California's 3rd congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in California. It includes the northern Sierra Nevada and northeastern suburbs of Sacramento, stretching south to Death Valley. It encompasses Alpine, Inyo, Mono, Nevada, Placer (where the majority of the district's population lives), Plumas, and Sierra counties, as well as parts of El Dorado, Sacramento, and Yuba counties. It includes the Sacramento suburbs of Roseville (the district's largest city), Folsom, Orangevale, Rocklin, Auburn, and Lincoln, along with the mountain towns of Quincy, South Lake Tahoe, Truckee, Mammoth Lakes, and Bishop. The district is represented in the House of Representatives by the only independent in the House, Kevin Kiley, although he caucuses with the Republican Party.
Prior to redistricting in 2020, the 3rd district encompassed most of the Sacramento Valley north and west of Sacramento. It covered all of Colusa, Sutter and Yuba counties, most of Glenn, Lake, Solano and Yolo counties and a portion of Sacramento County. The district was represented by John Garamendi, a Democrat.
Recent election results from statewide races 2023–2027 boundaries Year Office Results2008 PresidentMcCain 53% – 46%2010 GovernorWhitman 54% – 41% Lt. GovernorMaldonado 54% – 36% Secretary of StateDunn 52% – 40% Attorney GeneralCooley 59% – 31% TreasurerWalters 50% – 43% ControllerChiang 47% – 45%2012 PresidentRomney 56% – 42%2014 GovernorKashkari 52% – 48%2016 PresidentTrump 50% – 42%2018 GovernorCox 56% – 44% Attorney GeneralBailey 54% – 46%2020 PresidentTrump 50% – 48%2022 Senate (Reg.)Meuser 54% – 46% GovernorDahle 57% – 43% Lt. GovernorUnderwood Jacobs 55% – 45% Secretary of StateBernosky 55% – 45% Attorney GeneralHochman 56% – 44% TreasurerGuerrero 56% – 44% ControllerChen 59% – 41%2024 PresidentTrump 50% – 47% Senate (Reg.)Garvey 54% – 46%
Recent history The 3rd district once extended up the Sacramento Valley from Sacramento to take in rural territory up to Tehama County. Once a Democratic bastion, the district was pushed into more rural and Republican-leaning territory after the 1990 census, and elected a Republican in 1998. The 2001 reapportionment made the district more compact and Republican than its predecessor, though it was far less Republican than the neighboring 4th district. Although there was some movement in registration in favor of the Democrats, it still had a strong GOP flavor as most of the Sacramento area's Democratic voters lived in the neighboring 5th district.
Presidential performance While George W. Bush carried the district in 2004 with 58.2% of the vote, the district swung rapidly in the Democratic column in 2008 with Barack Obama narrowly winning a plurality with 49.28% of the vote over John McCain's 48.81%. However, despite Obama's win, in the congressional election held on the same day, the Republicans retained the seat.
Reapportionment After redistricting, this district essentially became the 7th district, while a new 3rd was created with lines similar to what the old 3rd had in the 1990s. This version of the 3rd was considered a swing district, though the bulk of its population lives in Democratic-leaning areas in the outer Bay Area and in the closer-in suburbs of Sacramento.
Election results from statewide races before 2012
Election results from statewide races Year Office Results 1992 President Clinton (D) 40.9–37.2% Senator Herschensohn (R) 45.2–44.2% Senator Feinstein (D) 49.3–41.7% 1994 Governor Wilson (R) 60.2–35.1% Senator Feinstein (D) 46.7-44.8% 1996 President Clinton (D) 45.2–44.4% 1998 Governor Davis (D) 58.0-38.4% Senator Boxer (D) 53.1-43.0% 2000 President Bush (R) 51.1–43.6% Senator Feinstein (D) 48.9–43.4% 2002 Governor Simon (R) 54.5–34.0% 2003 Recall Yes 66.8–33.2% Schwarzenegger (R) 58.2–20.3% 2004 President Bush (R) 58.2–40.8% Senator Jones (R) 51.1–46.7% 2006 Governor Schwarzenegger (R) 68.6–26.8% Senator Feinstein (D) 48.8–46.1% 2008 President Obama (D) 49.3–48.8% 2010 Governor Brown (D) 47.6–47.4% Senator Fiorina (R) 52.9–40.7%
Composition County Code County Seat Population 3 Alpine Markleeville 1,14117El DoradoPlacerville192,215 27 Inyo Independence 18,527 51 Mono Bridgeport 13,066 57 Nevada Nevada City 102,037 61 Placer Auburn 423,561 63 Plumas Quincy 19,13167SacramentoSacramento1,584,288 91 Sierra Downieville 3,200115YubaMarysville85,722 Under the 2020 redistricting, California's 3rd congressional district is located in the Sierra Nevada region, encompassing Alpine, Inyo, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, and Sierra Counties, as well as parts of El Dorado, Sacramento, and Yuba Counties.
The area in El Dorado County includes the city of South Lake Tahoe; and the census-designated places Auburn Lake Trails, Camino, Georgetown, Grizzly Flats, Meyers, and Pollock Pines. The area in Sacramento County includes the city of Folsom and the census-designated place Orangevale. The area in Yuba County includes the census-designated places Challenge-Brownsville, Comptonville, Dobbins, Loma Rica, and Smartsville.
Geography El Dorado County is split between this district and the 5th district. They are partitioned by Scott Creek, Perry Creek, Perry Creek Rd, Rocky Bar Rd, Grizzly Flat Rd, Happy Valley Rd, Canon Creek, E16 Highway, Pleasant Valley Rd, Cedar Ravine Rd, Woodland Dr, Weber Creek, Highway 50, Chili Bar Reservoir, South Fork American River, Marshall Rd, Hastings Creek, Highway 49, Pilot Creek, North Fork American River, and the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area.
Sacramento County is split between this district and both the 6th district and 7th district. The 6th and 3rd districts are partitioned by Latrobe Rd, Scott Rd, Deer Creek, Carson Creek, Nimbus Rd, E3 Highway, Illinois Ave, Madison Ave, Kenneth Ave, Wachtel Way, and Old Auburn Rd.
Yuba County is split between this district and the 1st district. They are partitioned by State Highway 70, Ellis Rd, and Union Pacific.
Cities and CDPs with 10,000 or more people Roseville – 147,773 Folsom – 80,454 Rocklin – 71,601 Lincoln – 49,757 Orangevale – 35,569 Fair Oaks – 32,514 South Lake Tahoe – 21,330 Granite Bay – 21,247 Truckee – 16,729 Grass Valley – 14,016 Auburn – 13,776 North Auburn – 13,452
2,500 – 10,000 people Alta Sierra – 7,204 Mammoth Lakes – 7,191 Pollock Pines – 7,112 Loomis – 6,836 Lake Wildwood – 5,158 Lake of the Pines – 4,301 Bishop – 3,819 Kings Beach – 3,563 Auburn Lake Trails – 3,388 Meadow Vista – 3,263 Nevada City – 3,152 Dixon Lane-Meadow Creek – 2,780 West Bishop – 2,754
Future composition Beginning with the 2026 election, the 3rd district will consist of the following counties:
El Dorado (part) Nevada Placer (part) Sacramento (part)
List of members representing the district Member Party Dates Congress Electoral history Counties District created March 4, 1865 John Bidwell Republican March 4, 1865 –March 3, 1867 Elected in 1864.Retired. 1865–1885Butte, Colusa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Marin, Mendocino, Modoc, Napa, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Yolo, Yuba James A. Johnson Democratic March 4, 1867 –March 3, 1871 Elected in 1867.Re-elected in 1868.Retired. John M. Coghlan Republican March 4, 1871 –March 3, 1873 Elected in 1871.Lost re-election. John K. Luttrell Democratic March 4, 1873 –March 3, 1879 Elected in 1872.Re-elected in 1875.Re-elected in 1876.Retired. Campbell P. Berry Democratic March 4, 1879 –March 3, 1883 Elected in 1879.Re-elected in 1880.Retired. Barclay Henley Democratic March 4, 1883 –March 3, 1885 Elected in 1882.Redistricted to the . Joseph McKenna Republican March 4, 1885 –March 28, 1892 Elected in 1884.Re-elected in 1886.Re-elected in 1888.Re-elected in 1890.Resigned to become U.S. Circuit Judge. 1885–1895Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Sacramento, Solano, YoloVacant March 28, 1892 –December 5, 1892 Samuel G. Hilborn Republican December 5, 1892 –April 4, 1894 Lost election contest. Warren B. English Democratic April 4, 1894 –March 3, 1895 Won election contest.Lost re-election. 1895–1903Alameda, Colusa, Contra Costa, Glenn, Lake, Solano, Yolo Samuel G. Hilborn Republican March 4, 1895 –March 3, 1899 Elected in 1894.Re-elected in 1896.Lost renomination. Victor H. Metcalf Republican March 4, 1899 –July 1, 1904 Elected in 1898.Re-elected in 1900.Re-elected in 1902.Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of Commerce and Labor. 1903–1913Alameda, Contra Costa, SolanoVacant July 1, 1904 –November 8, 1904 Joseph R. Knowland Republican November 8, 1904 –March 3, 1913 Elected to finish Metcalf's term.Elected in 1904.Re-elected in 1906.Re-elected in 1908.Re-elected in 1910.Redistricted to the . Charles F. Curry Republican March 4, 1913 –October 10, 1930 Elected in 1912.Re-elected in 1914.Re-elected in 1916.Re-elected in 1918.Re-elected in 1920.Re-elected in 1922.Re-elected in 1924.Re-elected in 1926.Re-elected in 1928.Died. 1913–1933Contra Costa, Napa, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, YoloVacant October 11, 1930 –March 3, 1931 Charles F. Curry Jr. Republican March 4, 1931 –March 3, 1933 Elected in 1930.Lost re-election. Frank H. Buck Democratic March 4, 1933 –September 17, 1942 Elected in 1932.Re-elected in 1934.Re-elected in 1936.Re-elected in 1938.Re-elected in 1940.Died. 1933–1953Napa, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, YoloVacant September 17, 1942 –January 3, 1943 J. Leroy Johnson Republican January 3, 1943 –January 3, 1953 Elected in 1942.Re-elected in 1944.Re-elected in 1946.Re-elected in 1948.Re-elected in 1950.Redistricted to the . John E. Moss Democratic January 3, 1953 –December 31, 1978 Elected in 1952.Re-elected in 1954.Re-elected in 1956.Re-elected in 1958.Re-elected in 1960.Re-elected in 1962.Re-elected in 1964.Re-elected in 1966.Re-elected in 1968.Re-elected in 1970.Re-elected in 1972.Re-elected in 1974.Re-elected in 1976.Retired; resigned before the term ended. 1953–1963Colusa, Glenn, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba 1963–1967Sacramento 1967–1975Sacramento (Sacramento city) 1975–1983Eastern two-thirds of SacramentoVacant December 31, 1978 –January 3, 1979 Bob Matsui Democratic January 3, 1979 –January 3, 1993 Elected in 1978.Re-elected in 1980.Re-elected in 1982.Re-elected in 1984.Re-elected in 1986.Re-elected in 1988.Re-elected in 1990.Redistricted to the . 1983–1993Sacramento (Sacramento city and eastern suburbs) Vic Fazio Democratic January 3, 1993 –January 3, 1999 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1992.Re-elected in 1994.Re-elected in 1996.Retired. 1993–2003Southwestern Butte, Colusa, Glenn, northwestern Sacramento, eastern Solano, Sutter, Tehama, Yolo Doug Ose Republican January 3, 1999 –January 3, 2005 Elected in 1998.Re-elected in 2000.Re-elected in 2002.Retired. 2003–2013Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, most of suburban Sacramento, northern and eastern Solano Dan Lungren Republican January 3, 2005 –January 3, 2013 Elected in 2004.Re-elected in 2006.Re-elected in 2008.Re-elected in 2010.Redistricted to the and lost re-election. John Garamendi Democratic January 3, 2013 –January 3, 2023 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 2012.Re-elected in 2014.Re-elected in 2016.Re-elected in 2018.Re-elected in 2020. Redistricted to the . 2013–2023North central California including Davis, Fairfield, and Yuba City Kevin Kiley Republican January 3, 2023 – March 9, 2026 Elected in 2022.Re-elected in 2024.Redistricted to the 6th district. 2023–presentSierra Nevada region, including all of Alpine, Inyo, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, and Sierra and parts of El Dorado, Sacramento, and Yuba Independent March 9, 2026 –present
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