The 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in California were held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016, with a primary election on June 7, 2016. Voters elected the 53 U.S. representatives from the state of California, one from each of the state's 53 congressional districts. The elections coincided with the elections of other offices, including a presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections. All seats in California retained their partisan control from the 2014 house elections.
Overview United States House of Representatives elections in California, 2016Primary election — June 7, 2016 Party Votes Percentage Candidates Advancing to general Seats contesting Democratic 4,915,447 63.91% 99 60 53 Republican 2,624,761 34.13% 86 44 44 No party preference 122,209 1.59% 19 2 2 Green 14,302 0.19% 2 0 0 Libertarian 8,154 0.11% 2 0 0 Peace and Freedom 6,400 0.08% 1 0 0 Valid votes 7,691,273 89.97% — — — Invalid votes 857,028 10.03% — — — Totals 8,548,301 100.00% 209 106 — Voter turnout 47.72%
United States House of Representatives elections in California, 2016General election — November 8, 2016 Party Votes Percentage Seats +/– Democratic 7,417,967 63.49% 39 Republican 4,172,087 35.71% 14 No party preference 94,312 0.81% 0 Valid votes — — Invalid votes — — Totals 11,684,366 100.00% 53 — Voter turnout
District 1
The 1st district is based in inland Northern California and includes Chico and Redding. Incumbent Republican Doug LaMalfa, who had represented the 1st district since 2013, ran for re-election.
Primary election Republican candidates Advanced to general Doug LaMalfa, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary Gregory Cheadle, real estate broker and candidate for this seat in 2012 & 2014 Joe Montes, small businessman Gary Allen Oxley, emergency room nurse
Withdrawn Doug Wright, attorney
Democratic candidates Advanced to general Jim Reed, attorney and nominee for this seat in 2010 & 2012
Eliminated in primary David Peterson, accountability system developer and candidate for the 12th district in 2012 & 2014
Endorsements
Results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Endorsements
Results
District 2
The 2nd district is based in California's North Coast and includes Marin County and Eureka. Incumbent Democrat Jared Huffman, who had represented the 2nd district since 2013, ran for re-election.
Primary election Democratic candidates Advanced to general Jared Huffman, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary Erin A. Schrode, social entrepreneur
Republican candidates Advanced to general Dale K. Mensing, cashier
Independent candidates Eliminated in primary Matthew Robert Wookey, middle school teacher
Endorsements
Results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Endorsements
Results
District 3
The 3rd district is based in north central California and includes Davis, Fairfield, and Yuba City. Incumbent Democrat John Garamendi, who had represented the 3rd district since 2013 and previously represented the 10th district from 2009 to 2013, ran for re-election.
Primary election Democratic candidates Advanced to general John Garamendi, incumbent U.S. Representative
Republican candidates Advanced to general Eugene Cleek, trauma surgeon
Eliminated in primary Ryan Detert, engineer and entrepreneur
Endorsements
Results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Endorsements
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.
Primary election Republican candidates Advanced to general Tom McClintock, incumbent U.S. Representative
Withdrawn Art Moore, business executive, management consultant and candidate for this seat in 2014
Democratic candidates Advanced to general Robert Derlet, physician
Eliminated in primary Sean White, solar instructor and author
Endorsements
Results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Endorsements
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 5th district since 2013 and previously represented the 1st district from 1999 to 2013, ran for re-election.
Primary election Democratic candidates Advanced to general Mike Thompson, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary Nils Palsson, community builder and educator Alex Poling, systems administrator
Republican candidates Advanced to general Carlos Santamaria, business owner and consultant
Endorsements
Results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Endorsements
Results
District 6
The 6th district is based in north central California and includes Sacramento. Incumbent Democrat Doris Matsui, who had represented the 6th district since 2013 and previously represented the 5th district from 2005 to 2013, ran for re-election.
Primary election Democratic candidates Advanced to general Doris Matsui, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary Jrmar Jefferson, community volunteer
Republican candidates Advanced to general Robert Evans, retired government auditor
Independent candidates Eliminated in primary Mario Galván, teacher Yuriy Seretskiy, software engineer
Endorsements
Results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Endorsements
Results
District 7
The 7th district is based in north central California and includes eastern Sacramento County. Incumbent Democrat Ami Bera, who had represented the 7th district since 2013, ran for re-election.
Primary election Democratic candidates Advanced to general Ami Bera, incumbent U.S. Representative
Republican candidates Advanced to general Scott Jones, Sacramento County Sheriff
Declined Roberta MacGlashan, Sacramento County Supervisor John McGinness, former Sacramento County Sheriff Roger Niello, former state assembly member Doug Ose, former U.S. Representative
Endorsements
Results
General election Campaign On May 10, Bera's father, Bob Bera, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of violating campaign finance laws, having made the maximum allowed contribution to his son's campaign in both the 2010 and 2012 election and then got friends and relatives to do the same. Bob Bera would then reimburse them, effectively circumventing campaign finance laws, funnelling $250,000 to the campaign. Ami Bera released a statement claiming to be unaware of his father's activity. He said, "I am incredibly saddened and disappointed in learning what my dad did. While I deeply love my father, it's clear he has made a grave mistake that will have real consequences for him. Neither I, no anyone involved with my campaign, was aware of my father's activities until we learned about them from the U.S. Attorney's Office." Bera also said that he returned the illegal contributions to the U.S. Treasury.
On August 18, Bob Bera was sentenced to a year in prison and fined $100,000. Bera's campaign manager said of the ruling, "This is one of the most difficult experiences of Congressman Bera's and his entire family's lives. Babulal Bera made a grave mistake and he now has to face the consequences of that."
Endorsements
Debate + 2016 California's 7th congressional district debate Date Host Moderator Link Democratic RepublicanKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Ami Bera Scott Jones1 October 18, 2016 Capital Public RadioFolsom Lake CollegeKVIELos Rios Community College DistrictThe Sacramento Bee Jason SchoultzC-SPAN
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror AmiBera (D) ScottJones (R) UndecidedTulchin Research (DCCC)Tulchin Research (DCCC) October 10–12, 2016 400 ± 4.9% 50% 39% 11%Public Opinion Strategies (R-Jones)/NRCC)Public Opinion Strategies (R-Jones/NRCC) October 1–3, 2016 400 ± 4.9% 42% 47% 11%Public Opinion Strategies (R-Jones)Public Opinion Strategies (R-Jones) August 14–17, 2016 400 ± 4.9% 46% 45% 9%NMB Research (R-CLF)NMB Research (R-CLF) August 9–11, 2016 400 ± 4.9% 45% 46% 9%
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Results
District 8
The 8th district is based in the eastern High Desert and includes Victorville and Yucaipa. Incumbent Republican Paul Cook, who had represented the 8th district since 2013, ran for re-election.
Primary election Republican candidates Advanced to general Paul Cook, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary Tim Donnelly, former state assembly member and candidate for governor in 2014
Democratic candidates Advanced to general Rita Ramirez, retired college professor
Eliminated in primary Roger La Plante, retired army sergeant John Pinkerton, Victor Valley community college trustee
Endorsements
Results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Endorsements
Results
District 9
The 9th district is based in the Central Valley and includes the San Joaquin Delta and Stockton. Incumbent Democrat Jerry McNerney, who had represented the 9th district since 2013 and previously represented the 11th district from 2007 to 2013, ran for re-election.
Primary election Democratic candidates Advanced to general Jerry McNerney, incumbent U.S. Representative
Republican candidates Advanced to general Antonio "Tony" Amador, retired U.S. Marshal and general election candidate for this seat in 2014
Eliminated in primary Kathryn Nance, Stockton Police Sergeant
Libertarian candidates Eliminated in primary Alex Appleby, manager and financial advisor
Endorsements
Results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Endorsements
Results
District 10
The 10th district is based in the Central Valley and includes Modesto and Tracy. Incumbent Republican Jeff Denham, who had represented the 10th district since 2013 and previously represented the 19th district from 2011 to 2013, ran for re-election.
Primary election Republican candidates Advanced to general Jeff Denham, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary Robert Hodges, farmer
Democratic candidates Advanced to general Michael Eggman, farmer, small businessman and general election candidate for this seat in 2014
Eliminated in primary Michael J. "Mike" Barkley, accountant and candidate for this seat in 2014
Endorsements
Results
General election Endorsements
Polling