California's 51st Congressional District

California's 51st Congressional District

Incumbent

Sara Jacobs

Assumed office: January 3, 2023

California's 51st Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives is represented by Sara Jacobs (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 51st Congressional District election, 2024

California's 51st Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 top-two primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 51

Incumbent Sara Jacobs defeated Bill Wells in the general election for U.S. House California District 51 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sara Jacobs (D)	60.7	198,835
		Bill Wells (R)	39.3	128,749

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 327,584
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 51

Incumbent Sara Jacobs and Bill Wells defeated Stan Caplan and Hilaire Shioura in the primary for U.S. House California District 51 on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sara Jacobs (D)	57.4	90,901
✔		Bill Wells (R)	39.1	61,923
		Stan Caplan (No party preference)	2.0	3,164
		Hilaire Shioura (No party preference)	1.6	2,496

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 158,484
= 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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Saul Rodriguez (D)

2022

See also: California's 51st Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 51

Incumbent Sara Jacobs defeated Stan Caplan in the general election for U.S. House California District 51 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sara Jacobs (D)	61.9	144,186
		Stan Caplan (R)	38.1	88,886

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 233,072
= 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 51

Incumbent Sara Jacobs and Stan Caplan defeated Jose Cortes and Barrett Holman Leak in the primary for U.S. House California District 51 on June 7, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sara Jacobs (D)	60.5	91,329
✔		Stan Caplan (R)	37.2	56,183
		Jose Cortes (Peace and Freedom Party of California)	2.2	3,343
		Barrett Holman Leak (D) (Write-in)	0.0	55

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 150,910
= 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

• Benjamin de Ganna (D)

2020

See also: California's 51st Congressional District election, 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 51

Incumbent Juan Vargas defeated Juan Hidalgo in the general election for U.S. House California District 51 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Juan Vargas (D)	68.3	165,596
		Juan Hidalgo (R)	31.7	76,841

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 242,437
= 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 51

Incumbent Juan Vargas and Juan Hidalgo advanced from the primary for U.S. House California District 51 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Juan Vargas (D)	71.4	77,744
✔		Juan Hidalgo (R)	28.6	31,209

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 108,953
= 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

• Aeiramique Glass Blake (D)
• Alejandro Rodriguez (R)

2018

See also: California's 51st Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 51

Incumbent Juan Vargas defeated Juan Hidalgo in the general election for U.S. House California District 51 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Juan Vargas (D)	71.2	109,527
		Juan Hidalgo (R)	28.8	44,301

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 153,828
= 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 51

The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House California District 51 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Juan Vargas (D)	64.0	50,132
✔		Juan Hidalgo (R)	15.3	11,979
	Submit photo	John Renison Jr. (R)	14.0	10,972
		Juan Carlos Mercado (Independent)	3.1	2,452
		Kevin Mitchell (Independent)	1.9	1,473
		Louis Fuentes (R)	1.7	1,310

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 78,318
= 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.

2016

See also: California's 51st Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Democratic. Incumbent Juan Vargas (D) defeated Juan Hidalgo Jr. (R) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Vargas and Hidalgo defeated Juan Mercado-Flores (D) and Carlos Sanchez (R) in the top-two primary on June 7, 2016.

U.S. House, California District 51 General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Juan Vargas Incumbent	72.8%	145,162
	Republican	Juan Hidalgo Jr.	27.2%	54,362
Total Votes				199,524
Source: California Secretary of State

U.S. House, California District 51 Primary, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Juan Vargas Incumbent	66.8%	69,522
	Republican	Juan Hidalgo Jr.	15.4%	16,053
	Democratic	Juan Mercado-Flores	9.4%	9,781
	Republican	Carlos Sanchez	8.3%	8,681
Total Votes				104,037
Source: California Secretary of State

2014

See also: California's 51st Congressional District elections, 2014

The 51st Congressional District of California held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Juan Vargas (D) defeated Stephen Meade (R) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 51 General Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Juan Vargas Incumbent	68.8%	56,373
	Republican	Stephen Meade	31.2%	25,577
Total Votes				81,950
Source: California Secretary of State

2012

See also: California's 51st Congressional District elections, 2012

The 51st Congressional District of California held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. Democrat Juan Vargas won election in the district.

U.S. House, California District 51 General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Juan Vargas	71.5%	113,934
	Republican	Michael Crimmins	28.5%	45,464
Total Votes				159,398
Source: California Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

2010
On November 2, 2010, Bob Filner won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Nick Popaditch (R) and Marcus Jay Shapiro (Write-in) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 51 General Election, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Bob Filner incumbent	60.1%	86,426
	Republican	Nick Popaditch	39.9%	57,488
	Write-in	Marcus Jay Shapiro	0%	5
Total Votes				143,919

2008
On November 4, 2008, Bob Filner won re-election to the United States House. He defeated David Lee Joy (R) and Dan Litwin (L) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 51 General Election, 2008
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Bob Filner incumbent	72.7%	148,281
	Republican	David Lee Joy	24.2%	49,345
	Libertarian	Dan Litwin	3%	6,199
Total Votes				203,825

2006
On November 7, 2006, Bob Filner won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Blake Miles (R) and Dan Litwin (L) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 51 General Election, 2006
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Bob Filner incumbent	67.4%	78,114
	Republican	Blake Miles	30.2%	34,931
	Libertarian	Dan Litwin	2.4%	2,790
	N/A	Write-in	0%	4
Total Votes				115,839

2004
On November 2, 2004, Bob Filner won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Michael Giorgino (R) and Michael Metti (L) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 51 General Election, 2004
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Bob Filner incumbent	61.6%	111,441
	Republican	Michael Giorgino	35.1%	63,526
	Libertarian	Michael Metti	3.3%	5,912
Total Votes				180,879

2002
On November 5, 2002, Bob Filner won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Maria Guadalupe Garcia (R) and Jeffrey Keup (L) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 51 General Election, 2002
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Bob Filner incumbent	57.9%	59,541
	Republican	Maria Guadalupe Garcia	39.3%	40,430
	Libertarian	Jeffrey Keup	2.7%	2,816
Total Votes				102,787

2000
On November 7, 2000, Duke Cunningham won re-election to the United States House. He defeated George Barraza (D), Daniel Muhe (L) and Eric Bourdette (Natural Law) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 51 General Election, 2000
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Duke Cunningham incumbent	64.3%	172,291
	Democratic	George Barraza	30.4%	81,408
	Libertarian	Daniel Muhe	2.7%	7,159
	Green	Eric Bourdette	2.6%	6,941
Total Votes				267,799

1998
On November 3, 1998, Duke Cunningham won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Dan Kripke (D), Jack Anderson (L) and Eric Bourdette (Natural Law) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 51 General Election, 1998
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Duke Cunningham incumbent	61%	126,229
	Democratic	Dan Kripke	34.7%	71,706
	Libertarian	Jack Anderson	2.6%	5,411
	Natural Law	Eric Bourdette	1.7%	3,532
Total Votes				206,878

1996
On November 5, 1996, Duke Cunningham won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Rita Tamerius (D), Miriam Clark (P&F), J.C. Anderson (L) and Eric Hunter Bourdette (Natural Law) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 51 General Election, 1996
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Duke Cunningham incumbent	65.1%	149,032
	Democratic	Rita Tamerius	28.9%	66,250
	Peace and Freedom	Miriam Clark	2.4%	5,407
	Libertarian	J.C. Anderson	2.3%	5,298
	Natural Law	Eric Hunter Bourdette	1.3%	3,037
Total Votes				229,024

1994
On November 8, 1994, Duke Cunningham won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Rita Tamerius (D), Bill Holmes (L) and Miriam Clark (P&F) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 51 General Election, 1994
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Duke Cunningham incumbent	66.9%	138,547
	Democratic	Rita Tamerius	27.7%	57,374
	Libertarian	Bill Holmes	3.4%	6,968
	Peace and Freedom	Miriam Clark	2%	4,099
Total Votes				206,988

1992
On November 3, 1992, Duke Cunningham won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Bea Herbert (D), Bill Holmes (L), Miriam Clark (P&F) and Richard Roe (G) in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 51 General Election, 1992
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Duke Cunningham incumbent	56.1%	141,890
	Democratic	Bea Herbert	33.7%	85,148
	Libertarian	Bill Holmes	4.1%	10,309
	Peace and Freedom	Miriam Clark	4.1%	10,307
	Green	Richard Roe	2.1%	5,328
	N/A	Write-in	0%	13
Total Votes				252,995

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 51
until January 2, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

California District 51
starting January 3, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

2010-2011

This is the 51st 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+12. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 12 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made California's 51st the 120th 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) 62.5%-35.2%.

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+12. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 12 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made California's 51st the 119th 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 62.5% of the vote in this district and Donald Trump (R) would have received 35.2%.

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 D+22. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 22 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made California's 51st Congressional District the 56th most Democratic 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 51st Congressional District election, 2024
• California's 51st Congressional District election, 2022
• California's 51st Congressional District election, 2020
• California's 51st Congressional District election, 2018

External links

• GovTrack District 51

Footnotes

[show]

California's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Alex Padilla (D)

Adam Schiff (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

Lateefah Simon (D)

District 13

Adam Gray (D)

District 14

Eric Swalwell (D)

District 15

Kevin Mullin (D)

District 16

Sam Liccardo (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

George Whitesides (D)

District 28

Judy Chu (D)

District 29

Luz Rivas (D)

District 30

Laura Friedman (D)

District 31

Gil Cisneros (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

Derek Tran (D)

District 46

Lou Correa (D)

District 47

Dave Min (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 (45)

Republican Party (9)