The 49th Congressional District of California held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 8, 2016.
California's 49th Congressional District was a battleground district in 2016. Incumbent Darrell Issa (R) defeated Douglas Applegate (D) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Issa and Applegate defeated Ryan Glenn Wingo (Independent) in the top-two primary on June 7, 2016.[4][5]
| Candidate Filing Deadline
|
Primary Election
|
General Election
|
| March 11, 2016 |
June 7, 2016 |
November 8, 2016
|
Primary: California utilizes a top-two primary system, which allows all candidates to run and all voters to vote but only moves the top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, to the general election.[6][7][8] Generally, primary elections are elections in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. In states that do not use a top-two system, both parties are usually able to put forward a candidate for the general election if they choose to.
Unlike the top-two format used in some states (Louisiana and Georgia special elections for example), a general election between the top two candidates in California occurs regardless of whether the top candidate received 50 percent of the vote in the first round of elections. For example, in the 2014 California gubernatorial primary, Gov. Jerry Brown (D) won 54.3 percent of the vote while his closest opponent, Neel Kashkari (R), won 19.4 percent. Both advanced to the general election on November 4, where Brown received 60 percent of the vote and Kashkari received 40 percent. If this would have been a Georgia special election, Brown would have been declared the winner after the first round because he won more than 50 percent of the vote.
As of 2017, California was one of three states to use a top-two primary system. Washington used the system for congressional and state-level elections, and Nebraska utilized a top-two system for its nonpartisan state legislature. Both California and Washington adopted their systems through direct democracy, with Washington passing Initiative 872 in 2004 and California approving Proposition 14 in 2010.
Incumbent: Heading into the election the incumbent was Darrell Issa (R), who was first elected in 2000.
California's 49th Congressional District is located in the southern portion of the state and includes Southern Orange County and western San Diego County.[9]
Election results
General election
| U.S. House, California District 49 General Election, 2016 |
| Party |
Candidate |
Vote % |
Votes |
| |
Republican |
 Darrell Issa Incumbent |
50.3% |
155,888 |
| |
Democratic |
Douglas Applegate |
49.7% |
154,267 |
| Total Votes |
310,155 |
| Source: California Secretary of State |
Primary election
| U.S. House, California District 49 Primary, 2016 |
| Party |
Candidate |
Vote % |
Votes |
| |
Republican |
Darrell Issa Incumbent |
50.8% |
84,626 |
| |
Democratic |
Douglas Applegate |
45.5% |
75,808 |
| |
Independent |
Ryan Wingo |
3.7% |
6,087 |
| Total Votes |
166,521 |
Source: California Secretary of State
|
Candidates
Polls
| California's 49th District - Darrell Issa vs. Doug Appplegate |
| Poll |
 Darrell Issa |
 Doug Applegate | Margin of Error | Sample Size |
|
Public Opinion Strategies
October 4-6, 2016 | 48% | 39% | +/-4.9 | 400 |
Tulchin Reserach/DCCC
September 28-30, 2016 | 42% | 46% | +/-4.9 | 400 |
DCCC
September 24-25, 2016 | 48% | 46% | +/-4.5 | 504 |
| Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org |
Media
Darrell Issa
Support
| "Our Congressman" - Issa's first campaign ad, released September 2016
|
|
| "Litmus Test" - Issa's second campaign ad, released September 2016
|
|
| "Dangerous" - Issa campaign ad, released October 2016
|
|
| "No Greater Champion" - Issa campaign ad, released October 2016
|
|
Opposition
| "OBVIOUS CHOICE" - DCCC ad opposing Issa, released October 2016
|
|
Doug Applegate
| "Darrell Issa's Lined Pockets" - Applegate's first campaign ad, released September 2016
|
|
| "Everything Changed" - Applegate ad opposing Issa, released October 2016
|
|
| "Access" - Applegate ad opposing Issa for supporting Trump, released October 2016
|
|
Campaign themes
Darrell Issa
| “
|
- Jobs and Economy: As small businessman and entrepreneur, I’ve worked tirelessly in Congress to create opportunity for hard-working Americans and put our economy back on track. Here in California we’ve seen first-hand how higher taxes and ever-increasing regulations have sent jobs everywhere but here. We need fresh solutions and unique approaches to bring jobs back to the Golden State.
- Veterans: As a former Army captain, my highest priority is ensuring our nation keeps its promise to the men and women who our country every day. Unfortunately, bureaucracy, mismanagement, and insufficient accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs have meant that, too often, our veterans don’t get the care they deserve.
- National Security: America must win the war against ISIS. The attacks in terrorist attacks in Orlando, San Bernadino and with our allies all around the world are desperate reminders that America is still at war against terrorist ideologies with the capacity to inspire and carry out large-scale attacks against us.
- Technology: We cannot be scared of the future. Defending policies that maintain America's status as the world's leader in technological innovation has been one of the hallmarks of my tenure in Congress. Before coming to Capitol Hill, I was in the electronics industry and saw first-hand the importance of supporting America’s innovators. In Congress, I have fought hard for policies that encourage growth in the digital economy and strive to educate my colleagues on the importance of supporting our new economy.
- Energy and Environment: Energy independence is crucial to the future of our national and economic security. The United States needs to pursue an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy to reduce our reliance on imported energy and lower the cost of gas and electricity for consumers.
[11]
|
”
|
| —Darrell Issa's campaign website
|
Douglas Applegate
| “
|
- ISIS and the Middle East: Congress keeps ducking its responsibilities to debate and vote on war/AUMF against ISIS in Syria & Iraq. While Republicans continue to insist that our allies don't trust us and our enemies don't fear us, the Republicans who control Congress, fear that a high-profile debate followed by a failed vote to authorize use of military force would display a disastrous public division, just like they were embarrassed in 2013 when a Republican led Congress failed to authorize airstrikes against President Bashar al-Assad of Syria.
- Gun rights and safety: Sandy Hook and the 372 U.S. mass shootings in 2015 are America's darkest failures since President Obama took office. Background checks alone and the NRA's myth of a good guy with a gun would have stopped only a small fraction of these shootings, less than 3% according to the FBI. "Armed for Combat-Armed for life" speaks to the Armed Forces required training and combat range qualification.
- Economy: Save the economy and the middle class without deficit spending, with gender pay and healthcare equality. End Wall Street’s bribery of Congress; Congress needs to stop Wall Street and casino bankers who gamble with Federal insured deposits making taxpayers cover their losses. Make America’s economy secure and great with wise investments to build the world’s best transportation, communications and a fully integrated renewable energy program across the nation.
- Immigration: Stop less 25% of Congress from blocking effective legislation like the 2013 bipartisan immigration bill, by ending the Hastert rule particularly since Hastert pled guilty to Federal hush-money charges linked to allegations of sexual misconduct with his minor students.
[11]
|
”
|
| —Doug Applegate's campaign website, http://www.applegateforcongress.com/
|
Campaign contributions
Source: This graphic was generated using data from the FEC.
Source: This graphic was generated using data from the FEC.Darrell Issa
Source: This graphic was generated using data from the FEC.Douglas Applegate
Source: This graphic was generated using data from the FEC.
| Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. | | Why is that? While candidates and parties must file detailed expenditure reports, independent organizations and unions are not required to file reports in every case. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. |
| Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. |
District history
2014
- See also: California's 49th Congressional District elections, 2014
The 49th Congressional District of California held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Darrell Issa (R) defeated Dave Peiser (D) in the general election.
| U.S. House, California District 49 General Election, 2014 |
| Party |
Candidate |
Vote % |
Votes |
| |
Republican |
Darrell Issa Incumbent |
60.2% |
98,161 |
| |
Democratic |
Dave Peiser |
39.8% |
64,981 |
| Total Votes |
163,142 |
| Source: California Secretary of State |
2012
- See also: California's 49th Congressional District elections, 2012
The 49th Congressional District of California held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. Incumbent Darrell Issa won re-election in the district.[12]
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
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "2016 House Race Ratings," accessed November 6, 2016
- ↑ Sabato's Crystal Ball, "2016 House," accessed November 6, 2016
- ↑ Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report, "House Ratings," accessed November 6, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 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 Website, "State Primary Election Types," accessed January 6, 2014
- ↑ Fair Vote, "Congressional and Presidential Primaries: Open, Closed, Semi-Closed, and 'Top Two,'" accessed January 6, 2014
- ↑ Ballotpedia research conducted December 26, 2013, through January 3, 2014, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes.
- ↑ California Redistricting Map, "Map," accessed September 25, 2012
- ↑ Applegate for Congress, "Home," accessed November 20, 2015
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Politico, "2012 Election Map, California," accessed August 15, 2012
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For information about public policy issues in the 2016 elections, see: Public policy in the 2016 elections!
Ryan Glenn Wingo (Independent)[4]
