California's 50th congressional district
California's 50th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California, and encompasses the central and northeastern parts of San Diego County and a small part of Riverside County. Darrell Issa is currently the U.S. Representative for California's 50th congressional district.
California's 50th congressional district | |||
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California's 50th congressional district since January 3, 2013. | |||
Representative |
| ||
Population (2019) | 758,142[1] | ||
Median household income | $78,346[2] | ||
Ethnicity | |||
Cook PVI | R+11[4] |
From 2003 through 2013, California's 52nd consisted of many of San Diego's northern and eastern suburbs, including Santee, Lakeside, Poway, Ramona, La Mesa, Alpine, Winter Gardens, Borrego Springs, and Spring Valley. Due to redistricting after the 2010 United States Census, much of this area is now part of the 50th District.
Despite being indicted by a federal grand jury for misusing campaign funds, Duncan D. Hunter narrowly won re-election in 2018.[5] On December 3rd, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy misuse of campaign funds, and it was expected he would resign before being sentenced on March 17, 2020.[6] On January 7, 2020, he submitted letters of resignation to both Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Governor of California Gavin Newsom indicating that his resignation would take effect at close of business on January 13.[7] A day later, Newsom's office stated that there would be no special election to fill the seat, and so it will remain vacant until being filled in January 2021, subsequent to the regularly scheduled 2020 election.[7] Ammar Campa-Najjar, the Democratic nominee for the seat in 2018, and Republican Darrell Issa, who formerly represented California's 49th congressional district, competed in this election. Issa won the seat by 8 points.
Geography
The 50th district is based in San Diego County. It includes suburban and outlying areas of the county, including Fallbrook, San Marcos, Valley Center, Ramona, Escondido, Santee, Lakeside, parts of El Cajon and mountain and desert areas stretching east to the Imperial County line. It extends slightly into southwestern Riverside County and covers much of the city of Temecula.
Competitiveness
In statewide races
Election results from statewide races | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Office | Results |
1992 | President[8] | Clinton 48.8% – 30.0% |
Senator[9] | Boxer 49.8% – 39.0% | |
Senator (Special)[10] | Feinstein 54.5% – 35.6% | |
1994 | Governor[11] | Wilson 50.6% – 44.1% |
Senator[12] | Feinstein 44.4% - 40.0% | |
1996 | President[13] | Clinton 59.7% - 32.3% |
1998 | Governor[14] | Davis 63.4% - 32.1% |
Senator[15] | Boxer 59.0% – 36.1% | |
2000 | President[16] | Gore 59.0% – 37.2% |
Senator[17] | Feinstein 64.4% – 27.8% | |
2002 | Governor[18] | Simon 55.6% – 37.3% |
2003 | Recall[19][20] | Yes 68.0% – 32.0% |
Schwarzenegger 63.1% – 20.3% | ||
2004 | President[21] | Bush 55.2% – 43.9% |
Senator[22] | Jones 48.2% – 48.1% | |
2006 | Governor[23] | Schwarzenegger 69.9% – 26.3% |
Senator[24] | Feinstein 50.8% – 45.2% | |
2008 | President[25] | Obama 51.3% – 47.1% |
2010 | Governor[26] | Whitman 55.2% – 39.8% |
Senator[27] | Fiorina 55.2% – 39.8% | |
2012 | President[28] | Romney 60.4% – 37.6% |
Senator[29] | Emken 60.5% – 39.5% | |
2014 | Governor[30] | Kashkari 64.0% – 36.0% |
2016 | President[31] | Trump 54.6% – 39.6% |
Senator[32] | Harris 54.9% – 45.1% | |
2018 | Governor[33] | Cox 59.1% – 40.9% |
Senator[34] | de León 52.1% – 47.9% | |
2020 | President[35] | Trump 52.7% – 45.0% |
List of members representing the district
Elections results
1992
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Bob Filner | 77,293 | 56.6 | |||
Republican | Tony Valencia | 39,531 | 28.9 | |||
Libertarian | Barbara Hutchinson | 15,489 | 11.3 | |||
Peace and Freedom | Roger Bruce Batchelder | 4,250 | 3.1 | |||
Independent | Pickard (write-in) | 63 | 0.1 | |||
Total votes | 136,626 | 100.0 | ||||
Democratic gain from Republican | ||||||
1994
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Bob Filner (Incumbent) | 59,214 | 56.7 | |
Republican | Mary Alice Acevedo | 36,955 | 35.4 | |
Libertarian | Richardo Duenez | 3,326 | 3.2 | |
Peace and Freedom | Guillermo Ramirez | 3,002 | 2.9 | |
Green | Kip Krueger | 1,954 | 1.8 | |
Total votes | 118,340 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
1996
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Bob Filner (Incumbent) | 73,200 | 58.9 | |
Republican | Jim Baize | 38,351 | 32.5 | |
Reform | Dan Clark | 3,253 | 2.7 | |
Natural Law | Earl Shepard | 2,138 | 1.8 | |
Libertarian | Philip Zoebisch | 1,398 | 1.1 | |
Total votes | 118,340 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
1998
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Bob Filner (Incumbent) | 77,354 | 99.2 | |
Independent | Jon Parungoa (write-in) | 596 | 0.8 | |
Republican | Petra E. Barajas (write-in) | 41 | 0.0 | |
Total votes | 77,991 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
2000
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Bob Filner (Incumbent) | 95,191 | 68.3 | |
Republican | Bob Divine | 38,526 | 27.7 | |
Libertarian | David A. Willoughby | 3,472 | 2.4 | |
Natural Law | LeAnn S. Kendall | 2,283 | 1.6 | |
Total votes | 139,472 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
2002
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Duke Cunningham (Incumbent) | 111,095 | 64.4 | |
Democratic | Del G. Stewart | 55,855 | 32.3 | |
Libertarian | Richard M. Fontanesi | 5,751 | 3.3 | |
Total votes | 172,701 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
2004
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Duke Cunningham (Incumbent) | 169,025 | 58.5 | |
Democratic | Francine Busby | 105,590 | 36.5 | |
Green | Gary M. Waayers | 6,504 | 2.2 | |
American Independent | Diane Templin | 4,723 | 1.6 | |
Libertarian | Brandon C. Osborne | 3,486 | 1.2 | |
Total votes | 289,328 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
2006 (Special)
Representative Cunningham resigned on November 28, 2005, as a result of a bribery scandal. An open special election was held on April 11, 2006. The top vote getter was Democrat Francine Busby, who won 44% of the vote. The second-place finisher was Republican Brian Bilbray, who won 15% of the vote. Paul King was the top Libertarian party vote getter, with 0.6% of the vote. Since no candidate received a simple majority, the top vote-getters in each party competed in a runoff or special general election on June 6, 2006 (the same day as the statewide California primary). Bilbray was sworn in on June 13, based on unofficial counts, two weeks before the election was certified. As a consequence of this action, a court challenge to the election results filed by voters was denied on jurisdictional grounds.[44] This decision was appealed unsuccessfully.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Brian Bilbray | 78,341 | 49.6 | |
Democratic | Francine Busby | 71,146 | 45.0 | |
Independent | William Griffith | 6,027 | 3.8 | |
Libertarian | Paul King | 2,519 | 1.6 | |
Invalid or blank votes | 882 | 0.5 | ||
Total votes | 158,915 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
2006
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Brian Bilbray (Incumbent) | 118,018 | 53.2 | |
Democratic | Francine Busby | 96,612 | 43.5 | |
Libertarian | Paul King | 4,119 | 1.8 | |
Peace and Freedom | Miriam E. Clark | 3,353 | 1.5 | |
Total votes | 222,102 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
2008
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Brian Bilbray (Incumbent) | 157,502 | 50.2 | |
Democratic | Nick Leibham | 141,635 | 45.2 | |
Libertarian | Wayne Dunlap | 14,365 | 4.6 | |
Total votes | 313,502 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
2010
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Brian Bilbray (Incumbent) | 142,236 | 56.7 | |
Democratic | Francine Busby | 97,813 | 39.0 | |
Libertarian | Lars B. Grossmith | 5,546 | 2.2 | |
Peace and Freedom | Miriam E. Clark | 5,470 | 2.1 | |
Total votes | 251,065 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
2012
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Duncan D. Hunter (Incumbent) | 174,838 | 67.6 | |
Democratic | David B. Secor | 83,455 | 32.4 | |
Total votes | 258,293 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
2014
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Duncan D. Hunter (Incumbent) | 111,997 | 71.2 | |
Democratic | James H. Kimber | 45,302 | 28.8 | |
Total votes | 157,299 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
2016
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Duncan D. Hunter (Incumbent) | 179,937 | 63.5 | |
Democratic | Patrick Malloy | 103,646 | 36.5 | |
Total votes | 283,583 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
2018
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Duncan D. Hunter (Incumbent) | 134,362 | 51.7 | |
Democratic | Ammar Campa-Najjar | 125,448 | 48.3 | |
Total votes | 259,808 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
2020
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Darrell Issa | 195,510 | 54.0 | |
Democratic | Ammar Campa-Najjar | 166,859 | 46.0 | |
Total votes | 362,369 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
Historical district boundaries
44th district
In the 1980s, California's 44th congressional district was one of four encompassing San Diego. The district had been held for eight years by Democrat Jim Bates and was considered the most Democratic district in the San Diego area. However, Bates became bogged down in a scandal involving charges of sexual harassment.
Randy "Duke" Cunningham won the Republican nomination and hammered Bates about the scandal. Cunningham won by a point. The San Diego area was represented entirely by Republicans for only the second time since the city was split into three districts after the 1960 U.S. Census. After his victory, Cunningham changed his official residence from his Del Mar home to a condominium in the Mission Valley neighborhood in San Diego, so he could reside in the district that he represented in Congress.
41st district
In the 1980s, California's 41st congressional district was another of four encompassing San Diego. The northern San Diego County district had been held for 12 years by Republican Bill Lowery and was considered the most Republican district in the San Diego area. Most of the district became the California's 51st congressional district after state redistricting following the 1990 U.S. Census.
In 1992, Cunningham campaigned against Lowery in Lowery's district in the Republican primary. The new 51st District was more dominated by ethnic whites and was more conservative than Cunningham's more urban, former 41st District located farther south. Lowery was tainted by the House check kiting scandal and lost the primary to Cunningham. The latter, a Navy career officer, had run on a campaign theme of "A Congressman We Can Be Proud Of." After winning, Cunningham changed his official residence back to his Del Mar home in the old 41st/new 51st District.
2000s
From 2003 to 2013, the 50th district consisted of the northern coastal region of San Diego County and included the suburbs of San Marcos, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, and Escondido.
In popular culture
On November 29, 2005, Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report declared on his show that the 50th Congressional District was "dead" to him after its insufficient support for his "friend" Duke Cunningham. Colbert placed the district on the show's ever-changing "Dead to Me" board, saying that he now considered the number of congressional districts in the United States to be 434. (The number became 433 when he retired the 22nd District of Texas for its insufficient support for Tom DeLay.) On March 1, 2006, he "downgraded" the 50th District's status from "dead to me" to "never existed to me."[53]
See also
References
- "American Fact Finder - Results". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
- US Census
- LA Times
- "Partisan Voting Index – Districts of the 115th Congress" (PDF). The Cook Political Report. April 7, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
- Washington Post
- Rep. Duncan Hunter pleads guilty to misusing campaign funds, is expected to resign from Congress, Los Angeles Times, Sarah D. Wire and Seema Mehta December 3, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
- Rep. Hunter Announces Resignation Date, Newsom Will Not Call Special Election, KNSD, Julie Watson and NBC 7 Staff January 7, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
- Statement of Vote (1992 President)
- Statement of Vote (1992 Senate)
- Statement of Vote (1992 Senate)
- Statement of Vote (1994 Governor)
- Statement of Vote (1994 Senate)
- Statement of Vote (1996 President)
- Statement of Vote (1998 Governor) Archived September 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- Statement of Vote (1998 Senate) Archived September 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- Statement of Vote (2000 President)
- Statement of Vote (2000 Senator)
- Statement of Vote (2002 Governor)
- Statement of Vote (2003 Recall Question)
- Statement of Vote (2003 Governor)
- Statement of Vote (2004 President)
- Statement of Vote (2004 Senator)
- Statement of Vote (2006 Governor)
- Statement of Vote (2006 Senator)
- Statement of Vote (2008 President)
- Statement of Vote (2010 Governor)
- Statement of Vote (2010 Senator)
- Statement of Vote (2012 President)
- Statement of Vote (2012 Senator)
- Statement of Vote (2014 Governor)
- Statement of Vote (2016 President)
- Statement of Vote (2016 Senator)
- Statement of Vote (2018 Governor)
- Statement of Vote (2018 Senator)
- https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2012/11/19/1163009/-Daily-Kos-Elections-presidential-results-by-congressional-district-for-the-2012-2008-elections
- "Rep. Duncan Hunter to resign Jan. 13 after guilty plea". UPI. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
- 1992 election results
- 1994 election results
- 1996 election results
- 1998 election results
- 2000 election results
- 2002 election results
- 2004 election results
- "Judge throws out 50th District election lawsuit". North County Times. August 29, 2006. Retrieved October 3, 2006.
- 2006 special election results
- 2006 election results
- 2008 election results
- 2010 election results
- 2012 election results
- 2014 election results
- 2016 election results
- 2018 election results
- List of The Colbert Report episodes, episodes 122 and 226.