California's 4th Congressional District

California's 4th Congressional District

Incumbent

Mike Thompson

Assumed office: January 3, 2023

California's 4th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives is represented by Mike Thompson (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

2024

See also: California's 4th Congressional District election, 2024

California's 4th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 top-two primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 4

Incumbent Mike Thompson defeated John Munn in the general election for U.S. House California District 4 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mike Thompson (D)	69.3	106,032
		John Munn (R)	30.7	46,919

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. Source	Total votes: 152,951
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 4

Incumbent Mike Thompson and John Munn defeated Andrew Engdahl and Niket Patwardhan in the primary for U.S. House California District 4 on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mike Thompson (D)	62.5	120,736
✔		John Munn (R)	30.4	58,787
		Andrew Engdahl (D)	6.0	11,492
		Niket Patwardhan (No party preference)	1.1	2,116

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 193,131
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Matt Brock (R)

2022

See also: California's 4th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 4

Incumbent Mike Thompson defeated Matt Brock in the general election for U.S. House California District 4 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mike Thompson (D)	67.8	176,900
		Matt Brock (R)	32.2	84,007

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 260,907
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 4

The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House California District 4 on June 7, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mike Thompson (D)	66.2	115,041
✔		Matt Brock (R)	16.3	28,260
		Scott Giblin (R)	9.7	16,914
		Andrew Engdahl (D)	5.0	8,634
		Jason Kishineff (Independent)	1.4	2,477
		Jimih Jones (R)	1.4	2,363
		Seth Newman (No party preference) (Write-in)	0.0	15

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 173,704
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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2020

See also: California's 4th Congressional District election, 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 4

Incumbent Tom McClintock defeated Brynne Kennedy in the general election for U.S. House California District 4 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tom McClintock (R)	55.9	247,291
		Brynne Kennedy (D)	44.1	194,731

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 442,022
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 4

The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House California District 4 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tom McClintock (R)	50.7	141,244
✔		Brynne Kennedy (D)	39.8	110,771
		Julianne Benzel (R)	4.4	12,138
		Robert Lawton (Independent)	1.7	4,848
		Jamie Byers (R)	1.7	4,822
		Jacob Thomas (R)	1.6	4,527

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 278,350
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Mario Christopher Wilson (R)
• Sean Frame (D)

2018

See also: California's 4th Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 4

Incumbent Tom McClintock defeated Jessica Morse in the general election for U.S. House California District 4 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tom McClintock (R)	54.1	184,401
		Jessica Morse (D)	45.9	156,253

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 340,654
= 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 4

The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House California District 4 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tom McClintock (R)	51.8	109,679
✔		Jessica Morse (D)	20.3	42,942
		Regina Bateson (D)	12.4	26,303
		Mitchell White (R)	6.8	14,433
		Roza Calderon (D)	6.4	13,621
		Robert Lawton (D)	2.2	4,593

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 211,571
= 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

• Steven Castellano (R)
• Richard Martin (D)
• Rochelle Wilcox (D)

2016

See also: California's 4th Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Incumbent Tom McClintock (R) defeated Bob Derlet (D) in the general election on November 8, 2016. McClintock and Derlet defeated Sean White (D) in the top-two primary on June 7, 2016.

U.S. House, California District 4 General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Tom McClintock Incumbent	62.7%	220,133
	Democratic	Bob Derlet	37.3%	130,845
Total Votes				350,978
Source: California Secretary of State

U.S. House, California District 4 Primary, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Tom McClintock Incumbent	61.5%	135,626
	Democratic	Bob Derlet	27.5%	60,574
	Democratic	Sean White	11.1%	24,460
Total Votes				220,660
Source: California Secretary of State

2014

See also: California's 4th Congressional District elections, 2014

The 4th Congressional District of California held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Tom McClintock (R) defeated Art Moore (R) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 4 General Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Tom McClintock Incumbent	60%	126,784
	Republican	Art Moore	40%	84,350
Total Votes				211,134
Source: California Secretary of State

2012

See also: California's 4th Congressional District elections, 2012

The 4th Congressional District of California held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. Incumbent Tom McClintock won re-election in the district.

U.S. House, California District 4 General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Tom McClintock Incumbent	61.1%	197,803
	Democratic	Jack Uppal	38.9%	125,885
Total Votes				323,688
Source: California Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

2010
On November 2, 2010, Tom McClintock won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Clint Curtis (D) and Ben Emery (G) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 4 General Election, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Tom McClintock incumbent	61.3%	186,397
	Democratic	Clint Curtis	31.4%	95,653
	Green	Ben Emery	7.3%	22,179
Total Votes				304,229

2008
On November 4, 2008, Tom McClintock won election to the United States House. He defeated Charlie Brown (D) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 4 General Election, 2008
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Tom McClintock	50.2%	185,790
	Democratic	Charlie Brown	49.8%	183,990
Total Votes				369,780

2006
On November 7, 2006, John Doolittle won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Charlie Brown (D) and Dan Warren (L) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 4 General Election, 2006
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	John Doolittle incumbent	49.1%	135,818
	Democratic	Charlie Brown	45.9%	126,999
	Libertarian	Dan Warren	5.1%	14,076
Total Votes				276,893

2004
On November 2, 2004, John Doolittle won re-election to the United States House. He defeated David Winters (D) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 4 General Election, 2004
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	John Doolittle incumbent	65.4%	221,926
	Democratic	David Winters	34.6%	117,443
Total Votes				339,369

2002
On November 5, 2002, John Doolittle won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Mark Norberg (D), Allen Roberts (L), Bill Kirby (Write-in) and Phillip James Parisius (Write-in) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 4 General Election, 2002
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	John Doolittle incumbent	64.8%	147,997
	Democratic	Mark Norberg	31.9%	72,860
	Libertarian	Allen Roberts	3.2%	7,247
	Write-in	Bill Kirby	0.2%	401
	Write-in	Phillip James Parisius	0%	1
Total Votes				228,506

2000
On November 7, 2000, John Doolittle won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Mark Norberg (D), William Fritz Frey (L) and Robert Ray (Natural Law) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 4 General Election, 2000
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	John Doolittle incumbent	63.4%	197,503
	Democratic	Mark Norberg	31.5%	97,974
	Libertarian	William Fritz Frey	3%	9,494
	Natural Law	Robert Ray	2.1%	6,452
Total Votes				311,423

1998
On November 3, 1998, John Doolittle won re-election to the United States House. He defeated David Shapiro (D) and Dan Winterrowd (L) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 4 General Election, 1998
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	John Doolittle incumbent	62.6%	155,306
	Democratic	David Shapiro	34.4%	85,394
	Libertarian	Dan Winterrowd	3%	7,524
Total Votes				248,224

1996
On November 5, 1996, John Doolittle won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Katie Hirning (D) and Patrick Lee McHargue (L) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 4 General Election, 1996
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	John Doolittle incumbent	60.5%	164,048
	Democratic	Katie Hirning	36.1%	97,948
	Libertarian	Patrick Lee McHargue	3.4%	9,319
Total Votes				271,315

1994
On November 8, 1994, John Doolittle won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Katie Hirning (D) and Damon Falconi (L) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 4 General Election, 1994
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	John Doolittle incumbent	61.3%	144,936
	Democratic	Katie Hirning	34.9%	82,505
	Libertarian	Damon Falconi	3.8%	8,882
Total Votes				236,323

1992
On November 3, 1992, John Doolittle won election to the United States House. He defeated Patricia Malberg (D) and Patrick Lee McHargue (L) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 4 General Election, 1992
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	John Doolittle	49.8%	141,155
	Democratic	Patricia Malberg	45.7%	129,489
	Libertarian	Patrick Lee McHargue	4.5%	12,705
	N/A	Write-in	0%	16
Total Votes				283,365

1990
On November 6, 1990, Vic Fazio won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Mark Baughman (R) and Bryce Bigwood (L) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 4 General Election, 1990
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Vic Fazio incumbent	54.7%	115,090
	Republican	Mark Baughman	39.3%	82,738
	Libertarian	Bryce Bigwood	6%	12,626
Total Votes				210,454

Redistricting

2020-2021

See also: Redistricting in California 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. 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.

Commissioners must meet the following requirements in order to serve:

1. Members must have voted in at least two of the last three statewide elections.
2. Members cannot have switched party affiliation for at least five years.
3. "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."
4. 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.

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.

California District 4
until January 2, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

California District 4
starting January 3, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

2010-2011

This is the 4th Congressional District of California after the 2001 redistricting process.

See also: Redistricting in California after the 2010 census

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

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+17. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 17 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made California's 4th the 85th most Democratic district nationally.

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) 67.1%-30.5%.

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+17. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 17 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made California's 4th the 83rd most Democratic district nationally.

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 67.1% of the vote in this district and Donald Trump (R) would have received 30.5%.

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+10. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 10 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made California's 4th Congressional District the 131st most Republican nationally.

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 1.11. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 1.11 points toward that party.

See also

• Redistricting in California
• California's 4th Congressional District election, 2024
• California's 4th Congressional District election, 2022
• California's 4th Congressional District election, 2020
• California's 4th Congressional District election, 2018

External links

• GovTrack District 4

Footnotes

[show]

California's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Laphonza Butler (D)

Alex Padilla (D)

Representatives

District 1

Doug LaMalfa (R)

District 2

Jared Huffman (D)

District 3

Kevin Kiley (R)

District 4

Mike Thompson (D)

District 5

Tom McClintock (R)

District 6

Ami Bera (D)

District 7

Doris Matsui (D)

District 8

John Garamendi (D)

District 9

Josh Harder (D)

District 10

Mark DeSaulnier (D)

District 11

Nancy Pelosi (D)

District 12

Barbara Lee (D)

District 13

John Duarte (R)

District 14

Eric Swalwell (D)

District 15

Kevin Mullin (D)

District 16

Anna Eshoo (D)

District 17

Ro Khanna (D)

District 18

Zoe Lofgren (D)

District 19

Jimmy Panetta (D)

District 20

Vince Fong (R)

District 21

Jim Costa (D)

District 22

David Valadao (R)

District 23

Jay Obernolte (R)

District 24

Salud Carbajal (D)

District 25

Raul Ruiz (D)

District 26

Julia Brownley (D)

District 27

Mike Garcia (R)

District 28

Judy Chu (D)

District 29

Tony Cárdenas (D)

District 30

Adam Schiff (D)

District 31

Grace Napolitano (D)

District 32

Brad Sherman (D)

District 33

Pete Aguilar (D)

District 34

Jimmy Gomez (D)

District 35

Norma Torres (D)

District 36

Ted Lieu (D)

District 37

Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D)

District 38

Linda Sánchez (D)

District 39

Mark Takano (D)

District 40

Young Kim (R)

District 41

Ken Calvert (R)

District 42

Robert Garcia (D)

District 43

Maxine Waters (D)

District 44

Nanette Barragán (D)

District 45

Michelle Steel (R)

District 46

Lou Correa (D)

District 47

Katie Porter (D)

District 48

Darrell Issa (R)

District 49

Mike Levin (D)

District 50

Scott Peters (D)

District 51

Sara Jacobs (D)

District 52

Juan Vargas (D)

Democratic Party (42)

Republican Party (12)