California's 46th Congressional District election, 2016
The 46th Congressional District of California held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 8, 2016.
Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Democratic. Incumbent Loretta Sanchez (D) did not seek re-election in 2016. She instead sought election to California's U.S. Senate seat in 2016. Lou Correa (D) defeated Bao Nguyen (D) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Correa and Nguyen defeated Joe Dunn (D), Bob Peterson (R), Louie Contreras (R), Rodolfo Rudy Gaona (R), Lynn Schott (R), and Nancy Trinidad Marin (Independent) in the top-two primary on June 7, 2016.[4][5]
| Candidate Filing Deadline | Primary Election | General Election |
|---|---|---|
Primary: California uses a top-two primary system, in which all candidates appear on the same ballot. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, move on to the general election. In states that do not use a top-two system, all parties are usually able to put forward a candidate for the general election if they choose to.[6][7]
Unlike the top-two format used in some states (Louisiana and Georgia special elections for example), a general election between the top-two candidates in California occurs regardless of whether the top candidate received 50% of the vote in the first round of elections.
As of June 2025, California was one of five states to use a top-two primary system, or a variation of the top-two system. See here for more information.
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Incumbent: Heading into the election the incumbent was Loretta Sanchez (D), who was first elected in 1996. Sanchez did not seek re-election in 2016. She instead sought election to the Senate seat vacated by Barbara Boxer.[8]
California's 46th Congressional District is located in the southern portion of the state and includes part of Orange County.[9]
Election results
General election
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  Lou Correa |
70% | 115,248 | |
| Democratic | Bao Nguyen | 30% | 49,345 | |
| Total Votes | 164,593 | |||
| Source: California Secretary of State | ||||
Primary election
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |
Lou Correa |
43.7% | 40,880 | |
| Democratic | Bao Nguyen |
14.6% | 13,625 | |
| Republican | Bob Peterson | 12.6% | 11,781 | |
| Democratic | Joe Dunn | 12.4% | 11,596 | |
| Republican | Lynn Schott | 7.9% | 7,373 | |
| Republican | Louie Contreras | 3.7% | 3,441 | |
| Independent | Nancy Marin | 3.5% | 3,306 | |
| Republican | Rodolfo Gaona | 1.7% | 1,567 | |
| Total Votes | 93,569 | |||
| Source: California Secretary of State |
||||
Candidates
|
General election candidates:  Lou Correa  Bao Nguyen |
|
Primary candidates: Lou Correa - Former state sen.[10] Joe Dunn - Former state sen.[11] Bao Nguyen - Mayor of Garden Grove[12]  Louie Contreras[13] Rodolfo Rudy Gaona[4] Bob Peterson[4] Lynn Schott[4] Nancy Trinidad Marin[4] (Independent) |
|
Withdrew: Jordan Brandman - Anaheim city councilor[4][14][15] |
Endorsements
Lou Correa
- Incumbent Loretta Sanchez[16]
- U.S. Reps. Linda Sanchez, Pete Aguilar, Karen Bass, Juan Vargas, Alan Lowenthal, Ted Lieu and Tony Cardenas[17][18][19][20]
- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi - "Lou has developed a long and strong record of problem solving both as a local and state leader. We need his pragmatism, can-do mentality and his coalition building abilities representing the 46th District in Congress."[21]
Joe Dunn
- Orange County Employee Association (OCEA)[22]
- The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California[23]
Bao Nguyen
District history
2014
The 46th Congressional District of California held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Loretta Sanchez (D) defeated Adam Nick (R) in the general election.
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Loretta Sanchez Incumbent |
59.7% | 49,738 | |
| Republican | Adam Nick | 40.3% | 33,577 | |
| Total Votes | 83,315 | |||
| Source: California Secretary of State | ||||
2012
The 46th Congressional District of California held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. District 47 incumbent Loretta Sanchez won election in the district.[25]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Loretta Sanchez Incumbent |
63.9% | 95,694 | |
| Republican | Jerry Hayden | 36.1% | 54,121 | |
| Total Votes | 149,815 | |||
| Source: California Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election" | ||||
Important dates and deadlines
- See also: California elections, 2016
The calendar below lists important dates for political candidates in California in 2016.
| Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Deadline | Event type | Event description | |
| February 1, 2016 | Campaign finance | Semi-annual report due | |
| February 25, 2016 | Ballot access | Close of signature in lieu of filing fee period for voter-nominated offices | |
| March 11, 2016 | Ballot access | Close of declaration of candidacy and nomination paper period for voter-nominated offices | |
| April 28, 2016 | Campaign finance | Pre-election report due | |
| May 26, 2016 | Campaign finance | Pre-election report due | |
| August 1, 2016 | Campaign finance | Semi-annual report due | |
| June 7, 2016 | Election date | Primary election | |
| November 8, 2016 | Election date | General election | |
| Sources: California Secretary of State, "Key Dates and Deadlines," accessed January 11, 2016 California Fair Political Practices Commission, "Filing Schedule for State Candidate Controlled Committees Listed on the June 7, 2016 Ballot," accessed January 11, 2016 | |||
See also
- United States House of Representatives elections in California, 2016
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2016
Footnotes
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "2016 House Race Ratings for July 11, 2016," accessed July 19, 2016
- ↑ Sabato's Crystal Ball, "2016 House," accessed July 18, 2016
- ↑ Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report, "House Ratings," accessed July 19, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 California Secretary of State, "Certified List of Candidates for Voter-Nominated Offices June 7, 2016, Presidential Primary Election," accessed April 4, 2016
- ↑ The New York Times, "California Primary Results," June 7, 2016
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed August 13, 2024
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Primary Elections in California," accessed August 13, 2024
- ↑ Voice of OC, "Sanchez Jumps Into Race for Boxer’s U.S. Senate Seat," May 14, 2015
- ↑ California Redistricting Map, "Map," accessed September 25, 2012
- ↑ Voice of OC, "Sanchez Jumps Into Race for Boxer’s U.S. Senate Seat," May 14, 2015
- ↑ Voice of OC, "Joe Dunn Enters Race to Succeed Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez," September 8, 2015
- ↑ New Santa Ana, "Bao Nguyen announces his candidacy for Congress in the 46th C.D." October 13, 2015
- ↑ Louie Conteras for Congress, "Home," accessed January 25, 2016
- ↑ The Liberal OC, "Jordan Brandman formally announces bid for Congress," July 16, 2015
- ↑ The Orange County Register, "Under mounting pressure, Anaheim City Councilman Jordan Brandman drops congressional bid," December 17, 2015
- ↑ The Los Angeles Times, "Essential Politics: Gov. Jerry Brown delays plans for a regional power grid, more delays on Internet poker bill in Sacramento," August 9, 2016
- ↑ Around the Capitol, "The Nooner," August 14, 2015
- ↑ Lou Correa for U.S. Congress, "CORREA NABS 5TH CONGRESSIONAL ENDORSEMENT IN CA-46 CONTEST," October 7, 2015
- ↑ Lou Correa for U.S. Congress, "LOU CORREA GAINS CONGRESSMAN TED LIEU’S SUPPORT IN CA-46 BID," October 13, 2015
- ↑ Lou Correa for U.S. Congress, "CORREA ADDS CONGRESSMAN TONY CARDENAS TO LIST OF KEY BACKERS," October 15, 2015
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Updates on California politics: Senate Democratic leaders wade in to heated Assembly race, regulators seek to extend climate change law," July 13, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "POLITICO California Playbook, presented by Chevron: CA DEMS split over refugee bill -- MATT DAVID says ‘gloves are off’ -- HOLLYWOOD’s dead authors society," November 20, 2015
- ↑ Politico, "ARNOLD stars for KASICH -- CD25 game changer? -- SUPER BOWL windfall," March 4, 2016
- ↑ Voice of OC, "Congresswoman Judy Chu Backs Bao Nguyen For Congress," February 2, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "2012 Election Map, California," accessed August 15, 2012
For information about public policy issues in the 2016 elections, see: Public policy in the 2016 elections!
