believe this starts with providing educational environments at an early age to our children to ensure their thinking and learning abilities are nurtured and fostered. We must continue to invest strongly in early childhood education that emphasizes technology and science. The future of the world economy will revolve around these fields and our children must be fully prepared so they can compete.

We must also help to ensure high school students are prepared to flourish whether they choose to pursue a traditional four-year degree, vocational training, or something else entirely. Congress must support high schools in their efforts to expand access to vocational training and employment services. Doing so will let students understand the wide variety of options available and encourage them to pursue the fields best suited to their passions, needs, and abilities.

As a staff member on the US Senate’s Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and in the office of Senator Sherrod Brown I’ve worked to ensure our schools are properly funded and I led the effort to crack down on fraudulent corporate Charter school organizations which were fleecing taxpayers and hurting students. For our public schools to thrive, and for our teachers and students to succeed, they must be provided a level playing field and Congress must work in their favor.

It’s clear as day: students and teachers need better representation. I want to be their champion in Congress.

HOUSING
Too many families in our district are struggling with housing costs, paying more than can afford, being forced to take long commutes to work, and having to turn down career opportunities because they cannot afford to move. Many would not be able to afford their current house if they were purchasing it today or are faced with their children being priced out of being able to afford to live in Orange County. And businesses are left unable to find qualified employees because none can afford the cost to live here.

I believe that federal government must work in concert with the state of California and local governments to take steps to incentivize an increase in the supply of housing and ensure that we are building housing across new developments to accommodate a wide variety of incomes and household types. California has a severe shortage of housing and new construction has quite simply failed to keep up with demand. More housing is needed and it needs to be high density and near both public transportation and employment centers to minimize driving and reduce both traffic and pollution.

SOCIAL SECURITY & MEDICARE
Social Security and Medicare represent promises that we have made to our seniors; we must defend and protect both. I will fight any and all attempts to try to privatize Social Security, reduce annual cost-of-living increases, or increase the retirement age. Instead, I believe we should be focusing on strengthening and expanding Social Security. I will also strongly oppose any efforts in Congress to privatize or phase out Medicare. I support opening up Medicare to those aged 55 and older and allowing Medicare the ability to negotiate drug prices like the VA.

HIGHER EDUCATION
There is $1.4 trillion in student debt in this country and it is inhibiting an entire generation’s ability. When you come out of college with an unsustainable amount of debt it means that you cannot afford to get married, buy a house or car, start a family, or really get started with your life. I believe that every student in America should have the opportunity to attend and graduate from a community college or public university without taking on any student debt.

I favor taking the following additional steps in support of students and current student debt holders:

Allowing student debt holders to refinance their loans at current rates. Making student loan debt dischargeable in bankruptcy. Aggressively cracking down on predatory institutions in the for-profit sector that are ripping off both students and taxpayers. Expand Pell Grants and index the maximum grant to inflation. Automatically enroll borrowers into income-based repayment plans if they fall behind on student loan payments.

CIVIL RIGHTS
I will fight to ensure the civil rights of all Americans, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other distinguishing factor. I strongly oppose the Muslim Ban and will oppose all efforts to ban refugees based on religion or national origin. I also support taking the following steps to protect the civil rights of every American.

LGBTQ Rights – I strongly support passage of the Equality Act, because I believe that no one should be fired or discriminated against in any way because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. I oppose Donald Trump’s ban on transgender individuals serving in the military and would introduce legislation to overturn it. Finally, I support a federal ban on conversion therapy.

Voting Rights – There is no right more fundamental than the right to vote and America should do whatever it can to make it easier not harder to vote. We are the only advanced democracy in the world where efforts are actively underway to make voting more difficult. I believe that has to change.

Criminal Justice Reform – The war on drugs has been a complete and abject failure and it is time to put an end for it and for new approaches when it comes to our criminal justice system and put an end to mass incarceration. As currently constituted we have a criminal justice system that only reinforces America’s history of racism and economic inequality.

Police Violence – We must do more as a nation to ensure that justice is delivered for all Americans regardless of race and that means that a great deal of work must be done to build trust and accountability between law enforcement and the communities that serve. That is why I support establishment of a national use of force standard, strengthening federal civil rights laws, data transparency regarding the number of incidences of use of force by the police, a federal prohibition on racial profiling, reversing Donald Trump’s decision to lift the ban on providing military gear to local police, increasing the use of body cameras, and reforming civil asset forfeiture.

COMMON SENSE GUN POLICY
Gun violence has affected and continues to affect millions of Americans. Concerts, schools, theaters, and places of worship have all been targets, and often times, children are the victims. On any given day, 46 children are shot in America; every day, 7 of those children are killed. On average, there is more than one mass shooting a day in America. Yet, President Trump, Congresswoman Mimi Walters and the rest of the Republican Party do nothing but offer their thoughts and prayers while making statements that we should not rush to judgement and pass new gun laws. The blood of those killed in shooting after shooting is on the hands of those who repeatedly refuse to take action because they continue to be beholden to the NRA. That is why I promise that I will never take one dollar from the NRA and I will be an advocate for common sense gun legislation in congress.

In the US Senate, I worked extensively on common sense gun policy, only to watch Republicans kill every good piece of legislation that came before them. I’m running to replace one of those impediments, Congresswoman Mimi Walters, and to make gun safety a priority, because I truly believe that a failure to act only puts more lives on the line. We must act and we must act now. That is why I support:

Closing the gun show loophole and ensuring that every single person who wishes to buy a firearm in this country submits to a background check.

Banning assault weapons and high capacity magazines.

Lifting the restriction that prevents the government from funding research that explores the causes and effects of gun violence.

Creating a federal database to track gun sales.

Restoring the Obama Administration’s rule that would have made it harder for those with a mental illness to buy a firearm.

Preventing anyone convicted of domestic violence or abuse from possessing or having access to a firearm.

Repealing the Tiahrt Amendment which limits law enforcement’s ability to investigate gun crimes and prosecute gun dealers.

Properly funding the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives so that they actually have the resources they need to enforce the gun laws already in existence.

Investing in smart gun technology.

Making real investments in mental health. Almost two-thirds of all gun deaths are suicides. We, as a country, continue to fail to invest in helping those with mental health issues and in making sure they do not have easy access to firearms that they can use to do harm to themselves and others.

DISABILITY RIGHTS
Like my former boss and Americans with Disabilities Act author Senator Tom Harkin, I will be an advocate for the disabled community. I will work with the disabled community to help address their needs by making sure accessible accommodations are widely available while promoting home and local-based care to help the disabled be fully functioning members of their communities. I will also work to make sure services are widely available for parents who have children with developmental disabilities both at home and at school and fight to make sure that those with disabilities are not left out of the workforce.

FOREIGN POLICY
I will fight for a smart foreign policy that actually keeps this country safe and secure. I believe that the policies of Donald Trump are dangerous, have empowered hardliners around the world, and represent a complete abdication of moral leadership. I believe we must:

Rebuild and strengthen our relationships with European and NATO allies. Address the role that Russia played in our election and to put together a real plan to combat cyber attacks and influences on our nation. Come up with a plan to fight ISIS, both at home and abroad. Address the Syrian civil war, which is a humanitarian crisis. I do not believe the United States should send ground troops to Syria. Actually try to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as opposed to putting Jared Kushner in charge of the problem. Uphold the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The Iran Deal, which is strongly supported by the Israeli military and intelligence apparatus, represents the best path of stopping Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and preventing a war. End the war in Afghanistan. Implement trade deals that allow our workers to compete on a level playing field and which have enforceable labor and environmental standards.

[34]

”
—Kia Hamadanchy’s campaign website (2018)[37]

Democratic Party David Min

Campaign website

Min’s campaign website stated the following:

“

Healthcare: I believe healthcare is a human right, and that we should be working towards a system in which everyone has healthcare coverage. Since I began my campaign in April, I’ve talked with thousands of residents of CA-45, and I’ve found that almost all of us share the same goals when it comes to healthcare reform—we want broader (ideally universal) coverage, cheaper rates, affordable copayments and prescription drugs, and a system that emphasizes primary care and prevention (as opposed to waiting until emergency care is needed). Of course, I will oppose efforts to cut Medicare and Medicaid, as Donald Trump and Mimi Walters have proposed (over $4 trillion in cuts were proposed in the latest House budget), and will work to strengthen and protect these lifeline programs. But this is not enough. We should explore every possible opportunity to achieve universal healthcare coverage. In the near term, this includes extending Medicare to those 55 and older, allowing all Americans the option to buy into Medicare or some other public option at an affordable price, and expanding the Children’s Health Insurance Program. I also believe we need to empower Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices. If elected to Congress, I will fight to reform our healthcare system so that it achieves these policy goals. We need a system that allows all of us—children, parents, grandparents, veterans, students—to sleep better at night knowing that a catastrophic accident or illness won’t bankrupt our families.

Preventing Gun Violence: Proud to have earned the Moms Demand Action Candidate Distinction. There are 33,000 gun deaths each year in the United States. Restrictions on gun access for domestic abusers, the mentally ill, those on the terrorist watch list—these are all common-sense gun reforms that we must get behind as a country. My wife Jane runs the Domestic Violence Clinic at UCI’s Law School, and has seen first-hand what happens when we fail to pass legislation that protects our most vulnerable populations. We must do better. Instead of trying to reduce the horrific toll of gun violence, Mimi Walters has cosponsored the Concealed Carry Reciprocity bill, which would actually override California’s own common-sense restrictions on who can carry weapons in public. I believe this bill is a threat to public safety. My wife Jane and I wrote more about our opposition to this bill in an Orange County Register op-ed. We should treat gun violence as public health issue, and use data to reduce the number of deaths and injuries from gun violence. This means adequate funding for research on the issue, which has far too often been blocked by the gun lobby. Mimi Walters has an A rating from the National Rifle Association and has consistently voted against reforms that would save lives.

Immigration: I want my children to grow up in an America that represents the core values that drew my parents, and millions of immigrants just like them, to this country: the values of inclusion, diversity, and economic opportunity. I am fundamentally opposed to Donald Trump’s travel ban, and any other immigration policies that discriminate against people based on their race, religion, or national origin, and believe that such policies are contrary to the spirit and the letter of our nation’s Constitution and its laws. I also believe that Trump’s other immigration policies are a wasteful and immoral use of our tax dollars. Building a wall across our entire border with Mexico makes no sense when our own roads and bridges are in disrepair. As a practical matter, we don’t have the resources to enforce against all violations of our immigration laws, so we need to be smarter about how we spend federal tax dollars. Indiscriminate deportations break up families, increase crime, and heighten distrust of law enforcement in immigrant communities. At the same time, we ought to ensure that there is some pathway to citizenship in place for undocumented immigrants who are productive and law-abiding members of our society, especially those who were brought over at a young age and grew up here. I strongly oppose Trump’s decision to unilaterally end DACA and would do all I can to protect these young people, who are American in all but official status. My ultimate goal is an immigration policy that is both humane and efficiently uses our resources.

Climate Change: This is the defining issue of our lifetimes, and we must take action. I support measures to begin immediately limiting carbon emissions. There is a scientific consensus that climate change is real, manmade, and potentially an existential threat, and so we must take that consensus seriously and stop denying basic, proven facts. We owe it to our children and future generations to take immediate and significant steps to curb the acceleration of climate change that we are seeing. At a bare minimum, we must reverse course on Donald Trump’s reckless decision to unilaterally withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord and the EPA’s decision to repeal the Clean Power Plan. But we must also take more proactive steps. I support tax incentives to encourage renewable energy and energy efficiency; and government investment in research into breakthrough technologies such as batteries that could dramatically shift our energy use away from fossil fuels. America did not become the greatest economy on earth by looking backwards. The clean energy revolution is well underway. When it comes to energy, this administration is stuck in the 19th century, while other nations such as China are racing ahead into the future. The energy transition, if we take advantage of it, is not only a moral imperative but an enormous economic opportunity.

Education: Investing in the future. Education is one of my top priorities for domestic spending. I believe we should significantly increase federal investments in education at the primary, secondary, and university levels. I support efforts to achieve universal pre-K, which studies have shown to lead to not only better educational outcomes but better adult health. I believe college should be debt-free, like it used to be, when a student working a part-time job could pay off her college costs and graduate with minimal or no debt. I support the expansion of existing federal programs offering student loan forgiveness. I also believe we must be more creative in developing new relief programs for students burdened by debt, as we’re facing a potential student loan crisis in the coming years. Having worked in public policy during the 2007-08 mortgage crisis, I am all too aware of the problems that debt can create, not just for struggling households but also for the broader economy. Federal education funding should not be tied to any requirements related to “school choice” or charter schools. I oppose efforts to use taxpayer money to fund private schools (i.e., charter schools and vouchers).

Women's Issues: Protecting women’s health care and autonomy. The government should not be regulating the personal healthcare decisions of its citizens, and that includes women and their reproductive health. I oppose efforts to reduce funding to Planned Parenthood and the essential health care services it provides. I also believe strongly that we should take steps to ensure that women are treated more fairly across our society, including in their healthcare and in the workplace. On healthcare, in addition to supporting bills such as the American Health Care Act (AHCA), which would have cut funding for Planned Parenthood, Mimi Walters has specifically voted against maternity coverage, maternity leave, pregnancy leave, and a ban on gender-based insurance price discrimination. She has also voted against workplace protections for women and against laws preventing gender-based wage discrimination. I think she was wrong in all of these votes, and would seek to protect and further advance policies that seek to establish a level playing field for all Americans, regardless of their gender.

LGBTQ Equality: Fundamental and non-negotiable. Supporting LGBTQ rights is a fundamental, non-negotiable issue for me, both because many of my friends throughout my life have been (or later became) part of the LGBTQ community, and because as a moral matter, I believe the government’s role should be to facilitate the ability of ALL its citizens to seek happiness and NOT to promote or support discrimination. When elected, I promise to fight to reverse the Trump administration’s attacks on the LGBTQ community, and to be a strong advocate for anti-discrimination legislation like the Fair and Equal Housing Act and federal funding of initiatives to support the LGBTQ community. Another legislative priority of mine will be comprehensive, inclusive immigration reform. One-third of the 1 million LGBTQ adult immigrants are undocumented. I will stand up for DREAMers and work to keep families from being torn apart.

Economic Policy: Creating good-paying jobs that support a middle class standard of living. I’ve devoted my career to the goal of building an economy that works for people of all backgrounds. As a young lawyer at the SEC, as a senior Congressional advisor, as a policy director at the Center for American Progress, and as a law professor at UC Irvine, I’ve fought for nearly two decades to protect hard-working Americans by making our economy and our markets operate better and more fairly for everyone. I strongly believe in investing in priorities that have long-term value, to ensure a better future for the children of Orange County. As a nation, we need to invest in education, environmental protection, infrastructure, scientific research, and other areas that produce long-term benefits for all of us. Too often, we’ve abandoned our obligations to “pay it forward” to future generations. It’s time to reverse course, and start to put meaningful resources back into these priorities, creating more jobs for Orange County residents in the near term and restoring the foundations of the American Dream in the longer term. We need to explore various policy solutions that will help reduce the steep income and wealth inequality that threatens the stability and well-being of the United States. This includes improving and, where appropriate, expanding (rather than eliminating, as the House GOP has proposed) the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010. I also support efforts to strengthen the ability of workers to join together and collectively bargain for their employment contracts, to help address the asymmetric bargaining power held by large employers. We must proactively support the formation of small businesses and enable them to flourish. Small businesses in Orange County are a major engine of economic growth and job creation. I support the expansion of existing federal tax credit and business loan programs targeted at small businesses.

Campaign Finance Reform
The Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United (like its decision in First Bank of Boston v. Bellotti in 1978) was wrongly decided. Corporations are business entities created by the state and their political expenditures should not be protected by First Amendment political speech rights. Citizens United should be overturned, and this should be a litmus test for judicial nominees. At a minimum, everyone and every business organization who contributes or spends on political campaigns should be required to disclose who they are (and who their investors or principals are). Our democratic republic is defined by the idea of “One Person, One Vote.” Campaign finance laws should help reflect this basic principle and not allow electoral politics to be distorted by outsized campaign spending by wealthy individuals or business organizations. Gerrymandering (whether for racial, partisan, or other purposes) undermines the principle of one person, one vote and should be prohibited.

Foreign Policy/Trade
We are currently investing in bombs over diplomacy and that is a recipe for alienating our allies and bankrupting our nation. We should be smarter about how we approach foreign policy. Whether it’s in dealing with Israeli-Palestinian conflicts, Iran’s nuclear development, or North Korea’s belligerence, we must recognize that diplomacy can be a long, difficult, and intensive process, but one that can pay dividends over the long run. We also should be mindful of the interests and concerns of our allies, who want to see a stable, consistent, and thoughtful approach to dealing with the many problems around the world. We should keep in mind Teddy Roosevelt’s advice—“speak softly and carry a big stick”—which has served us well in the past. On trade, I believe we need bilateral and multilateral trade agreements to help ensure that American priorities and values are reflected in the legal frameworks that govern potential trade disputes in our global economy. However, existing trade agreements (including NAFTA) do not always reflect these American priorities and values, particularly in the areas of worker rights and environmental protection. We should seek to modify these agreements to better represent the interests of all Americans and not just the shareholders of large multinational corporations.

[34]

”
—David Min’s campaign website (2018)[38]

Response to Ballotpedia

In an email to Ballotpedia, Min listed the following campaign themes:

“ Dave is running for Congress to create a better America for the children of Orange County—one that reflects our core values of diversity, tolerance, and opportunity that drew his parents and millions of others like them to this country in search of a better life. Dave will stand up to Donald Trump and his reckless and senseless policies, and will work tirelessly to create an economy that works for everyone so all Orange County families can prosper.[34] ”
—Dave Min (2018)[39]

Democratic Party Katie Porter

Porter’s campaign website stated the following:

“

Medicare For All
Katie will fight for a Medicare for All system in which every American has quality health insurance. Katie Porter believes affordable health care is a human right and will fight Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare.

Women's Health
Katie Porter will always protect a woman's right to choose and believes that women's health care and birth control shouldn't be a luxury. She will fight any efforts by Republicans to defund Planned Parenthood, restrict access to birth control, or ban the right to choose.

Common Sense Gun Reform
Katie is proud to be a Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate and does not accept contributions from the NRA. She supports a ban on assault weapons so that dozens don’t die in a matter of minutes, mandatory background checks on all gun sales, and a healthcare system that provides comprehensive mental health treatment.

Reversing the Tax Bill
As a working mother, Katie Porter understands how hard it is to make ends meet in Orange County. She'll fight to overturn the Republican tax plan that slashes Medicare and raises taxes on middle-class families, and instead pass real tax reform that makes wealthy corporations pay their fair share and cuts taxes on the middle class and small businesses.

Immigration
Katie knows that we need comprehensive immigration reform that provides a fair pathway to citizenship for those who are undocumented.

Environment
Katie will take on big oil and the corporate polluters to stop offshore drilling, and will fight to invest in renewable energy development, and support high emission standards and save important environmental protections.

Public Education
Katie believes that quality public education is the bedrock of the American dream. She supports increasing our investment in education, expanding early childhood education and making college more affordable for our kids.

[34]

”
—Katie Porter’s campaign website (2018)[40]

Republican Party Mimi Walters

Walters' campaign website stated the following:

“

Debt and Taxes
Americans are taxed too much and those of us who live in California are hit even harder with high taxes. High taxes make it harder to buy a home, save for college, and plan for retirement. For small businesses, high taxes stifle investment and drive away jobs.

In Congress, I am working to reduce taxes on all wage earners and job-creating businesses. Bloated government agencies must learn to operate more like businesses. The debt is a spending problem, not a tax problem. I voted for a balanced budget resolution that forces Washington to live within its means. The budget provides for a strong national defense, repeals Obamacare, strengthens and protects Medicare and Social Security for our seniors, and most importantly, balances in ten years without putting a single cent on the backs of taxpayers

My work for taxpayers and fiscally responsible approach to government has earned me the support of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

Immigration
Immigration to the United States, both legal and illegal, has exploded over the last wo decades. According to the Census Bureau, our nation’s immigrant population hit a record 43.7 million in July 2016, an increase of 12.6 million since 2000. About one-quarter of the immigrants living in the U.S. entered the country illegally. To fix the system we need to secure our border to end illegal immigration and rebalance the legal immigration process to favor employment-based visas and immediate family members. We should encourage legal immigrants who desire to make the U.S. their permanent home to find employment, learn English and apply for citizenship.

Secure the Border
I support securing the border and believe it will take a comprehensive approach. Our nation’s security experts need to decide which approach works in the different terrain along our 2,000 mile southern border. It could include, among the options, physical walls, high tech “virtual walls”, beefed up border patrols by both drones and border patrol officers.

Help Dreamers
I believe children brought to America illegally through no fault of their own should be allowed to stay, as long as they have not committed a crime.

Reform Chain Migration
Chain migration needs immediate reform to end abuses. I support legislation to retain immigration preferences only for the for the spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents, and to eliminate preferences for the extended family members.

End the Diversity Lottery
The Diversity Lottery is outdated and plagued with fraud that has resulted in terrorists entering our country. There is no economic or humanitarian justification for continuing the Diversity Lottery.

National Security
The prior Administration’s failed foreign policies on Iran, North Korea and the war against Islamist terror emboldened the enemies of freedom and democracy and left our allies wondering what happened to the America that was the beacon of strength and liberty for the last 100 years.

Defeating ISIS and stopping the spread of Islamist ideology must be our highest priority. The terrorist attacks in Europe and here in the U.S. cannot continue. I support an aggressive frontal approach that seeks out and destroys the terrorists where they live and an American foreign policy that puts the interests of our nation and our allies first.

I voted to increase the pay for our troops and to hold bureaucrats accountable for their mistreatment of veterans. The legislation I voted for also improves access to healthcare for our current service members, veterans, and their families and takes several necessary steps to prevent sexual assault in the military by improving the reporting process and enhancing victims’ rights. As the daughter of a U.S. Marine, I will never waiver in my support for the men and women who defend our nation and keep us free.

[34]

”
—Mimi Walters' campaign website (2018)[41]

Noteworthy events

Dave Min endorsed by California Democratic Party

Dave Min received the endorsement of the California Democratic Party on February 25, 2018. He received the support of 30 of 50 District 45delegates, which passed the 60 percent barrier required for an endorsement.

Because he received between 60 and 66 percent of the vote, California Democratic Party rules allowed his opponents to gather 300 signatures and have the entire state convention debate the endorsement.

According to The Intercept, Min and his campaign workers attempted to prevent his rivals from obtaining the 300 signatures, but they were obtained and Min's supporters and opponents were able to debate his endorsement on the floor of the convention.

During the full convention session, state party Chairman Eric Bauman called for a vote on Min's nomination and determined that he won by voice vote.[28]

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.[42] 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[43] Republican Party Brian Fitzpatrick R+2.6 Clinton+2.0 Obama+2.6
Pennsylvania's 5th Republican Party Pat Meehan[44] Democratic Party Mary Gay Scanlon D+30.2 Clinton+28.2 Obama+27.7
Pennsylvania's 6th Republican Party Ryan Costello[45] Democratic Party Chrissy Houlahan D+17.6 Clinton+9.3 Obama+3.2
Pennsylvania's 7th Republican Party Charlie Dent[46] 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..

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.[47]

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.[48]

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).[49][50]

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. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Cook Political Report, "House: Democrats Risk Disaster in California's Top Two Primaries," May 2, 2018
  2. ↑ IVN, "Orange County’s “Bitcoin Candidate” Wants to Represent Disruptive Tech in Congress," April 19, 2018
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 California Secretary of State, "Election dates and resources," accessed January 31, 2018
  4. ↑ Ballotpedia staff, "Phone conversation with the California Secretary of State's Office," January 31, 2018
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Politico, "Democrats bank on millennials," May 25, 2018
  6. ↑ Bloomberg, "The Crypto Candidate for Congress," February 8, 2018
  7. ↑ Brian Forde for Congress, "Issues," accessed May 10, 2018
  8. ↑ Orange County Register, "Republicans-turned-Democrats challenging O.C. GOP Congress members," July 19, 2017
  9. ↑ Brian Forde for Congress, "About," accessed May 10, 2018
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Huffington Post, "Meet the 31-Year-Old Determined to Be the First Iranian-American Elected to Congress," October 16, 2017
  11. ↑ Kia Hamadanchy for Congress, "About," accessed May 10, 2018
  12. ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Dave Min gets Democratic endorsement for Congress after intense fight on the convention floor," February 25, 2018
  13. ↑ Dave Min for Congress, "Why I'm Running," accessed May 10, 2018
  14. ↑ Dave Min for Congress, "Issues," accessed May 10, 2018
  15. ↑ Orange County Register, "Dave Min, a UC Irvine law professor, will challenge Rep. Mimi Walters," April 5, 2017
  16. ↑ Katie Porter for Congress, "About," accessed May 10, 2018
  17. ↑ Mimi Walters for Congress, "Issues," accessed May 10, 2018
  18. ↑ Bloomberg, "Republican Candidates Face a Dilemma on Trump," February 18, 2018
  19. ↑ Republican Main Street Partnership, "About," accessed May 10, 2018
  20. ↑ Ballotpedia's Elections Team, “Email communication with Mike Stern," Communications Director for Brian Forde For Congress (CA-45), March 27, 2018
  21. ↑ Ballotpedia's Elections Team, “Email communication with Caron S. Berkley, Communications Director, Brian Forde for Congress," May 1, 2018
  22. ↑ Kia Hamadanchy for Congress, "Endorsements," accessed May 10, 2018
  23. ↑ Dave Min for Congress, "Endorsements," accessed March 9, 2018
  24. ↑ Abbey Smith, “Email communication with Erica Kwiatkowski, Campaign Manager Katie Porter for Congress," January 17, 2018
  25. ↑ Mimi Walters for Congress, "Endorsements," accessed May 10, 2018
  26. ↑ FEC, "Federal Election Commission," accessed November 5, 2017
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 27.4 27.5 27.6 27.7 ProPublica, "California’s 45th District House Race - 2018 cycle," May 30, 2018
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 The Intercept, "THE STORY BEHIND THE CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CONVENTION’S FLOOR FRACAS," February 27, 2018
  29. ↑ Ozy, "THE QUESTION DIVIDING CALIFORNIA'S DEMOCRATS," November 21, 2017
  30. ↑ Vox, "Single-payer’s big test: can Medicare-for-all win in competitive House districts?" June 1, 2018
  31. ↑ Washington Examiner, "Liberals battle Democratic establishment in California swing district," May 31, 2018
  32. ↑ Huffington Post, "Katie Porter Survived Domestic Abuse, Only To Have It Used Against Her In Her Campaign," May 11, 2018
  33. ↑ Facebook, "Dave Min for Congress," May 12, 2018
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 34.3 34.4 34.5 34.6 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  35. ↑ Brian Ford for Congress, “Issues,” accessed May 29, 2018
  36. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named bio
  37. ↑ Kia Hamadanchy for Congress, “Issues,” accessed May 29, 2018
  38. ↑ David Min for Congress, “Issues,” accessed May 29, 2018
  39. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Marchemail
  40. ↑ Katie Porter for Congress, “Issues,” accessed May 29, 2018
  41. ↑ Mimi Walters for Congress, “Issues,” accessed May 29, 2018
  42. ↑ This figure includes Pennsylvania districts that were redrawn by the state Supreme Court in early 2018 and districts that flipped in special elections.
  43. ↑ 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.
  44. ↑ 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.
  45. ↑ 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.
  46. ↑ 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.
  47. ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
  48. ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
  49. ↑ California Demographics, "California Cities by Population," accessed April 2, 2018
  50. ↑ 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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