2012 United States House of Representatives elections in California

The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in California were held on November 6, 2012, with a primary election on June 5, 2012. Voters elected the 53 U.S. representatives from the state, one from each of the state's 53 congressional districts. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election and a U.S. Senate election.

According to The Cook Political Report and Roll Call, the most competitive districts were the 7th, 10th, 26th, 36th, and 52nd; additionally, the 3rd, 9th, 24th, 41st, and 47th were rated as less than safe. Roll Call additionally listed the 21st district as competitive. Voters in 14 districts elected new representatives: the 1st, 2nd, 7th, 8th, 15th, 21st, 26th, 29th, 35th, 36th, 41st, 47th, 51st, and 52nd. Two districts, the 30th and the 44th, had two incumbents running against each other.

This was the first election using congressional districts drawn by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission. The districts, based on the 2010 United States census, were approved on August 15, 2011. It was also the first non-special election to use the nonpartisan blanket primary system established by Proposition 14. As a result, eight districts featured general elections with two candidates of the same party: the 15th, 30th, 35th, 40th, 43rd, and 44th with two Democrats; and the 8th and 31st with two Republicans.

Overview Statewide United States House of Representatives elections in California, 2012Primary election — June 5, 2012 Party Votes Percentage Candidates Advancing to general Seats contesting Democratic 2,643,313 53.41% 107 56 50 Republican 2,072,433 41.87% 98 46 44 No party preference 189,783 3.83% 25 4 4 Green 26,674 0.54% 6 0 0 Libertarian 14,787 0.30% 4 0 0 Peace and Freedom 2,415 0.05% 2 0 0 Valid votes 4,949,405 92.89% — — — Invalid votes 378,891 7.11% — — — Totals 5,328,296 100.00% 242 106 — Voter turnout 31.06%

United States House of Representatives elections in California, 2012General election — November 6, 2012Party Votes Percentage Seats +/– Democratic 7,392,703 60.57% 38 4 Republican 4,530,012 37.12% 15 4 No party preference 281,642 2.31% 0 Valid votes 12,204,357 92.44% — — Invalid or blank votes 997,801 7.56% — — Totals 13,202,158 100.00% 53 — Voter turnout 72.36%

Map key

This map displays the location of California's congressional districts during this election cycle, allowing the reader to cross-reference the location of each district.

District 1

The 1st district is based in inland Northern California and includes Chico and Redding. Incumbent Republican Wally Herger, who represented the 2nd district from 1987 to 2013, retired. The district had a PVI of R+10.

Primary election Republican candidates Advanced to general Doug LaMalfa, state senator

Eliminated in primary Sam Aanestad, former state senator Gregory Cheadle, real estate broker Michael Dacquisto, attorney Pete Stiglich, retired Air Force Colonel and candidate for this seat in 2010

Declined Wally Herger, incumbent U.S. representative

Democratic candidates Advanced to general Jim Reed, attorney and nominee for this seat in 2010

Eliminated in primary Nathan Arrowsmith

Campaign Reed was endorsed by the California Democratic Party in February 2012. In March 2012, the California Republican Party declined to make an endorsement in the 1st district.

Endorsements

Results

General election Endorsements

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call, November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal BallCrystal Ball , November 5, 2012 NY TimesHouse Race Ratings, The New York Times, November 4, 2012RCP, November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012

Results

District 2

The 2nd district is based in California's North Coast and includes Marin County and Eureka. Democrat Lynn Woolsey, who represented the 6th district from 1993 to 2013, retired. The district had a PVI of D+19.

Primary election Democratic candidates Advanced to general Jared Huffman, state assembly member

Eliminated in primary Susan Adams, nurse practitioner and Marin County Board of Supervisors member Andy Caffrey William Courtney, physician and researcher Larry Fritzlan, therapist Stacey Lawson, businesswoman and chemical engineer Tiffany Renée, former Petaluma City Council member Norman Solomon, journalist and activist

Declined Noreen Evans, state senator Gavin Newsom, incumbent lieutenant governor of California Pam Torliatt, mayor of Petaluma Shirlee Zane, Sonoma County supervisor

Republican candidates Advanced to general Daniel Roberts, Vietnam War veteran and investment company president

Eliminated in primary Mike Halliwell, college professor

Declined Jim Judd, manufacturing business owner and nominee for this seat in 2010

Independent candidates Eliminated in primary Brooke Clarke, small business owner John Lewallen

Green Party candidates Declined Marnie Glickman (Green), co-chair of the Marin County Green Party Nancy Mancias (Green), co-chair of the Marin County Green Party

Campaign Regional delegates of the California Democratic Party met in January 2012 but did not endorse a nominee as no candidate received 50 per cent of the vote. Huffman received 48 per cent, Solomon 37 per cent, Adams 12 per cent and Lawson one percent. Meanwhile, Roberts received the endorsement of the California Republican Party in March 2012.

Endorsements

Polling Pollsource Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror SusanAdams (D) AndyCaffrey (D) WilliamCourtney (D) MikeHalliwell (R) JaredHuffman (D) StaceyLawson (D) TiffanyRenée (D) DanielRoberts (R) NormanSolomon (D) UndecidedLake Research Partners (D-Solomon)Lake Research Partners (D-Solomon) April 17–19, 2012 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 8% — — 3% 18% 5% — 3% 10% 47%Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (D-Huffman)Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (D-Huffman) March 23–29, 2012 500 (LV) ± 4.9% 5% — — 5% 24% 9% — 7% 5% 45%Lake Research Partners (D-Solomon)Lake Research Partners (D-Solomon) October 18–20, 2011 400 (LV) ± 5.0% 4% 2% 3% — 16% 4% 1% 12% 11% 46%Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (D-Huffman)Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (D-Huffman) October 5–9, 2011 400 (LV) ± 5.0% 5% 4% — — 20% 5% 3% 18% 7% 37%

Results

General election Endorsements

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012

Results

District 3

The 3rd district is based in north central California and includes Davis, Fairfield, and Yuba City. Incumbent Democrat John Garamendi, who represented the 10th district from 2009 to 2013, ran for re-election. The district had a PVI of D+1.

Primary election Democratic candidates Advanced to general John Garamendi, incumbent U.S. representative

Republican candidates Advanced to general Kim Vann, Colusa County Board of Supervisors member

Eliminated in primary Tony Carlos, Sutter County deputy district attorney Eugene Ray, realtor Rick Tubbs, pilot

Withdrawn Timothy Core, small business employee Charlie Schaupp, farmer

Campaign Garamendi received the endorsement of the California Democratic Party in February 2012. In March 2012, the California Republican Party declined to make an endorsement in the 3rd district.

Endorsements

Results

General election Endorsements

Polling Pollsource Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JohnGaramendi (D) KimVann (R) UndecidedGBA Strategies (D-House Majority PAC)GBA Strategies (D-House Majority PAC) August 26–27, 2012 400 (LV) ± 4.9% 54% 39% 7%DCCC (D)DCCC (D) July 25, 2012 303 (LV) ± 5.6% 52% 37% 11%

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012

Results

District 4

The 4th district is based in east central California and includes Lake Tahoe, Roseville, and Yosemite National Park. Incumbent Republican Tom McClintock, who had represented the 4th district since 2009, ran for re-election. The district had a PVI of R+10.

Primary election Republican candidates Advanced to general Tom McClintock, incumbent U.S. representative

Declined Dan Lungren, incumbent U.S. representative for the 3rd district (running in the 7th)

Democratic candidates Advanced to general Jack Uppal, retired semiconductor engineer

Campaign Uppal was endorsed by the California Democratic Party in February 2012, with McClintock receiving the endorsement of the California Republican Party in March 2012.

Endorsements

Results

General election Endorsements

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012

Results

District 5

The 5th district is based in the North Bay and includes Napa, Santa Rosa, and Vallejo. Incumbent Democrat Mike Thompson, who had represented the 1st district from 1999 to 2013, ran for re-election. The district had a PVI of D+18.

Primary election Democratic candidates Advanced to general Mike Thompson, incumbent U.S. representative

Republican candidates Advanced to general Randy Loftin, tax and financial planning adviser

Eliminated in primary Stewart Cilley, accountant

Campaign Thompson received the endorsement of the California Democratic Party in February 2012, while Loftin was endorsed by the California Republican Party in March.

Endorsements

Results

General election Endorsements

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012

Results

District 6

The 6th district is based in north central California and includes Sacramento. Incumbent Democrat Doris Matsui, who represented the 5th district from 2005 to 2013, ran for re-election here. The district had a PVI of D+13.

Primary election Democratic candidates Advanced to general Doris Matsui, incumbent U.S. representative

Republican candidates Advanced to general Joseph McCray Sr., business owner

Eliminated in primary Erik Smitt

Campaign Matsui was endorsed by the California Democratic Party in February 2012.

Endorsements

Results

General election Endorsements

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012

Results

District 7

The 7th district is based in north central California and includes eastern Sacramento County. Incumbent Republican Dan Lungren, who represented the 3rd district from 2005 to 2013 and previously served from 1979 until 1989, ran for re-election. The district had a PVI of R+3.

Primary election Republican candidates Advanced to general Dan Lungren, incumbent U.S. representative

Declined Darren Spellman, Calaveras County Board of Supervisors member

Democratic candidates Advanced to general Ami Bera, physician and nominee for this seat in 2010

Declined Alyson Huber, state assembly member

Campaign Bera received the endorsement of the California Democratic Party in February 2012. Lungren was endorsed by the California Republican Party in March 2012.

Endorsements

Results

General election Endorsements

Debates Complete video of debate, September 25, 2012

Polling