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California's 48th Congressional District election, 2020 (March 3 top-two primary)
- Primary date: March 3
- Primary type: Top-two
- Registration deadline(s): Feb. 18
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: Yes
- Early voting starts: Varies locally
- Absentee/mail voting deadline(s): March 3 (postmarked); March 6 (received)
- Voter ID: No ID
- Poll times: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
A top-two primary took place on March 3, 2020, in California's 48th Congressional District to determine which two candidates would run in the district's general election on November 3, 2020.
Incumbent Harley Rouda and Michelle Steel advanced from the primary for U.S. House California District 48.
| Candidate filing deadline | Primary election | General election |
|---|---|---|
Heading into the election, the incumbent was Harley Rouda (Democrat), who was first elected in 2018.
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.[1][2]
Unlike the top-two format used in some states (Louisiana and Georgia special elections for example), a general election between the top-two candidates in California occurs regardless of whether the top candidate received 50% of the vote in the first round of elections.
As of June 2025, California was one of five states to use a top-two primary system, or a variation of the top-two system. See here for more information.
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
This page focuses on California's 48th Congressional District's top-two primary. For more in-depth information on the district's general election, see the following page:
Candidates and election results
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 48
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Harley Rouda (D) | 46.7 | 99,659 |
| ✔ |  | Michelle Steel (R) | 34.9 | 74,418 |
 | Brian Burley (R)  | 12.1 | 25,884 | |
 | Richard Mata (American Independent Party of California) | 2.7 | 5,704 | |
 | John Schuesler (R) | 2.3 | 4,900 | |
 | James Griffin (R) | 1.3 | 2,714 | |
| Total votes: 213,279 | |||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Hans Keirstead (D)
- Tami Murillo (R)
- Christopher Michael Engels (R)
- Caleb Sturges (R)
- Scott Baugh (R)
Campaign themes
The following campaign themes and policy positions were listed on the candidates' campaign websites in February 2020, if available.
Harley Rouda
| “ |
AN ECONOMY THAT WORKS FOR ALL As Washington touts economic growth, too many Americans are being left in the dust. Republican-led efforts, such as tax-cuts for the super-rich, have prioritized the whims of special interests at the expense of the American people. True growth starts with a thriving, innovative and balanced economy that is focused on creating the jobs of tomorrow. That means forward-thinking economic policies that strengthen the middle class, and create jobs that pay a living wage. To rebuild the middle class, the first step is closing antiquated tax loopholes that benefit outdated industries and the wealthy. HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION FOR A BETTER FUTURE To continue the American tradition of being a global economic leader while promoting a vibrant middle class that shares in the fruit of prosperity, we must have the best prepared workforce in the world. We must educate our kids P through C [Preschool through College] to compete in today’s global economy, with trade skill apprenticeships available for those who do not want to go to college. Increasing access and affordability of a great education is the best way to reverse growing income inequality, and to supercharge the rebuilding of a vibrant middle class where parents can expect their kids to do better and live better than they did. To level the achievement gap once and for all, we need to invest in universal Pre-K; we need to phase in tuition-free education at non-profit public colleges and universities that doesn’t explode our deficit and fuels upward mobility; we need to promote trade school apprenticeships that equip folks for the jobs of the future in advanced technology sectors; we need to work with our teachers to innovate education and employ teaching methods that embrace emerging technologies; and we need to find solutions that help the 4 out of 10 Americans under 30 struggling to pay off excessive student loans, such as encouraging businesses that help employees pay of their student loans by offering payroll tax deductions. COMMON SENSE GUN REFORM Every day over 90 students, teachers, sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and co-workers are killed by gun violence. We must do more to stop this national epidemic. Now is not the time for partisan talking points that divide our country, we need to enact common-sense reforms that will keep all Americans safe. While the Second Amendment endows the right to bear arms, it also is understood to give every person the liberty to live without the fear of the unjustified violence that stems from firearms. Unfortunately, extremist organizations like the National Rifle Association have bought politicians who are too afraid to stand up to their corrupting influence, and block all reforms, even those with bipartisan and wide popular support. It’s time we pursue common-sense reforms that will keep our neighbors and family members safe. We need to implement mandatory background checks for all gun buyers, including online, at gun shows, and even for 3-D printed guns. We need to prevent all convicted domestic abusers from buying guns and once-and-for-all close the so-called “boyfriend loophole.” And we need to ban assault rifles and high capacity magazines, ban the sale of guns to violent criminals and the mentally ill, and ensure that every gun-buyer is subject to an appropriate waiting period for all purchases. HEALTH CARE AS A RIGHT While the Affordable Care Act was not perfect, it was a step in the right direction. The ACA did well to prohibit discrimination against those with pre-existing conditions and to allow children to stay on their parents’ plan until age 26. However, instead of working to adjust, reform, improve and expand the ACA, Republican leaders in Washington have taken to playing politics with Americans’ health care. I believe our nation’s health care system reflects how we treat each other in times of need. We need to join the rest of the advanced world and finally ensure that health care coverage is a right for every American. To achieve this goal, we must pursue Medicare for all as a long-term solution; we must attend to the nation’s most pressing public health crises, such as the opioid crisis, by prioritizing treatment and prevention efforts and ending the overprescription of painkillers; and we need to empower and expand organizations like Planned Parenthood, who help fill the void of our fragmented health care system. GETTING MONEY OUT OF POLITICS The 2018 midterms shattered records for midterm election spending. More than ever, the voices of everyday Americans are being crowded out by special interests and corporate Super PACs. All of this can be tied back to the Supreme Court’s decision to allow corporations to spend unlimited amounts in our elections, which has severely undermined our Democracy. I support ending Citizens United and have pledged to not take money from Big Oil, Big Tobacco, Big Pharma or the Gun Lobby — or any corporate PAC. PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT, PROPELLING THE ECONOMY The 48th Congressional District is one of the most remarkable places to live in the world. However, as Republican leaders in Washington continue to deny the threat of man-made climate change, the pristine natural beauty which makes our home district so special is under attack. I am working to protect California’s most precious asset, our beautiful coastlines, from new offshore drilling. We need to focus on consistently choosing clean energy over the fossil fuels of the past. As a businessman, I know firsthand that protecting the environment and incentivizing economic growth are not mutually exclusive goals, and that is why I support making Southern California the clean tech capital of the world. Clean energy innovation is not only better for the environment, but it also creates high paying jobs, economic growth, prosperity, energy choice and freedom from foreign dependence. And there is no better place in the world to unleash America’s clean energy potential than Southern California. We have all the ingredients: one of the best places in the world to live that attracts talented workers from around the globe; over 300 days of sunshine; a well-developed infrastructure; some of the world’s leading universities; an innovative culture; forward thinking municipalities; access to capital; and numerous high-tech businesses.[3] |
” |
| —Harley Rouda 2020 campaign website[4] | ||
Brian Burley
| “ |
A Platform For Our Country & For Our Future.
HEALTHCARE Position: Our country needs market-friendly and consumer-friendly healthcare policies that drive down healthcare costs. Anyone should be able to cover anyone on their plans, regardless of age or relation. Position: I support Block Grant Medicaid back to the States. BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT Proposal: Require Congress to Balance the Budget by 2030. Proposal: Pass Law Restricting Interest Payments to 3% of Federal Budget. COST OF HIGHER EDUCATION Position: I support capping Federal Student Loan amounts. I also support freezing other programs that cause tuition prices to constantly inflate. Proposal: Student Loan Principle PMT Tax Credit (5% Credit for Up to $200 Credit A Year). I AM FOR OUR COUNTRY Position: I support Our Constitution including the Right to Free Speech and the Right to Bear Arms. Position: I will always vote to Maintain and Support our Military Budget. Position: I will Protect and Fight for Religious Liberties. Position: I support State’s Rights. I AM FOR OUR FUTURE Proposal: Allow Investment Accounts for Parents to Put Money aside for Children’s Education, Trade School or to Start a Small Business (5% Credit for up to $200 Credit Annually). Position: I support defending the Right to Life as it is our Country’s Biggest Human Rights Issue. Position: I support School Choice. For more information on Brian Burley’s stances on the issues as well as to read his story and bio, visit BrianBurley.com[3] |
” |
| —Brian Burley 2020 campaign website[5] | ||
John Schuesler
| “ |
AMERICA'S EDUCATIONAL CRISIS
ARRIVAL OF THE TIPPING POINT
WARNING!!
VOTERS will find a good amount of "Pen to Paper" digital screaming on this website, as if a family member was about to be hit by a car. This Candidate is screaming to protect all Americans and their children effected by this educational crisis at hand.
CANDIDATE'S STATEMENT
Civil War is coming once again to the United States of America. This war will not be about the abolition of Slavery, but the forcible imposition of slavery upon the American people in the form of Marxist Socialism.
When the first bullets fly, when the hatred and justification to harm are traced back to the beginning, you’ll see that the Revolution began with the Marxist education of our youngest, K-12 children.
The Leftist Cult of Socialism has always functioned by igniting the latent emotions of jealousy and envy in people, leading to hatred and the perverse justification to kill.
At this very moment, in schools across California, the Socialist sickness of “Progressive Racism” is being injected into the innocent minds of our youngest school children. Our children of color are now given justification to hate their white classmates. The trigger of hatred, the great lie being taught, is that white children are “oppressing” children of color. The seed of hatred, and justification to harm, has been planted.
For over 100 years now, the Marxist use of the word “oppression” has always justified mass-murder of the innocent around the globe. Eventually these same Socialist values will get around to harming our fellow Jewish American citizens. None of this can ever be allowed in our United States of America.
Act now, elect a problem-solving Congressman with vision, that has always lived the obtainable “Dream” of Martin Luther King – Judge not by the color of ones skin, but by the content of ones character.
IDENTITY POLITICS IS THE POLITICS OF MASS MURDER
Socialist Identity Politics is when one group of people formulates a plan (like a new school curriculum) designed to justify the hatred and harm to another group of people.
Historically, Identity Politics led to the Genocide of Jewish people by the likes of Adolf Hitler and his National Socialist Party. In Africa, the Rwandan Genocide pitted the Hutu tribe against the Tutsi people. In the span of only 3 months nearly one million innocent Tutsi men, women, and children would loose their lives. The Cambodian Genocide, led by the Marxist Socialist teachings of Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge, led to the death of what is estimated to be, at least one third of the population, between one to two millions people murdered en-mass because of their professional identity.
For a number of good reasons we don't allow the genocidal Identity Politics of the Socialist Nazi Cult into our school systems, then why should we allow the mass murdering Identity Politics of Lenin's Soviet Socialists or Pol Pot Cambodian Socialism, which are both rooted within the Marxist Cult, into the American class room today?
From 2015 through 2019, there were 250 life threatening injuries, combined with a total of 106 deaths of children and young adults that were simply trying to attend Grade School or High Schools in the United States. We don’t need to give our children additional Marxist and Socialist reasons to kill one and other.
THE SOLUTION IS SIMPLE
“To fight that which is Evil, one must first be able to identify the Evil”
I have personally spoken to a number of teachers, who are genuinely ashamed of what they are obligated to teach in the classrooms now days. Most of them don’t even know about this latest and most dangerous volley of educational insanity aimed at our children.
If we can wakeup our community and work together we can put a stop to this educational madness and keep the cancer of Marxist Socialism out of the innocent minds of our children.
Remember WE have control and WE can start like this:
SUMMARY:
Regarding the content and context of my Congressional Candidate’s Statement, which appears above, and in the Voter Information Guide, I would like to clarify the following:
That I have made mention of an upcoming “Civil War” coupled to “Revolution” coupled to death of the innocent people in the future. With respect to this Statement, I can say without any hesitation, that there is no one on the face of this earth that hopes to be wrong more than I do.
On the other hand, if one simply takes a quick glance at our not so distant national history, along with a review of human nature and common sense, then you might find yourself on my side and acknowledging the validity of this Statement.
Historically, there is a real basis for concern, and my “Call to Action” candidacy will put a stop to the madness of “Cultural Marxism” that demands violence and Revolution in our community and schools, but I will need your support.
Back in the 60s and 70s, we had domestic American Terrorists; they became convicted criminals and murders. Most of the Terrorists received their Marxist indoctrination; justification to commit acts of terror and kill, at the University levels. This is no secret to anyone, as it is historic fact. Now at this very moment, we allow the same Marxist indoctrination, not just at the University levels, but also in grades K-12? Are we out of our minds!!
PAST: Time Magazine article from 2016
At ages where our young children are at their most innocent, vulnerable and impressionable, we as a community are allowing these precious young souls to be exposed to, and triggered by, the same hatred driven Marxist cult teachings that killed handfuls of innocent people, both in America and Western Europe in the 60s, and killed millions of people under Socialist and Communist monsters around the globe since the Russian Revolution. What are the rational people suppose to conclude? Why are we allowing this to happen? Won’t you join me in this journey to scream from the tallest mountaintop that we must stop this insanity!! This is why I am running for Congress.
In addition, there are very few people, which I speak with on a daily basis, that do NOT believe that we are already in a “COLD” Civil War at this very moment in time. They constantly remind me, in person and online, that when the “HOT” Civil War starts they are going to be ready. Stating that they have their guns and that no tyrannical government - nobody – no way – is anyone going to take their guns without a fight. My question to them is this, WHY do we have to allow this country and events within our great nation to get to the point where citizens even have to consider using their guns at all?
If my Candidate’s Statement serves as a “Wake Up Call” for our Congressional District and the rest of our nation, if my fellow citizens that have yet to conceive what has been deceitfully taking place under our collective noses, just outside our District, if we now act together and stop this education hatred, which has its roots in Marxist Socialism, which has already traumatized and emotionally harmed K-12 students within the Santa Barbara Unified School District, and has led to the filing of a lawsuit, then I will consider my candidacy and my efforts as a job well done.
PRESENT: California Parents’ Lawsuit To Block Racist, ‘Social Justice’ Agenda On Children Instruction In Santa Barbara Schools Moves Forward
Furthermore, when we are able to break away from this new progressive, historically murderous and perverse teaching of hatred in the classroom, and change course, change our compass heading in the direction of Martin Luther King’s “Dream” where people “will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character” then we can all join together with our children in celebration.
All Americans, of any and all political parties need to stand together now and put a STOP to this tragedy!! No Mother or Father sends their child to school, hoping that the teacher turns their loved one into a racist or a terrorist. Where are all those rational and responsible teachers and administrators in all of this? Do they want Marxist blood on their hands? I don’t think so, and I am sure that they will stand with us.
As an optimist, I know very well that we can make the difference, we can turn this around and we can elect John Thomas Schuesler to Congress in our 48th District, for our children and our future.
Reference Links:
Group Files Another Lawsuit Against Santa Barbara School District Over Cultural Proficiency Training Parents, teachers battle back against schools’ ‘social justice’ program 83 Groups Condemn Anti-Semitic Marxist Ethnic Studies Curriculum That Omits Jews
Politically, it all begins with the French Revolution and its cult worship of Reason and some unidentified Supreme Being. Then came the German Prophet, Karl Marx, he was next in line to further the progressive cult worship of mankind, under the guise of science; producing men that would become genocidal mass murders. These Leaders promised the Cult Worshipers a new world, known as Utopia, or Heaven on Earth. The single greatest lie ever told on the face of this earth.
Today those same degenerate Marxist motivational principles of jealousy, envy and hate are wreaking havoc in the K-12 school systems, on the college campus, mainstream media, Hollywood and the “New Green Deal” Democratic Party in its attempt to take over the nation’s economy, not promising Heaven on Earth, but to save Planet Earth. The Marxist methodology hasn’t changed; they’ve just relabeled the message. In what is now called a “Post Christian World” mankind has just completed the circle, people are back to worshiping Mother Earth, plants and animals.
PLAIN AND SIMPLE IS OUR WORLD
German Marxist Principles vs. American Founder Principles
The world we live in is really quite simple, because human beings are not so complicated after all. What sort of world might you like to live in, the world of Marxism or that world made possible by our Declaration of Independence and Constitution?
Two parents bring their toddlers to the park, and leave them alone to play in the sandbox. One of them has a plastic shovel and pale to play with, the other child brought nothing to play with. Eventually the child that came with no toys, becomes filled with jealousy and envy, and physically takes the pale and shovel away from the other child.
In the mind of a traditional American parent, theft of the pale and shovel was wrong. In the mind of the Marxist parent confiscation of the pale and shovel was justified because it was done in the name of equality.
Never in the history of mankind have so many innocent people died due to the Socialist perversion of the word know as “Equality” and the lie that Marxism, Leftism, Socialism and Communism are going to bring us all Heaven on Earth.
In 1846 Moses Hess wrote “A Communist Confession of Faith” stating that: “The Christian…imagines the better future of the human species… in the image of Heavenly joy…We, on the other hand, will have this heaven on earth.”
The belief that humans can be “perfected” and that “Heaven on Earth” is just around the corner, is still with us today and could ONLY exist because we gave up our educational system to the LUNITICS of higher learning.
THE ROAD TO HEAVEN ON EARTH
Karl Marx clearly stated that Socialism and Communism were the scientific replacement of Biblical Judeo-Christian values with his ideas, which would lead us to Heaven on Earth, Utopia. Where Jealousy, Envy and Hatred coupled to Revolutionary mass murder and genocide are the tools to be used to get us to the promise land.
Karl Marx and his book of Cult Worship, AKA: the Communist Manifesto can best be seen as a GPS tool or a roadmap to the Heaven on Earth destination for all of mankind. If we all get on the highway and follow the GPS directions toward Utopia, we are now allowed to bring about Civil War, Revolution, and the killing of millions on the way, prior to arriving at our first stop called the city of Socialism.
There at the town hall of Socialism, the government owns and controls everything. Disciples of Marxism become God, telling the common man what is best for them, just like Xi, the President of Communist China does today.
This Marxist Cult of insanity, as we all know, turned out to be an abject failure around the world, no nation ever arrived at the town of Communism, let alone Utopia.
Having lived and worked among those good and innocent people forced to eke out an existence, just trying to survive behind the Socialist Iron Curtain, I began to empathize with those mentally and emotionally crippled by Socialism. Today our Democrat Party is calling for a Socialist Revolution in America, and I know full well that a Marxist Revolution will bring bloodshed and ruin to our United States of America.
As a documentary filmmaker, who has independently studied the roots of Leftism, and murderous Marxist Socialism, as someone who now knows that "Anti-Americanism" and “American self-hatred” are rooted in today’s Cult of Marxism, I also know that I must do something for my country.
If Americans only knew how much they should love themselves, and each other, love their nation and the American people for all the good we do around the world, for ourselves, and for other countries.
Instead we hate each other, primarily because we do not yet comprehend Cultural Marxism, Leftism, and Socialism, which by design demands the ruin of our great nation. Neither do we understand the Anti-American hatred behind the Leftist German Green Party – Global Warming and the Kyoto Protocol, or the Socialist French neurosis and hatred of America, behind the call for a Multipolar world after the fall of Soviet Socialism.
How can we make wise decisions if we do NOT fully understand the world we’re living in? Our collective knowledge deficit is the fault of the Democratic Party, Socialist educators, and the Leftist mainstream media within our own country. This is something we must remedy for our own personal prosperity and the survival of our nation.
There is great irony in all of this, as Bernie Sanders the Socialist, wants America to be like Socialist Scandinavia and Western Europe. On the other hand President Donald J. Trump already knows that the United States subsidizes the very existence of Socialist Europe and the Socialist programs that Sanders now wants to replicate in the US. The American Left wants us to become that which couldn’t exist if Americans didn’t subsidize the existence of Western Europe.
The prosperity and very existence of Europe depends on the NATO umbrella, which depends on American taxpayer dollars. Our Socialist European allies have played the Americans like fools for decades now, and finally we have a President, a President named Donald J. Trump, who has the courage to call out the European freeloaders.
Socialism is a definable form of cult worship that limits prosperity of people around the globe. The good news is that Socialism, in all of its seductive cultural and political forms is very easy to understand once you get the hang of it. Once people comprehend the evil emotional poisons used to motivate and deceive people we will collectively chart a heading toward a better world that can include all Americans.
What good, individually or collectively, ever came from a cult or political system where the very existence of the person, or of a government, is dependent on the emotions of jealousy, envy and hatred to survive? The Cult of Marxist Socialism would never exist without hatred.
Conversely, the Founders of this great nation had another vision of prosperity, as put forth in our Declaration of Independence. This uniquely American vision of the future is why the United States today is the envy of the world. As your Congressman in the 48th District, I will use my voice to educate, re-establish and fortify our uplifting American values. This is also why I am respectfully running for Congress.
As a Congressional Candidate, John Thomas Schuesler supports and opposes the following:
LOCAL:
Education: We must eliminate the degenerate German Marxist ideology from our school systems and empower our youth with American educational values that allow our children and young adults to dream and accomplish without feeling Socialist guilt for having succeeded. Taxes: Taxation of our citizens is simply out of control and needs to be reduced, not increased. Sanctuary State and Cities: State and Local Governments that have declared themselves as "Sanctuary" for Illegal Immigration are immoral and breaking the law. Harley Rouda: Congressman Rouda is simply a robotic Democratic Party talking head. As a Dem-Bot he simply mimics the party line, without an independent thought anywhere in site. Calling for the unjustified, hyper-partisan, impeachment of our President Donald J. Trump and taking up the banner of the Socialist German Green Party and the Global Warming-Climate Change radicals. HOMELESS CRISIS: First and Foremost, we must legally and forcibly remove the homeless and drug users from any and all playground and child friendly locations within our district (Drug Paraphernalia, Syringes, Bodily Waste and Users on a Trip are a great danger to our children). Click Here To Read More
CIVIL WAR: The denigrate German Marxist ideology of Socialism and Communism demand Civil War and Revolution. Demands that humans use the emotions Jealousy and Envy to force us into a perverse world of Equality. I am against such forms of Cult Worship. Click Here To Read More RACISM: The cancer of Racism does NOT know the color of your skin, therefore anyone and everyone is capable of being a Racist. Click Here To Read More FIRST AMENDMENT: Freedom of Speech: Must be protected in all arenas of public life, on the streets, campus, online. Click Here To Read More SECOND AMENDMENT: Right to Bear Arms: The right to self protection must be preserved. Click Here To Read More ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: Must be stopped. Click Here To Read More VETERANS: We must do more for those brave and wonderful men and women that protect our country. The suicide rates amongst our Veterans is far too high and something must be done about it. Click Here To Read More POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS, ICE, BOARDER PATROL: I AM FOR: Supporting the efforts of these brave men and women who put their lives on the line every day to keep our cities and our Nation safe. The level of hatred that our first responders face is horrific and unjustifiable.
GLOBAL WARMING - CLIMATE CHANGE: I AM FOR: The cleanest air, water and food that this country can supply to each and every one of us, but I don’t want the Germans, French and European Union telling us how to go about it, and in the process purposely generating hatred towards Americans in an effort to soothe their sense of impotence and inferiority. Click Here To Read More SOCIALISM v. CAPITALISM: I AM AGAINST: All forms of Cult Marxism, Leftism-Socialism-Communism which use the emotions of jealousy, envy and hatred to oppress dreams, kill inspirations, render good people into self doubting slaves, dependent of the government for a hand out just to survive. Click Here To Read More WHO IS JOHN THOMAS SCHUESLER? JOHN THOMAS SCHUESLER is someone who, beginning at the age of 19, began making so many transatlantic flights to Europe, that he had to postpone his college education and never looked back. As a debt free individual, combined with the soul of a hard working Mid-Western American, young JOHN THOMAS began to follow his interests and passions around much of the world. Financial freedom allowed him to live the "American Dream” even in his teenage years.
Today, JOHN THOMAS is a successful and highly diversified, global problem solving Entrepreneur. His professional business skill set ranges from Italian Ferrari exports, to fingernail file imports into Poland and Latvia. Domestically, JOHN THOMAS is currently the CEO of a Real Estate Finance Corporation. Previously, he was an Importer of Sport and Racing automobiles; an Exporter of American made watercraft and offshore boats; a DOT Auto Safety & EPA Pollution control expert; combined with Classic Car Restoration; Auto Mechanic & Auto Body Paint; Mechanical Engineer, Fabricator, Welder; and the owner of a Construction Company.
When JOHN THOMAS SCHUESLER speaks about the dangers of Socialism seeping into our America like toxic waste, it is not because of some dishonest textbook indoctrination from some Leftist intellectual, or some fanciful understanding of esoteric concepts he learned from an agenda-driven college professor. Rather, it emanates from his deep personal curiosity and from his real life, hands-on experiences and observations. JOHN THOMAS has actually seen the results and remains of the murderous Cult of Socialism and Communism in action. He has worked independently in nine Socialist Western European Countries and in eight Communist Eastern Block European Countries. His wife was born behind the Iron Curtain; they’ve been happily married for over twenty years and have four lovely children to boot.
JOHN THOMAS also lived like Lawrence of Arabia for a time, with desert Bedouins in the United Arab Emirates. He is an Award winning Documentary Film Maker; an Investigative Journalist (interviewing the likes of French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine, Holocaust Survivor - Political Commentator Wolf Biermann, American Journalist – Author Kenneth Timmerman); he was even the Head Basketball Coach in the (Pre-NBA) Summer Pro League Tournament; he is a Mountain Climber (above 19,000 feet); an Automobile and Motor Cycle Racer; a Licensed Scuba Diver; a Vocalist; and a Licensed Gold Miner in Alaska, Oregon, Arizona and Nicaragua. He also ran with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain -- and he speaks five languages.
For me the American Dream has been a great blessing, PLEASE help me pass the Dream on to our children, help me turn our educational system into the Dream Factory. Imagine, our children off their cell phones long enough to experience the Artisan Education of Dream It, Think It, Do It!!
VOTE for JOHN THOMAS SCHUESLER[3] |
” |
| —John Schuesler 2020 campaign website[6] | ||
Michelle Steel
| “ |
LOWERING TAXES FOR ALL CALIFORNIANS Overburdened Californians are paying some of the nation’s highest income, sales, and gas taxes. This total failure of leadership by Governor Gavin Newsom and Sacramento legislators is hurting California families even more. At the California Board of Equalization, I stood up to the status quo and returned over $400 million back to Californians, and as a member of Congress I’ll fight to lower taxes for Orange County families, oppose any attempts to increase the federal gas tax, and work to restore the state and local tax (SALT) and mortgage interest deductions (MID). SECURING OUR BORDERS Our national security necessitates competent border security, and I support a physical barrier to protect our homeland from human traffickers, gangs, and drug smugglers. ENDING SANCTUARY STATE & CITIES While serving on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, I voted to join a federal lawsuit against California Senate Bill 54, the Sanctuary State Law signed by then-Governor Jerry Brown that restricts cooperation between local police and federal law enforcement agencies. California’s Sanctuary State Law prioritizes shielding criminals over the safety of California families and their constitutional rights. CREATING JOBS & GROWING OUR ECONOMY I have a proven track record of promoting free market principles and advocating for a more business friendly climate that grows the economy and creates good paying jobs in Orange County. As your U.S. Representative, I’ll fight out-of-touch socialist policies that hurt small businesses and drive more companies out of state. PROVIDING AMERICANS ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE & PRESCRIPTION DRUGS I oppose single payer healthcare — the government takeover of healthcare — that would eliminate private healthcare insurance and further increase taxes on Californians. I support a market-based system that gives Americans options to affordable, quality healthcare plans that cover pre-existing conditions and give them access to more affordable prescription drugs. PROTECTING OUR BEACHES & ENVIRONMENT Orange County is home to some of the Golden State’s most beautiful coastline. I’ll fight for common-sense and science-based policies to ensure our beaches and bays are clean for all Californians to enjoy. COMBATING THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS Orange County is facing a major homelessness crisis. With the help of regional leaders, I’ve led efforts to create thousands of new supportive housing units that provide medical care, mental health treatment, job counseling, and social services. I’ll continue to support these types of sensible approaches, as well as more affordable housing, to ensure Orange County continues to lead in the fight to end the homelessness epidemic. CARING FOR OUR VETERANS Our nation’s veterans have sacrificed for our country and deserve the best possible care. One of my top priorities is to ensure veterans have access to quality and timely medical care, housing, employment, and education opportunities. As a County Supervisor, I’m proud to have held an annual Orange County Hiring Fair to connect thousands of Orange County residents with hundreds of employers and also offer classes to prepare for interviews and prospective employment opportunities.[3] |
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| —Michelle Steel 2020 campaign website[7] | ||
Campaign advertisements
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Polls
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If you are aware of polls conducted in this race, please email us.
Campaign finance
This section contains campaign finance figures from the Federal Election Commission covering all candidate fundraising and spending in this election.[8] It does not include information on fundraising before the current campaign cycle or on spending by satellite groups. The numbers in this section are updated as candidates file new campaign finance reports. Candidates for Congress are required to file financial reports on a quarterly basis, as well as two weeks before any primary, runoff, or general election in which they will be on the ballot and upon the termination of any campaign committees.[9] The chart below contains data from financial reports submitted to the Federal Election Commission.
| Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harley Rouda | Democratic Party | $6,259,590 | $6,465,174 | $70,080 | As of December 31, 2020 |
| Brian Burley | Republican Party | $86,124 | $85,514 | $610 | As of December 31, 2020 |
| James Griffin | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| John Schuesler | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Michelle Steel | Republican Party | $6,428,813 | $6,271,739 | $157,074 | As of December 31, 2020 |
| Richard Mata | American Independent Party of California | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
|
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2020. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." |
|||||
Satellite spending
Satellite spending, commonly referred to as outside spending, describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[10][11][12]
This section lists satellite spending in this race reported by news outlets in alphabetical order. If you are aware of spending that should be included, please email us.
What's at stake in the general election?
U.S. House elections were held on November 3, 2020, and coincided with the 2020 presidential election. All 435 House districts were up for election, and the results determined control of the U.S. House in the 117th Congress.
At the time of the election, Democrats had a 232-197 advantage over Republicans. There was one Libertarian member, and there were five vacancies. Republicans needed to gain a net 21 seats to win control of the House. Democrats needed to gain seats or lose fewer than 14 net seats to keep their majority.
In the 2018 midterm election, Democrats had a net gain of 40 seats, winning a 235-200 majority in the House. Heading into the 2018 election, Republicans had a 235-193 majority with seven vacancies.
In the 25 previous House elections that coincided with a presidential election, the president's party had gained House seats in 16 elections and lost seats in nine. In years where the president's party won districts, the average gain was 18. In years where the president's party lost districts, the average loss was 27. Click here for more information on presidential partisanship and down-ballot outcomes.
General election race ratings
- See also: Race rating definitions and methods
Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:
- Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
- Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
- Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[13]
- Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.
Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[14][15][16]
| Race ratings: California's 48th Congressional District election, 2020 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race tracker | Race ratings | ||||||||
| November 3, 2020 | October 27, 2020 | October 20, 2020 | October 13, 2020 | ||||||
| The Cook Political Report | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | |||||
| Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | |||||
| Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | |||||
| Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every week throughout the election season. | |||||||||
District analysis
- See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
- See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores
The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+4, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 4 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made California's 48th Congressional District the 202nd most Republican nationally.[17]
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 0.99. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 0.99 points toward that party.[18]
Pivot Counties
- See also: Pivot Counties by state
There are no Pivot Counties in California. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.
In the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton (D) won California with 61.7 percent of the vote. Donald Trump (R) received 31.6 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, California voted Republican 53.33 percent of the time and Democratic 43.33 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, California voted Democratic all five times. In 2016, California had 55 electoral votes, which was the most of any state. The 55 electoral votes were 10.2 percent of all 538 available electoral votes and were 20.4 percent of the 270 electoral votes needed to win the election.
Presidential results by legislative district
The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state Assembly districts in California. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[19][20]
| In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 58 out of 80 state Assembly districts in California with an average margin of victory of 38.4 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 66 out of 80 state Assembly districts in California with an average margin of victory of 40.3 points. Clinton won 11 districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections. |
| In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 22 out of 80 state Assembly districts in California with an average margin of victory of 12.2 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 14 out of 80 state Assembly districts in California with an average margin of victory of 13 points. |
| 2016 Presidential Results by State Assembly District | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Obama | Romney | 2012 Margin | Clinton | Trump | 2016 Margin | Party Control |
| 1 | 39.63% | 57.31% | R+17.7 | 36.09% | 56.75% | R+20.7 | R |
| 2 | 64.68% | 30.51% | D+34.2 | 62.20% | 28.98% | D+33.2 | D |
| 3 | 42.41% | 54.46% | R+12.1 | 39.47% | 53.31% | R+13.8 | R |
| 4 | 63.16% | 33.86% | D+29.3 | 63.03% | 29.95% | D+33.1 | D |
| 5 | 41.27% | 55.92% | R+14.7 | 38.51% | 54.85% | R+16.3 | R |
| 6 | 38.59% | 59.09% | R+20.5 | 41.17% | 52.02% | R+10.9 | R |
| 7 | 67.59% | 29.61% | D+38 | 67.63% | 25.69% | D+41.9 | D |
| 8 | 51.72% | 45.62% | D+6.1 | 51.77% | 41.03% | D+10.7 | D |
| 9 | 60.56% | 37.52% | D+23 | 61.47% | 32.89% | D+28.6 | D |
| 10 | 73.76% | 23.28% | D+50.5 | 75.65% | 17.96% | D+57.7 | D |
| 11 | 60.96% | 36.87% | D+24.1 | 58.86% | 35.17% | D+23.7 | D |
| 12 | 45.19% | 52.50% | R+7.3 | 43.11% | 51.05% | R+7.9 | R |
| 13 | 64.23% | 33.88% | D+30.4 | 62.97% | 31.79% | D+31.2 | D |
| 14 | 68.80% | 28.72% | D+40.1 | 69.55% | 24.47% | D+45.1 | D |
| 15 | 86.82% | 9.56% | D+77.3 | 87.39% | 7.04% | D+80.4 | D |
| 16 | 57.74% | 40.10% | D+17.6 | 64.47% | 29.23% | D+35.2 | R |
| 17 | 87.07% | 9.36% | D+77.7 | 88.12% | 6.95% | D+81.2 | D |
| 18 | 86.89% | 10.23% | D+76.7 | 85.89% | 8.44% | D+77.5 | D |
| 19 | 78.94% | 18.38% | D+60.6 | 81.63% | 13.34% | D+68.3 | D |
| 20 | 75.74% | 22.15% | D+53.6 | 75.52% | 19.12% | D+56.4 | D |
| 21 | 55.61% | 42.03% | D+13.6 | 54.63% | 39.46% | D+15.2 | D |
| 22 | 71.43% | 26.31% | D+45.1 | 75.16% | 19.75% | D+55.4 | D |
| 23 | 43.46% | 54.71% | R+11.2 | 43.95% | 50.78% | R+6.8 | R |
| 24 | 72.16% | 24.96% | D+47.2 | 78.19% | 15.93% | D+62.3 | D |
| 25 | 72.40% | 25.26% | D+47.1 | 73.61% | 20.90% | D+52.7 | D |
| 26 | 41.15% | 56.68% | R+15.5 | 41.54% | 52.93% | R+11.4 | R |
| 27 | 76.36% | 21.54% | D+54.8 | 77.76% | 17.29% | D+60.5 | D |
| 28 | 66.64% | 30.77% | D+35.9 | 70.63% | 23.08% | D+47.6 | D |
| 29 | 69.95% | 26.66% | D+43.3 | 70.00% | 22.96% | D+47 | D |
| 30 | 66.99% | 30.86% | D+36.1 | 66.70% | 27.32% | D+39.4 | D |
| 31 | 61.98% | 36.21% | D+25.8 | 62.13% | 32.93% | D+29.2 | D |
| 32 | 56.20% | 41.81% | D+14.4 | 56.50% | 37.98% | D+18.5 | D |
| 33 | 41.80% | 55.51% | R+13.7 | 40.02% | 54.61% | R+14.6 | R |
| 34 | 33.96% | 63.85% | R+29.9 | 34.07% | 60.21% | R+26.1 | R |
| 35 | 47.82% | 49.42% | R+1.6 | 49.57% | 43.43% | D+6.1 | R |
| 36 | 48.79% | 48.48% | D+0.3 | 49.94% | 43.86% | D+6.1 | R |
| 37 | 60.97% | 36.28% | D+24.7 | 64.27% | 29.21% | D+35.1 | D |
| 38 | 46.73% | 50.84% | R+4.1 | 49.64% | 44.39% | D+5.2 | R |
| 39 | 73.75% | 23.67% | D+50.1 | 74.64% | 19.80% | D+54.8 | D |
| 40 | 53.14% | 44.72% | D+8.4 | 54.08% | 40.01% | D+14.1 | R |
| 41 | 59.74% | 37.72% | D+22 | 62.82% | 31.27% | D+31.5 | D |
| 42 | 44.98% | 52.93% | R+7.9 | 45.61% | 49.70% | R+4.1 | R |
| 43 | 67.35% | 29.62% | D+37.7 | 68.94% | 25.45% | D+43.5 | D |
| 44 | 52.37% | 45.51% | D+6.9 | 57.12% | 36.99% | D+20.1 | D |
| 45 | 63.46% | 34.12% | D+29.3 | 67.36% | 27.39% | D+40 | D |
| 46 | 73.73% | 23.65% | D+50.1 | 76.20% | 18.48% | D+57.7 | D |
| 47 | 71.49% | 26.54% | D+44.9 | 70.10% | 24.80% | D+45.3 | D |
| 48 | 64.08% | 33.44% | D+30.6 | 65.60% | 28.50% | D+37.1 | D |
| 49 | 64.69% | 33.26% | D+31.4 | 67.57% | 27.17% | D+40.4 | D |
| 50 | 70.79% | 26.51% | D+44.3 | 76.72% | 18.33% | D+58.4 | D |
| 51 | 83.48% | 13.50% | D+70 | 84.05% | 10.19% | D+73.9 | D |
| 52 | 65.01% | 32.92% | D+32.1 | 65.78% | 28.71% | D+37.1 | D |
| 53 | 84.64% | 12.59% | D+72 | 84.83% | 9.63% | D+75.2 | D |
| 54 | 83.62% | 13.88% | D+69.7 | 85.15% | 10.12% | D+75 | D |
| 55 | 45.77% | 52.23% | R+6.5 | 49.92% | 44.61% | D+5.3 | R |
| 56 | 62.14% | 36.26% | D+25.9 | 64.21% | 31.24% | D+33 | D |
| 57 | 63.71% | 34.01% | D+29.7 | 65.92% | 28.39% | D+37.5 | D |
| 58 | 70.24% | 27.80% | D+42.4 | 72.54% | 22.26% | D+50.3 | D |
| 59 | 93.24% | 5.19% | D+88 | 90.70% | 5.09% | D+85.6 | D |
| 60 | 51.32% | 46.31% | D+5 | 52.48% | 41.97% | D+10.5 | D |
| 61 | 63.43% | 34.55% | D+28.9 | 62.47% | 31.62% | D+30.9 | D |
| 62 | 80.81% | 17.00% | D+63.8 | 82.05% | 13.06% | D+69 | D |
| 63 | 76.06% | 21.73% | D+54.3 | 77.35% | 17.38% | D+60 | D |
| 64 | 88.74% | 9.98% | D+78.8 | 86.21% | 9.61% | D+76.6 | D |
| 65 | 51.90% | 45.68% | D+6.2 | 56.73% | 37.28% | D+19.4 | D |
| 66 | 54.18% | 43.24% | D+10.9 | 59.97% | 33.60% | D+26.4 | D |
| 67 | 39.61% | 58.33% | R+18.7 | 38.89% | 55.94% | R+17.1 | R |
| 68 | 42.55% | 55.12% | R+12.6 | 49.42% | 44.58% | D+4.8 | R |
| 69 | 67.37% | 30.30% | D+37.1 | 71.94% | 22.33% | D+49.6 | D |
| 70 | 67.38% | 29.93% | D+37.5 | 68.13% | 25.09% | D+43 | D |
| 71 | 38.47% | 59.51% | R+21 | 38.19% | 56.26% | R+18.1 | R |
| 72 | 46.71% | 51.06% | R+4.4 | 51.40% | 43.13% | D+8.3 | R |
| 73 | 38.68% | 59.36% | R+20.7 | 43.89% | 50.38% | R+6.5 | R |
| 74 | 45.14% | 52.42% | R+7.3 | 50.71% | 43.29% | D+7.4 | R |
| 75 | 39.42% | 58.50% | R+19.1 | 43.22% | 50.68% | R+7.5 | R |
| 76 | 48.76% | 49.04% | R+0.3 | 53.11% | 40.38% | D+12.7 | R |
| 77 | 48.25% | 49.83% | R+1.6 | 55.16% | 38.94% | D+16.2 | R |
| 78 | 63.15% | 34.08% | D+29.1 | 67.48% | 25.85% | D+41.6 | D |
| 79 | 61.21% | 36.91% | D+24.3 | 64.24% | 30.04% | D+34.2 | D |
| 80 | 69.47% | 28.67% | D+40.8 | 73.15% | 21.34% | D+51.8 | D |
| Total | 60.35% | 37.19% | D+23.2 | 62.25% | 31.89% | D+30.4 | - |
| Source: Daily Kos | |||||||
Candidate ballot access
The table below details filing requirements for 48th Congressional District candidates in California in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in California, click here.
| Filing requirements, 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Office | Party | Signatures required | Signature formula | Filing fee | Filing fee formula | Filing deadline | Source |
| California | 48th Congressional District | All candidates | 2,000 | Fixed number | $1,740.00 | 1% of annual salary | 12/6/2019 | Source |
District history
2018
General election
General election for U.S. House California District 48
Harley Rouda defeated incumbent Dana Rohrabacher in the general election for U.S. House California District 48 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Harley Rouda (D) | 53.6 | 157,837 |
 | Dana Rohrabacher (R) | 46.4 | 136,899 | |
| Total votes: 294,736 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 48
The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House California District 48 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Dana Rohrabacher (R) | 30.3 | 52,737 |
| ✔ | | Harley Rouda (D) | 17.3 | 30,099 |
 | Hans Keirstead (D) | 17.2 | 29,974 | |
 | Scott Baugh (R) | 15.8 | 27,514 | |
 | Omar Siddiqui (D) | 5.0 | 8,658 | |
 | John Gabbard (R) | 3.3 | 5,664 | |
 | Rachel Payne (D) | 2.1 | 3,598 | |
 | Paul Martin (R) | 1.7 | 2,893 | |
 | Shastina Sandman (R) | 1.6 | 2,762 | |
 | Michael Kotick (D) | 1.5 | 2,606 | |
 | Laura Oatman (D) | 1.4 | 2,412 | |
| Deanie Schaarsmith (D) | 0.8 | 1,433 | ||
 | Tony Zarkades (D) | 0.7 | 1,281 | |
 | Brandon Reiser (L) | 0.6 | 964 | |
 | Stelian Onufrei (R) | 0.4 | 739 | |
 | Kevin Kensinger (Independent) | 0.4 | 690 | |
| Total votes: 174,024 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Boyd Roberts (D)
2016
Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Incumbent Dana Rohrabacher (R) defeated Suzanne Savary (D) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Rohrabacher and Savary defeated Robert John Banuelos (D) in the top-two primary on June 7, 2016.[21][22]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Dana Rohrabacher Incumbent |
58.3% | 178,701 | |
| Democratic | Suzanne Savary | 41.7% | 127,715 | |
| Total Votes | 306,416 | |||
| Source: California Secretary of State | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |
Dana Rohrabacher Incumbent |
56.6% | 92,815 | |
| Democratic | Suzanne Savary |
28.9% | 47,395 | |
| Democratic | Robert Banuelos | 14.5% | 23,867 | |
| Total Votes | 164,077 | |||
| Source: California Secretary of State |
||||
| Click [show] for previous cycle election results. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014
2012
2010On November 2, 2010, John Campbell won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Beth Krom (D) and Mike Binkley (L) in the general election.[23]
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
State profile
- See also: California and California elections, 2020
Partisan data
The information in this section was current as of January 23, 2020
Presidential voting pattern
- California voted for the Democratic candidate in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
Congressional delegation
- Both U.S. Senators from California were Democrats.
- California had 45 Democratic and six Republican U.S. Representatives, with two vacancies.
State executives
- Democrats held 10 and Republicans held one of California's 21 state executive offices. Elections for the other offices are nonpartisan.
- California's governor was Gavin Newsom (D).
State legislature
- Democrats controlled the California State Senate with a 29-10 majority, with one vacancy.
- Democrats controlled the California State Assembly with a 61-19 majority.
California Party Control: 1992-2025
Twenty years with Democratic trifectas • No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| 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 |
|
|
| Demographic data for California | ||
|---|---|---|
| California | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 38,993,940 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 155,779 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 61.8% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 5.9% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 13.7% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0.4% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 4.5% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 38.4% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 81.8% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 31.4% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $61,818 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 18.2% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in California. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
See also
- California's 48th Congressional District election, 2020
- United States House elections in California, 2020 (March 3 top-two primaries)
- United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2020
- United States House Republican Party primaries, 2020
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2020
- U.S. House battlegrounds, 2020
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Harley Rouda 2020 campaign website, "Issues," accessed February 6, 2020
- ↑ Brian Burley 2020 campaign website, "My Platform," accessed February 6, 2020
- ↑ John Schuesler 2020 campaign website, "Home," accessed February 6, 2020
- ↑ Michelle Steel 2020 campaign website, "On the Issues," accessed February 6, 2020
- ↑ Fundraising by primary candidates can be found on the race's respective primary election page. Fundraising by general election candidates can be found on the race's general election page.
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "2022 Quarterly Reports," accessed March 2, 2022
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed September 22, 2015
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed September 22, 2015
- ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," November 6, 2015
- ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
- ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
- ↑ 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
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
