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California's 8th Congressional District
California's 8th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives is represented by John Garamendi (D).
As of the 2020 Census, California representatives represented an average of 761,091 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 704,566 residents.
Elections
See also: California's 8th Congressional District election, 2030
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
See also: California's 8th Congressional District election, 2028
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
See also: California's 8th Congressional District election, 2026
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for U.S. House California District 8
Incumbent John Garamendi (D), Nicolas Carjuzaa (D), Harinder Lamba (D), Aaron Rowden (D), and Rudy Recile (R) are running in the general election for U.S. House California District 8 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | John Garamendi (D) | |
 | Nicolas Carjuzaa (D) | |
 | Harinder Lamba (D) | |
| Aaron Rowden (D) | ||
 | Rudy Recile (R) | |
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Mandy Ghusar (Peace and Freedom Party)
See also: California's 8th Congressional District election, 2024
General election
General election for U.S. House California District 8
Incumbent John Garamendi (D) defeated Rudy Recile (R) in the general election for U.S. House California District 8 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John Garamendi (D) | 74.0 | 201,962 |
| | Rudy Recile (R) | 26.0 | 71,068 | |
| Total votes: 273,030 | |||
| = 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
Nonpartisan primary election for U.S. House California District 8
Incumbent John Garamendi (D) and Rudy Recile (R) advanced from the primary for U.S. House California District 8 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John Garamendi (D) | 77.0 | 100,193 |
| ✔ | | Rudy Recile (R) | 23.0 | 29,944 |
| Total votes: 130,137 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
See also: California's 8th Congressional District election, 2022
General election
General election for U.S. House California District 8
Incumbent John Garamendi (D) defeated Rudy Recile (R) in the general election for U.S. House California District 8 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John Garamendi (D) | 75.7 | 145,501 |
| | Rudy Recile (R) | 24.3 | 46,634 | |
| Total votes: 192,135 | |||
| = 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
Nonpartisan primary election for U.S. House California District 8
The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House California District 8 on June 7, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John Garamendi (D) | 63.1 | 72,333 |
| ✔ | | Rudy Recile (R) | 20.5 | 23,518 |
 | Cheryl Sudduth (D) | 9.9 | 11,378 | |
 | Christopher Riley (D) | 3.4 | 3,926 | |
 | Edwin Rutsch (D) | 2.9 | 3,268 | |
| Demnlus Johnson (D) (Write-in) | 0.2 | 234 | ||
| Total votes: 114,657 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
See also: California's 8th Congressional District election, 2020
General election
General election for U.S. House California District 8
Jay Obernolte (R) defeated Chris Bubser (D) in the general election for U.S. House California District 8 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Jay Obernolte (R) | 56.1 | 158,711 |
 | Chris Bubser (D) | 43.9 | 124,400 | |
| Total votes: 283,111 | |||
| = 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
Nonpartisan primary election for U.S. House California District 8
The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House California District 8 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jay Obernolte (R) | 34.9 | 50,677 |
| ✔ | | Chris Bubser (D) | 28.7 | 41,595 |
 | Tim Donnelly (R) | 20.7 | 30,079 | |
 | Bob Conaway (D) | 6.2 | 9,053 | |
 | Jeff Esmus (Independent) | 2.8 | 4,042 | |
 | James Ellars (D) | 2.7 | 3,948 | |
 | Jeremy Staat (R) | 1.6 | 2,288 | |
| Jerry Laws (R) | 1.4 | 2,010 | ||
| Justin David Whitehead (R) | 0.9 | 1,305 | ||
 | Jacquetta Green (Unaffiliated) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 11 | |
| Total votes: 145,008 | |||
| = 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
- Paul Cook (R)
- Nathan Charette (R)
- Destiny Lovato (R)
- Peter Mathisen (Nonpartisan)
See also: United States House of Representatives elections in California, 2018
General election
General election for U.S. House California District 8
Incumbent Paul Cook (R) defeated Tim Donnelly (R) in the general election for U.S. House California District 8 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Paul Cook (R) | 60.0 | 102,415 |
| | Tim Donnelly (R) | 40.0 | 68,370 | |
| Total votes: 170,7850 | |||
| = 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
Nonpartisan primary election for U.S. House California District 8
Incumbent Paul Cook (R) and Tim Donnelly (R) defeated Marge Doyle (D), Rita Ramirez (D), and Ronald O'Donnell (D) in the primary for U.S. House California District 8 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Paul Cook (R) | 40.8 | 44,482 |
| ✔ | | Tim Donnelly (R) | 22.8 | 24,933 |
 | Marge Doyle (D) | 21.7 | 23,675 | |
 | Rita Ramirez (D) | 10.1 | 10,990 | |
 | Ronald O'Donnell (D) | 4.6 | 5,049 | |
| Total votes: 109,129 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
District map
Redistricting
2025-2026
After Texas Republicans launched their congressional redistricting effort, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) tweeted on July 15, 2025, "two can play that game."[16] In August 2025, California began taking official action toward congressional redistricting ahead of the 2026 elections. Redistricting in California required the passage of a constitutional amendment in a November special election to permit the adoption of a replacement map through 2030. On August 21, 2025, the California Legislature passed a redistricting plan setting a special election for a constitutional amendment to redraw the state's congressional district boundaries. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed the two bills and scheduled a Nov. 4, 2025, special election.[17] Voters approved the proposition by a 65%-35% vote, allowing the map that would make five districts more favorable to Democrats to take effect.[18]
2020-2021
After the 2020 census, the California Citizens Redistricting Commission voted 14-0 in favor of a new congressional district map on December 20, 2021, and delivered those maps to the secretary of state on December 27, 2021.[19][20] California was apportioned 52 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, a net loss of one seat compared to apportionment after the 2010 census. This map took effect for California's 2022 congressional elections.
How does redistricting in California work? In California, a non-politician commission draws both congressional and state legislative district lines. Established in 2008 by ballot initiative, the commission comprises 14 members: five Democrats, five Republicans, and four belonging to neither party. A panel of state auditors selects the pool of nominees from which the commissioners are appointed. This pool comprises 20 Democrats, 20 Republicans, and 20 belonging to neither party. The majority and minority leaders of both chambers of the state legislature may each remove two members from each of the aforementioned groups. The first eight commission members are selected at random from the remaining nominees. These first eight comprise three Democrats, three Republicans, and two belonging to neither party. The first eight commissioners appoint the remaining six, which must include two Democrats, two Republicans, and two belonging to neither party.[21]
Commissioners must meet the following requirements in order to serve:[21]
- Members must have voted in at least two of the last three statewide elections.
- Members cannot have switched party affiliation for at least five years.
- "Neither commissioners nor immediate family may have been, within 10 years of appointment, a candidate for federal or state office or member of a party central committee; an officer, employee, or paid consultant to a federal or state candidate or party; a registered lobbyist or paid legislative staff; or a donor of more than $2,000 to an elected candidate."
- Members cannot be "staff, consultants or contractors for state or federal government" while serving as commissioners. The same prohibition applies to the family of commission members.
In order to approve a redistricting plan, nine of the commission's 14 members must vote for it. These nine must include three Democrats, three Republicans, and three belonging to neither party. Maps drawn by the commission may be overturned by public referendum. In the event that a map is overturned by the public, the California Supreme Court must appoint a group to draw a new map.[21]
The California Constitution requires that districts be contiguous. Further, the state constitution mandates that "to the extent possible, [districts] must ... preserve the geographic integrity of cities, counties, neighborhoods and communities of interest." Districts must also "encourage compactness." State Senate and Assembly districts should be nested within each other where possible.[21]
2020
2024
2010-2011
In 2011, the California State Legislature re-drew the congressional districts based on updated population information from the 2010 census.
District analysis
- See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
- See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores
2026
Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is D+24. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 24 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made California's 8th the 37th most Democratic district nationally.[22]
2024
Heading into the 2024 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was D+26. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 26 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made California's 8th the 31st most Democratic district nationally.[23]
Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Joe Biden (D) would have defeated Donald Trump (R) 76.0%-22.0%.[24]
2022
Heading into the 2022 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was D+26. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 26 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made California's 8th the 31st most Democratic district nationally.[25]
Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Joe Biden (D) would have received 76.0% of the vote in this district and Donald Trump (R) would have received 22.0%.[26]
2018
Heading into the 2018 elections, based on results from the 2016 and 2012 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+9. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 9 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made California's 8th Congressional District the 144th most Republican nationally.[27]
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 0.97. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 0.97 points toward that party.[28]
See also
- Redistricting in California
- California's 8th Congressional District election, 2024
- California's 8th Congressional District election, 2022
- California's 8th Congressional District election, 2020
- California's 8th Congressional District election, 2018
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 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
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Statement of Vote," June 7, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "2012 Election Map, California," accessed August 15, 2012
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 2008," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2006," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2004," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 2002," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2000," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1998," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 1996," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 8, 1994," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1992," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 1990," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namednewsomtweet - ↑ New York Times, "California Democrats Pass Redistricting Plan to Counter Texas Republicans," August 21, 2025
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedapproved - ↑ Politico, "California’s new congressional map boosts Democrats," Dec. 21, 2021
- ↑ Lake County News, "California Citizens Redistricting Commission delivers maps to California Secretary of State," Dec. 28, 2021
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 All About Redistricting, "California," accessed April 21, 2015
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)," accessed July 1, 2025
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "The 2022 Cook Partisan Voting Index (Cook PVI℠)," accessed January 10, 2024
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2020 presidential results by congressional district, for new and old districts," accessed September 15, 2022
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "The 2022 Cook Partisan Voting Index (Cook PVI℠)," accessed February 6, 2023
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2020 presidential results by congressional district, for new and old districts," accessed September 15, 2022
- ↑ 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
