California's 78th State Assembly district is one of 80 California State Assembly districts. It is currently represented by of .

District profile The district takes in a stretch of north-central San Diego County from the San Diego Zoo and Banker's Hill, with the southerly border just north of downtown San Diego, and running north to the Clairemont Mesa and Mira Mesa neighborhoods, and east past Mission Trails Regional Park through San Carlos and Fletcher Hills to the western edges of El Cajon. Over 93% of the district population is in the City of San Diego, with the remainder almost entirely in El Cajon, as of February 2026. Previously, the district was more coastal, from Solana Beach to the Mexican border, including downtown San Diego, beachfront neighborhoods, and the UC San Diego.

San Diego County – 14.9% El Cajon – 31.06% San Diego – 34.52%

Election results from statewide races Year Office Results 2021 Recall align="right" No 70.2 – 29.8% 2020 President Biden 71.8 – 25.6% 2018 Governor Newsom 69.4 – 30.6% Senator Feinstein 56.4 – 43.6% 2016 President Clinton 67.5 – 25.9% Senator Harris 68.0 – 32.0% 2014 Governor Brown 62.7 – 37.3% 2012 President Obama 63.1 – 34.1% Senator Feinstein 65.2 – 34.8%

List of assembly members representing the district Due to redistricting, the 78th district has been moved around different parts of the state. The current iteration resulted from the 2021 redistricting by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission.

Member Party DatesElectoral history Counties represented E. E. Edwards Republican January 5, 1885 – January 3, 1887 Elected in 1884. Los Angeles William H. Spurgeon Democratic January 3, 1887 – January 7, 1889Elected in 1886. E. E. Edwards Republican January 7, 1889 – January 5, 1891Elected in 1888. A. Guy SmithRepublican January 5, 1891 – January 2, 1893 Elected in 1890. Los Angeles, Orange John C. Lynch Republican January 2, 1893 – January 4, 1897Redistricted from the 79th district and re-elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. San Bernadrino T. H. Goff Republican January 4, 1897 – January 2, 1899Elected in 1896. Lost re-election. Frank P. MeserveIndependent January 2, 1899 – January 1, 1901Elected in 1898. Retired to run for State Senate. C. G. H. Bennink Republican January 1, 1901 – January 5, 1903Elected in 1900. Re-elected in 1902. Frank D. LewisRepublican January 5, 1903 – January 2, 1905Elected in 1902. Riverside Miguel EstudilloRepublican January 2, 1905 – January 4, 1909Elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Retired to run for California State Senate. Emerson B. CollierRepublican January 4, 1909 – January 2, 1911Elected in 1908. George R. FreemanRepublican January 2, 1911 – January 6, 1913Elected in 1910. H. W. MoorhouseRepublican January 6, 1913 – January 4, 1915Elected in 1912. Imperial Robert E. Wills DemocraticJanuary 4, 1915 – January 6, 1919Elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Republican J. Stanley Brown Republican January 6, 1919 – January 3, 1921Elected in 1918. W. F. Beal Republican January 3, 1921 – January 8, 1923Elected in 1920. George H. Davis Republican January 8, 1923 – January 5, 1925Elected in 1922. Albert C. Finney Republican January 5, 1925 – January 3, 1927Elected in 1924. Myron D. Witter Republican January 3, 1927 – February 19, 1931Elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Redistricted to the 77th district. George B. BowersRepublican January 5, 1931 – January 7, 1935Elected in 1930. Re-elected in 1932. San Diego Ralph W. Wallace Republican January 7, 1935 – January 4, 1937Elected in 1934. Lost re-election. Jeanette E. Daley Democratic January 4, 1937 – January 4, 1943Elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Lost re-election. Fred H. KraftRepublican January 4, 1943 – January 6, 1947Elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Retired to become a State Senator. Frank LuckelRepublican January 6, 1947 – January 7, 1963Elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Retired. E. Richard Barnes Republican January 7, 1963 – January 8, 1973Elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Lost re-election. Lawrence Kapiloff Democratic January 8, 1973 – September 3, 1982Elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Resigned to become a superior court judge.VacantSeptember 3, 1982 – December 6, 1982 Lucy Killea Democratic December 6, 1982 – December 21, 1989Elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Resigned to become a State Senator.VacantDecember 21, 1989 – June 7, 1990 Jeff Marston Republican June 7, 1990 – November 30, 1990Elected to finish Killea's term. Lost re-election. Mike Gotch Democratic December 3, 1990 – November 30, 1992Elected in 1990. Redistricted to the 76th district. Dede Alpert Democratic December 7, 1992 – November 30, 1996Redistricted from the 75th district and re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Retired to become a State Senator. Howard Wayne Democratic December 2, 1996 – November 30, 2002Elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Retired to run for San Diego City Attorney. Shirley Horton Republican December 2, 2002 – November 30, 2008Elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Term-limited and retired. Marty Block Democratic December 1, 2008 – November 30, 2012Elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Retired to become a State Senator. Toni G. AtkinsDemocratic December 3, 2012 – November 30, 2016Redistricted from the 76th district and re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Term-limited and retired. Todd GloriaDemocratic December 5, 2016 – November 30, 2020Elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Retired to run for mayor of San Diego. Chris WardDemocratic December 7, 2020 – presentElected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024.

Election results (1990-present)

2024

2022

2020

2018

2016

2014

2012

2010

2008

2006

2004

2002

2000

1998

1996

1994

1992

1990

1990 (special)

See also California State Assembly California State Assembly districts Districts in California

References

External links District map from the California Citizens Redistricting Commission