California Congressional Candidates, Per District

Mike Thompson was elected to the U.S. House in 1998, defeating Republican Mark Luce with 62 percent of the vote for the seat vacated by Republican Rep. Frank Riggs.

Thompson retained his seat in 2000 with 65 percent of the vote against Republican Russel Chase. Thompson ran unopposed in the March 2002 primary, as did his eventual general election opponent, Republican Lawrence Wiesner.

Thompson defeated Wiesner with 64 percent of the vote. He defeated Wiesner again in 2004 with 67 percent of the vote.

In 2006, Thompson took 66 percent of the vote, beating Republican John Jones.

Thompson defeated Republican Zane Starkewolf in 2008 with 68 percent of the vote.

Thompson was elected to the California state Senate from the 4th District in 1990, the first Vietnam veteran elected to the chamber. District boundaries were redrawn in 1991, and much of Thompson's district became the new 2nd District. When the 2nd District senator retired in 1992, Thompson resigned his seat and ran in the special election for that district, winning by a narrow margin.

(Last updated by Samantha Young on April 6, 2009.)

Wally Herger was elected to the U.S. House in 1986 with 58 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Stephen C. Swendiman.

Herger defeated Democrat Erwin Rush in 1990 with 63 percent of the vote and Democrat Elliot Freedman in 1992 with 65 percent of the vote. In 1994, he defeated Democrat Mary Jacobs with 64 percent. In 1996, he was re-elected with 61 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Roberts Braden.

Herger was elected to a seventh House term in 1998, defeating Democrat Roberts Braden with 62 percent of the vote. He received 66 percent of the vote in 2000.

Herger was re-elected in 2002, and was unopposed in the March 2004 Republican primary. He was re-elected in 2004, defeating Mike Johnson with 67 percent of the vote.

He was unopposed in the 2006 Republican primary and defeated A.J. Sekhon in the 2006 general election with 64 percent of the vote.

In 2008, Herger defeated Democrat Jeff Morris with 58 percent of the vote.

Herger served in the California Assembly from 1981 to 1987.

(Last updated by Samantha Young on April 6, 2009.)

Dan Lungren won a come-from-behind victory in the 2004 GOP congressional primary over state Sen. Rico Oller. The race was a fierce, three-way battle for the chance to replace retiring Republican Rep. Doug Ose. Ose's sister, Mary, was among the contenders.

In the general election, Lungren defeated Democrat Gabe Castillo, winning 62 percent of the vote.

Lungren took 59 percent in 2006 in defeating Democrat Bill Durston, a physician.

In 2008, Lungren faced Durston again in the general election and won with 49.5 percent of the vote to Durston's 44 percent.

Before his current stint in Congress, Lungren served five terms in the U.S. House, from 1979 to 1989. He then was elected California's attorney general, serving from 1990 to 1998.

Lungren ran unsuccessfully against Democrat Gray Davis for governor in 1998.

(Last updated by Samantha Young on April 6, 2009.)

In his second run for Congress, Tom McClintock defeated Democrat Charles Brown with 50 percent of the vote in 2008 to take the seat vacated by John Doolittle.

McClintock ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1992, for state controller in 1994 and 2002, for governor in 2003 and for lieutenant governor in 2006.

McClintock was a California state senator from 2000 to 2008. He served in the state Assembly from 1982 to 1992 and again from 1996 to 2000.

(Last updated by Samantha Young on April 6, 2009.)

Doris Matsui first campaigned for Congress in a March 2005 special election following the death of her husband, Rep. Bob Matsui, who served the district for 26 years. She overwhelmed her opponents in a 12-candidate field, drawing 69 percent of the vote, far more than the 50 percent needed to avoid a runoff.

Matsui was re-elected in 2006, getting 71 percent of the vote against Claire Yan.

In 2008, Matsui defeated Republican Paul Smith with 74 percent of the vote.

(Last updated by Don Thompson on April 30, 2009.)

Lynn Woolsey was first elected to the U.S. House in 1992 with 66 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Bill Filante. She was re-elected in 1994 with 58 percent, defeating Republican Michael Nugent.

In 1996, she was re-elected with 62 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Duane Hughes. She won re-election in 1998 defeating Republican Ken McAuliffe with 58 percent of the vote.

Woolsey beat McAuliffe again in 2000, this time with 64 percent of the vote. She was re-elected in 2002, defeating Paul Erickson with 67 percent of the vote. She defeated Erickson again in 2004 with 72 percent of the vote.

Woolsey was re-elected in 2006, taking 70 percent of the vote against Republican Todd Hooper.

Woolsey faced Republican Mike Halliwell in 2008 when she won re-election once more with 72 percent of the vote.

Prior to her run for Congress, Woolsey was elected to two terms on the Petaluma City Council, serving from 1985 to 1992.

(Last updated by Don Thompson on May 6, 2009.)

George Miller was first elected to the U.S. House in 1974 with 56 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Gary Fernandez. He has been re-elected to 16 consecutive terms since then.

He defeated Republican Roger Payton in 1990 with 61 percent of the vote.

In 1992 he won re-election with 71 percent of the vote defeating Republican Dave Scholl. He defeated Republican Charles Hughes in 1994 with 70 percent of the vote.

In 1996, he defeated Republican Norman Reece with 72 percent of the vote. In 1998 he was re-elected again, defeating Reece with 77 percent of the vote.

Miller won in 2000 with 77 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in 2002, defeating Charles Hargrave with 71 percent of the vote. He defeated Hargrave again in 2004 with 76 percent of the vote.

In 2006, Republicans didn't field a candidate to oppose Miller. He faced only a Libertarian Party candidate and took 84 percent of the vote.

Miller faced Republican Roger Petersen in 2008, winning re-election with 73 percent of the vote.

(Last updated by Don Thompson on May 6, 2009.)

Nancy Pelosi was first elected to the U.S. House in a special election in June 1987 with 62 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Harriet Ross. Pelosi won re-election in 1990, defeating Republican Alan Nichols with 78 percent of the vote.

From 1992 to 2006, Pelosi was re-elected with at least 80 percent of the vote.

Pelosi faced Republican Dana Walsh and anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, who registered as an independent, in November 2008. Pelosi won re-election with 72 percent of the vote.

(Last updated by Kevin Freking on April 2, 2009.)

Barbara Lee won an April 1998 special election to serve out Democratic Rep. Ronald Dellums' U.S. House term. Lee received 67 percent of the vote to defeat Democratic challenger Greg Harper. She was re-elected in November 1998.

She won again in 2000, defeating Republican Arneze Washington with 85 percent of the vote. She was re-elected in 2002, defeating Jerald Udinsky with 81 percent of the vote. In 2004 she was re-elected with 84 percent of the vote over Republican Claudia Bermudez.

She was unopposed in the 2006 Democratic primary and was re-elected in the general election over John Den Dulk with 86 percent of the vote.

In 2008, Lee faced Republican challenger Charles Hargrave and Libertarian Jim Eyer, winning with 86 percent of the vote.

Lee served in the California Assembly from 1990 to 1996, and the California Senate from 1996 to 1998. In 1990, she won the Assembly seat of Democrat Elihu Harris, who left to become Oakland mayor. In 1996, she replaced Democratic state Sen. Nick Petris, who was forced to retire after 30 years because of term limits.

She was chief of staff for then-Rep. Ron Dellums from 1975 to 1987, winning his seat when he resigned in 1998.

(Last updated by Don Thompson on May 6, 2009.)

Ellen Tauscher was considered a legitimate threat to 10-term Republican Rep. Bill Baker during their 1996 race because of her family's wealth. Tauscher represented Baker's first serious challenge and won by 1.5 percentage points after her campaign spent $2.6 million, $1.7 million of personal wealth. The race ranked as the fourth most expensive of that year's House races.

She was re-elected in 1998, defeating Republican Charles Ball with 53 percent of the vote. She won again in 2000 with 53 percent against GOP candidate Claude Hutchison. She won the March 2002 open primary against Democrat Kurt Rasmussen with 84.9 percent of the votes.

Tauscher was re-elected in the 2002 general election, defeating Sonia Harden with 76 percent of the vote. In 2004 she was re-elected with 66 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Jeff Ketelson. In 2006, she got 66 percent against Republican Darcy Linn.

Tauscher faced Republican challenger Nick Gerber in 2008, winning re-election with 65 percent of the vote.

(Last updated on June 29, 2009.)

Jerry McNerney was first elected in 2006, when he upset Republican Richard Pombo, winning 53.3 percent of the vote.

In 2008, he faced Republican opponent and former state legislator, Dean Andal, winning re-election with 55 percent of the vote.

McNerney ran unsuccessfully for the 11th Congressional District seat in 2004 as a write-in candidate.

(Last updated by Steve Lawrence on April 3, 2009.)

Jackie Speier won a special election in April 2008 to succeed Democratic U.S. Rep. Tom Lantos, taking nearly 78 percent of the vote against five challengers. In 2007, she prepared to run against veteran Lantos, who represented much of the same part of the San Francisco Peninsula as Speier represented in the state Legislature.

Lantos was chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and had initially planned to run for re-election, but he dropped out in January 2008 after announcing he had cancer of the esophagus. He died in February after endorsing Speier as his successor.

She was nominated for a full two-year term in June 2008 and won re-election in November of that year with 75 percent of the vote over Republican challenger Greg Conlon.

Speier lost her first race for public office, an attempt to succeed U.S. Rep. Leo Ryan in a special election in 1979. But she rebounded in 1980 by winning a seat on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.

She was re-elected in 1984, and in 1986 won the first of five two-year terms in the state Assembly. Her term expired in 1996, but she won a state Senate seat two years later and was re-elected in 2002.

Speier ran for lieutenant governor in 2006, losing the Democratic primary to state Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi.

(Last updated by Steve Lawrence on April 2, 2009.)

Pete Stark was first elected to the U.S. House in 1972 with 53 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Lew M. Warden Jr. He has won re-election by comfortable margins ever since.

Stark defeated Republican Victor Remero in 1990 with 59 percent of the vote, and Republican Verne Taylor in 1992 with 61 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in 1994 with 64 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Larry Molton. Stark was re-elected from 1996 to 2006, when he defeated George Bruno with 75 percent of the vote.

In 2008 he won re-election against Ray Chui with 76 percent of the vote.

Stark made an unsuccessful bid for the state Senate in 1969.

(Last updated by Steve Lawrence on April 2, 2009.)

Anna G. Eshoo was first elected to the U.S. House in 1992 with 57 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Tom Huening. She was re-elected in 1994 with 61 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Ben Brink.

In 1996, she was re-elected with 65 percent of the vote, defeating Brink again. Eshoo was elected to a fourth House term in 1998, defeating Republican Chris Haugen with 69 percent of the vote.

Eshoo defended her seat in 2000 against GOP candidate Bill Quraishi, winning 70 percent of the vote. She was re-elected in 2002, defeating Joseph Nixon with 68 percent of the vote, and in 2004, when she defeated Republican Chris Haugen with 70 percent of the vote. In 2006, she defeated Rob Smith, winning 71 percent of the vote.

In 2008, Eshoo faced Republican challenger Ronny Santana, Green Party candidate Carol Brouillet, and Libertarian Brian Holtz. Eshoo won re-election with 70 percent of the vote.

Eshoo was elected to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors in 1982, 1986 and 1990. She ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1988 against Republican Tom Campbell, who was then a state lawmaker.

(Last updated by Judy Lin on April 6, 2009.)

In an open primary for the U.S. House in March 2000, Mike Honda came out on top of a Democratic field of five, winning 40 percent of the vote.

He was elected in 2000 with 54 percent of the vote. He defeated Republican Linda Hermann in the 2002 election with 66 percent of the vote.

Honda was re-elected in 2004, defeating Republican Raymond Chukwu with 72 percent of the vote. He defeated Chukwu again in 2006, winning 72 percent of the vote.

In 2008, Honda defeated Republican challenger Joyce Cordi and Green Party candidate Peter Myers with 72 percent of the vote.

Honda was first elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in 1990 to replace retiring Susanne Wilson and was re-elected in 1994.

In 1996, Honda was elected to the state Assembly, trouncing Republican Lisa Sutton with 73 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in 1998, defeating Republican Patrick Du Long with 76 percent of the vote.

(Last updated by Judy Lin on April 6, 2009.)

Zoe Lofgren was first elected to the U.S. House in 1994 with 65 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Lyle Smith. During the campaign, she made headlines when she sought unsuccessfully to have "mother" as well as county supervisor listed as her occupation on the ballot.

She was re-elected in 1996 with 66 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Chuck Wojslaw. She won a third House term in 1998, defeating Republican Horace Thayn with 73 percent of the vote.

She won her seat again in 2000 with 72 percent of the vote. She was re-elected in 2002 with 67 percent of the vote over Douglas McNea. She defeated McNea again in 2004, winning 71 percent of the vote.

In 2006, Lofgren defeated Charel Winston, winning 73 percent of the vote.

Lofgren faced Winston and Libertarian Steven Wells in 2008, winning re-election with 71 percent of the vote.

Lofgren was elected to the San Jose Community College Board in 1979. She was elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in 1980 and won re-election three times.

(Last updated by Judy Lin on April 6, 2009.)

Sam Farr was first elected to the U.S. House in a special election in June 1993 with 52 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Bill McCampbell. The election was held to fill the congressional seat of Leon Panetta, who was named head of the Office of Management and Budget.

Farr was elected to a full term in 1994 with 52 percent of the vote, defeating McCampbell again. He was re-elected in 1996 with 58 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Jess Brown.

Farr won re-election in 1998 defeating McCampbell with 64 percent of the vote. He won again in 2000 against Republican Clint Engler with 69 percent of the vote.

He was re-elected in 2002, defeating Engler with 68 percent of the vote. In 2004, he was re-elected with 67 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Mark Risley. He defeated Republican Anthony DeMaio in 2006, taking 76 percent of the vote.

In 2008, Farr faced Republican Jeff Taylor, winning re-election with 74 percent of the vote.

Farr was a member of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors from 1975 to 1980 and served in the state Assembly from 1981 to 1993.

(Last updated by Judy Lin on April 6, 2009.)

Dennis Cardoza won the Democratic primary for the 18th Congressional District in March 2002, beating incumbent Gary Condit, his one-time mentor.

Condit reportedly told Washington police he had been having an affair with intern Chandra Levy, the daughter of a Modesto physician who disappeared in May 2001. Levy's remains were found a year later in a Washington park. Condit was never named as a suspect in her death but the politician was criticized in 2001 for his behavior after her disappearance. In March 2009, a Salvadoran immigrant serving time in federal prison for assaulting two female joggers in the same park was charged with Levy's murder.

Cardoza, who was planning to run for the state Senate, jumped into the congressional primary after Condit's political standing plummeted. They tangled in a tough March 2002 primary race that featured Condit's children calling Cardoza, a former Condit aide, a traitor. Cardoza won the primary, setting up an expensive general election race against Republican state Sen. Dick Monteith.

Although the Republicans spent plenty to knock off Cardoza, he won that November, thanks largely to new district lines that included heavily Democratic parts of Stockton, a port city in the northern part of the Central Valley.

Cardoza was re-elected in 2004, defeating Republican Charles Pringle with 67 percent of the vote. Cardoza won a third term in 2006, taking 65 percent of the vote against Republican John Kanno.

He ran unopposed in 2008.

Cardoza's first political victory was a seat on the Atwater City Council in 1984. He was elected to the state Assembly in 1996 and re-elected to two more terms.

(Last updated by Juliet Williams on April 30, 2009.)

George Radanovich, after an unsuccessful attempt in 1992, was elected to the House in 1994, easily defeating incumbent Richard Lehman.

Radanovich attacked Lehman for his support of President Clinton's policies, including his support of attempts by Rep. George Miller to raise the price of Central Valley water. Radanovich defeated Lehman 57 percent to 40 percent, the greatest margin of defeat for any non-freshman incumbent in 1994.

Radanovich was re-elected in 1996 with 67 percent of the vote and faced no major-party opposition when he was elected to a third term in 1998. He retained his seat in 2000 with 65 percent of the vote against Democrat Dan Rosenberg.

He was re-elected in 2002 with 67 percent of the vote in a race against John Veen. In 2004, voters re-elected him with 66 percent of the vote over Democrat James Bufford. In 2006, he was re-elected over Democrat TJ Cox with 61 percent of the vote.

He was unopposed in 2008.

He earlier was elected to the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors and was a member of the county planning commission.

(Last updated by Juliet Williams on April 30, 2009.)

Jim Costa first won the seat vacated by Democratic Rep. Cal Dooley, who decided not to run for re-election. Dooley's retirement prompted a contentious primary contest between Costa and Lisa Quigley, Dooley's former chief of staff, who Dooley endorsed.

Costa won the March 2004 primary with 73 percent of the vote, tarring Quigley as a carpetbagger with no electoral experience. Quigley attacked Costa's voting record and his recent work as a lobbyist.

Costa defeated Republican state Sen. Roy Ashburn in the November 2004 general election, winning 54 percent of the vote.

In 2006, Costa was unopposed for re-election.

Costa faced Republican Jim Lopez in 2008, winning with 74 percent of the vote.

Costa served for 24 years in the California state Assembly.

(Last updated by Juliet Williams on April 30, 2009.)

Devin Nunes' second bid for a U.S. House seat proved successful after failing in his bid for the 20th District in 1998. In 2002, he defeated first-time candidate David LaPere in the newly formed 21st District with 71 percent of the vote.

Nunes was re-elected in 2004, defeating Democrat Fred Davis with 73 percent of the vote. In 2006, he won easily against Democrat Steven Haze with 66 percent of the vote.

In 2008, Nunes won re-election against Democratic challenger Larry Johnson with 68 percent of the vote.

(Last updated by Steve Lawrence on May 28, 2009.)

Kevin McCarthy was first elected to the U.S. House in 2006 with 71 percent of the vote after his predecessor, Bill Thomas, announced he would not seek re-election for a 15th term.

McCarthy faced no opposition for re-election in 2008.

He was elected to the California Assembly in 2002, where he served for two terms.

McCarthy also served as an elected trustee on the Kern Community College District Board.

Lois Capps was first elected in a special election in March 1998 to succeed her late husband, Walter, who died of a heart attack in October 1997.

Capps was re-elected to the U.S. House in November 1998.

In 2000, she beat former Santa Barbara County Supervisor Mike Stoker with 53 percent of the vote.

She was re-elected in 2002 with 59 percent of the vote and in 2004 with 63 percent of the vote over Republican Don Regan.

Capps defeated Republican Victor Tognazzini in 2006 with 65 percent of the vote and Republican Matt Kokkonen in 2008 with 68 percent of the vote.

Elton Gallegly was first elected to the U.S. House in 1986 with 68 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Gilbert R. Saldana. He has won re-election by comfortable margins ever since.

Gallegly defeated Democrat Richard Freiman in 1990 with 58 percent of the vote and Democrat Anita Perez Ferguson in 1992 with 54 percent of the vote. He defeated Democrat Kevin Ready in 1994 with 66 percent of the vote.

In 1996, he was re-elected with 59 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Robert Unruhe. Gallegly won a seventh term in 1998 by defeating Democrat Daniel Gonzalez with 60 percent of the vote.

Gallegly defeated Democrat Michael Case in 2000 with 53 percent of the vote. He defeated Fern Rudin in 2002, winning 65 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in 2004, defeating Democrat Brett Wagner with 62 percent of the vote. In 2006, he defeated Democrat Jill Martinez, again with 62 percent of the vote.

In 2008, Gallegly faced Democratic challenger Marta Jorgensen, winning re-election with 58 percent of the vote.

Buck McKeon was elected to the U.S. House in 1992 with 55 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat James Gilmartin. He was re-elected in 1994 with 65 percent, defeating Gilmartin again.

In 1996, McKeon was re-elected with 62 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Diane Trautman. He won a fourth term in 1998, winning without major party opposition. McKeon won again in 2000 with 63 percent of the vote.

He was re-elected in 2002, defeating Bob Conaway with 65 percent of the vote. In 2004, he defeated Democrat Tim Willoughby, winning 65 percent of the vote. In 2006, McKeon defeated Democrat Robert Rodriguez with 60 percent of the vote.

In 2008, McKeon faced Jackie Conaway, winning re-election with 58 percent of the vote.

David Dreier was elected to the U.S. House in 1980, defeating Democratic Rep. James F. Loyd with 52 percent of the vote. He has won re-election ever since.

In 2000, Dreier beat Democrat Janice Nelson with 57 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in 2002, winning 64 percent of the vote over Marjorie Musser Mikels.

He won re-election in 2004, defeating Cynthia Matthews with 54 percent of the vote, Dreier's worst showing since his first election in 1980.

In 2006, he beat Matthews again with 57 percent of the vote.

Dreier won re-election against Democratic Russ Warner in 2008 with 53 percent of the vote.

Dreier made his first bid for the U.S. House in 1978, losing to Lloyd.

(Last updated by Terence Chea on May 18, 2009.)

Brad Sherman first was elected to the U.S. House in 1996, defeating Republican Rich Sybert by 4 percentage points. Sherman was re-elected in 1998, defeating Republican Randy Hoffman with 58 percent of the vote.

In 2000, Sherman defeated Republican Jerry Doyle with 66 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in 2002, defeating Robert Levy with 62 percent of the vote. He defeated Levy again in 2004, also winning 62 percent of the vote.

In 2006, he beat his Republican opponent, Peter Hankwitz, with 69 percent of the vote.

Sherman faced Republican Navraj Singh and Libertarian Tim "Saint" Denton in 2008, winning re-election with 69 percent of the vote.

Before running for the House, he won a seat in 1990 on the California Board of Equalization. He won re-election in 1994.

(Last updated by Terence Chea on May 22, 2009.)

Howard Berman was first elected to the U.S. House in 1982 with 60 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Hal Phillips. Berman was re-elected to five consecutive terms, defeating Republican Roy Dahlson in 1990 with 61 percent of the vote and Republican Gary Forsch in 1992 with 61 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in 1994 with 63 percent of the vote, defeating Forsch again.

In 1996, he was re-elected with 66 percent of the vote against Republican Bill Glass. He won a ninth term in 1998, without facing major party opposition. In 2000, he won with 84 percent of the vote.

He was re-elected in 2002, defeating David Hernandez with 71 percent of the vote. He defeated Hernandez again in 2004, also winning 71 percent of the vote. In 2006 he beat Stanley Kimmel Kesselman with 74 percent.

Berman ran unopposed in 2008.

(Last updated by Terence Chea on May 18, 2009.)

Adam Schiff upset GOP incumbent James Rogan in 2000 with 53 percent of the vote. At the time, it was the most expensive House race ever, with more than $11 million spent by the two candidates. He was re-elected in 2002, defeating Jim Scileppi with 63 percent of the vote. He defeated Republican Harry Scolinos in 2004 with 65 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in 2006 with 63.5 percent of the vote, defeating four challengers that included Republican William Bodell.

In 2008, Schiff defeated Republican Charles Hahn and Libertarian Alan Pyeatt, taking 69 percent of the vote.

Schiff was elected to the California state Senate in 1996, defeating Republican Paula Boland 51 percent to 44 percent. He was re-elected in 1998.

(Last updated by Terence Chea on May 22, 2009.)

Henry Waxman first was elected to the U.S. House with 64 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Elliott Stone Graham in 1974.

Waxman defeated GOP candidate Jim Scileppi in 2000 with 76 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in 2002, defeating Tony Goss with 70 percent of the vote. And voters picked him over Victor Elizalde in 2004 with 71 percent of the vote, and over David Nelson Jones in 2006 with 71.5 percent.

Waxman ran unopposed in 2008.

Waxman first was elected to the California Assembly in 1968. He was re-elected twice before running for Congress in 1974.

(Last updated by Michelle Locke on May 6, 2009.)

Xavier Becerra was elected to the U.S. House in 1992 with 59 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Morry Waksberg.

Becerra was re-elected in 1994 with 66 percent of the vote, defeating Republican David Ramirez. In 1996, he was re-elected with 73 percent of the vote against Republican Patricia Parker. He defeated Parker again in 1998, winning with 82 percent of the vote.

Becerra won in 2000 against token GOP opposition with 83 percent of the vote. In 2001, he ran unsuccessfully for Los Angeles mayor.

He was re-elected to the House in 2002, winning 81 percent of the vote against Luis Vega. He defeated Vega again in 2004 by winning 80 percent of the vote and was unopposed in 2006 and 2008.

Becerra first entered politics in 1990, serving a two-year term in the state Assembly.

(Last updated by Michelle Locke on May 11, 2009.)

Editor's note: Hilda L. Solis was confirmed on February 24, 2009 as President Barack Obama's labor secretary. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered a special election for the 32nd District seat will be held on July 14, 2009, with a primary election date of May 19, 2009.

In 2000, Solis defeated nine-term incumbent Rep. Matthew Martinez in the congressional primary. She won her U.S. House seat in general election with 79 percent of the vote. She won re-election in 2002 with 69 percent of the vote over Republican Emma Fischbeck.

She was unopposed in the 2004 primary and was re-elected over Libertarian candidate Leland Faegre with 85 percent of the vote. She ran unopposed in 2006 and 2008.

Solis was first elected to the Rio Hondo Community College District Board of Trustees in 1985 and was re-elected in 1989. Solis was elected to the California state Assembly in 1992. She was elected to the state Senate in 1994 and re-elected in 1998.

Diane Watson was elected in a special election in 2001 to fill the U.S. House seat of Democratic Rep. Julian Dixon, who died. Watson left her post as U.S. ambassador to Micronesia, which she had held since 1999, to join Congress.

She was elected to a full term in 2002, defeating Republican Andrew Kim with 83 percent of the vote.

Watson did not face a major party challenger in 2004 and ran unopposed in 2006.

In 2008, Watson defeated Republican challenger David Crowley II with 88 percent of the vote.

Watson was elected to the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education in 1975.

In 1978, she became the first black woman to be elected to the state Senate, where she served for 20 years.

(Last updated by Michelle Locke on May 13, 2009.)

Lucille Roybal-Allard was first elected to the U.S. House in 1992 with 63 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Robert Guzman. The win made her the first Mexican-American woman elected to Congress. She was re-elected in 1994 with 81 percent, defeating Republican Kermit Booker.

In 1996, she was re-elected with 82 percent of the vote against Republican John Leonard. In 1998, Roybal-Allard defeated Republican Wayne Miller with 87 percent of the vote to win a fourth term in the House. She defeated Miller again with 85 percent of the vote in 2000, with 74 percent in 2002, with 75 percent in 2004 and with slightly more than 76 percent in 2006.

Roybal-Allard defeated Republican challenger Christopher Balding in 2008 with 77 percent of the vote.

She was elected to the state Assembly in a 1987 special election. She was re-elected in 1988 and 1990.

(Last updated by Juliana Barbassa on May 11, 2009.)

Maxine Waters was first elected to the U.S. House in 1990, with 80 percent of the vote. She was re-elected in 1992 with 83 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Nate Truman. She was re-elected in 1994 with 78 percent, again defeating Truman.

In 1996, she was re-elected with 86 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Eric Carlson. She won re-election in 1998 without major-party opposition. She won in 2000 with 87 percent of the vote against token GOP opposition.

She was re-elected in 2002, defeating Ross Moen with 87 percent of the vote. She defeated Moen again in 2004 with 80 percent of the vote. In 2006 she was re-elected to her ninth term with more than 80 percent of the vote. She was re-elected in 2008 to her 10th term in the House with 83 percent of the vote, defeating Republican challenger Ted Hayes and Libertarian Herb Peters.

Waters was elected to the California Assembly in 1976.

(Last updated by Juliana Barbassa on May 11, 2009.)

Jane Harman won back her seat in the U.S. House in 2000, after losing it in 1998. She won her House seat again in 2000 against incumbent Steve Kuykendall with 48 percent of the vote.

Harman was re-elected in 2002, defeating Republican Stuart Johnson with 61 percent of the vote. In 2004, she defeated Paul Whitehead with 62 percent of the vote. In 2006, she beat Republican Brian Gibson with 63 percent of the vote.

In 2008, Harman defeated Gibson again with 69 percent of the vote.

Previously, Harman was elected to the U.S. House in 1992 with 49 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Joan Milke Flores and other candidates.

In 1994, she defeated Republican Susan M. Brooks with 50 percent of the vote. In 1996, Harman defeated Brooks again with 53 percent of the vote.

In 1998, Harman unsuccessfully ran for California's Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

(Last updated by Juliana Barbassa on May 13, 2009.)

In June 2007, Laura Richardson won a special election primary to replace Juanita Millender-McDonald, who died in April 2007. She beat fellow Democratic state legislator Jenny Oropeza with 37 percent of the vote, then won the special election runoff in August 2007 with 67 percent of the vote.

In June 2008, Richardson won the Democratic nomination for re-election to her House seat with 74.5 percent of the vote. Richardson had no major party challenger in the 2008 general election.

Richardson first ran for the California Assembly in 1996, losing in the Democratic Primary to Gerrie Schipskie.

She was elected to the Long Beach City Council in 2000 and re-elected in 2004. She was elected to the state Assembly in 2006.

(Last updated by Juliana Barbassa on May 11, 2009.)

Grace Napolitano was elected to Congress in 1998, defeating Republican Edward Perez with 68 percent of the vote. She won again in 2000, defeating GOP candidate Robert Canales with 71 percent of the vote. She defeated Republican Alex Burrola in 2002 with 71 percent of the vote. She was uncontested in 2004. In 2006, she beat Sidney Street with 75 percent of the vote.

She had no major party challenger in 2008.

Napolitano's political career began when she was elected to the Norwalk City Council in 1986. She eventually became the city's mayor and, from 1992 to 1998, she served three terms in the state Assembly.

(Last updated by Solvej Schou on April 8, 2009.)

Linda Sanchez was first elected to Congress in 2002, defeating Tim Escobar with 55 percent of the vote. She again defeated Escobar in 2004 with 61 percent of the vote. In 2006, she beat James Andion with 66 percent of the vote.

Sanchez faced Republican Diane Lenning in 2008, winning re-election with 70 percent of the vote.

(Last updated by Solvej Schou on June 5, 2009.)

Ed Royce was first elected to the U.S. House in 1992 with 57 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Molly McClanahan. He was re-elected in 1994 and 1996, defeating Democrat Bob Davis in both races.

Royce won a fourth term in 1998, defeating Cecy Groom with 63 percent of the vote. He held onto his seat in 2000, defeating Democrat Gill Kanel with 63 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in 2002, defeating Christina Avalos with 68 percent of the vote. He defeated Democrat Tilman Williams in 2004 with 68 percent of the vote. Royce was re-elected in 2006, defeating Democrat Florice Orea Hoffman with 67 percent of the vote.

Royce won re-election in 2008 with 63 percent of the vote over Democratic challenger Christina Avalos.

Royce was elected to the California Senate in 1982 with 54 percent of the vote against Democrat Frank Barbaro. He was re-elected in 1986 and 1990.

(Last updated by Solvej Schou on April 3, 2009.)

Jerry Lewis first won his House seat in 1978, defeating Democrat Dan Corcoran with 61 percent of the vote. He has been re-elected every two years since with at least 60 percent of the vote each time.

In 2000, he garnered 80 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in 2002, defeating Democrat Keith Johnson with 67 percent of the vote. He did not face a major party challenger in 2004. In 2006, Lewis was re-elected, defeating Democrat Louie A. Contreras with 67 percent of the vote.

Lewis defeated Democrat Tim Prince with 62 percent of the vote in 2008.

Lewis began his political career on the San Bernardino School Board and earned a reputation as a hardworking politician. He spent a decade in the California State Assembly, from 1968 to 1978, before being elected to Congress.

(Last updated by Solvej Schou on April 8, 2009.)

Gary Miller was elected to the U.S. House in 1998, defeating Democrat Eileen Ansari with 53 percent of the vote.

He won again in 2000 with 59 percent of the vote and was re-elected in 2002 with 68 percent of the vote. In 2004, he defeated Democrat Lewis Myers with 68 percent of the vote. In 2006, Miller ran unopposed.

In 2008, Miller defeated Democratic challenger Edwin Chau with 60 percent of the vote.

Miller's first political campaign was for Diamond Bar City Council, which he won in 1989. He became mayor in 1991.

He won a seat in the California Assembly in a special election in May 1995 following the recall of Paul Horcher. Miller retained the seat during the general election the next year.

(Last updated by Jeff Wilson on May 6, 2009.)

Joe Baca first won a seat in the U.S. House during a 1999 special election to succeed the late George Brown Jr. representing the 42nd District.

He won a full term in 2000, defeating Republican Elia Pirozzi with 60 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in 2002, defeating Republican Wendy Neighbor with 66 percent of the vote.

In 2004, he defeated Republican Ed Laning with 66 percent of the vote, and he was re-elected in 2006, taking 64 percent of the vote against Republican Scott Folkens.

Baca defeated Republican challenger John Roberts in 2008 with 69 percent of the vote.

Baca's first experience in politics came when voters elected him to the San Bernardino Community College Board of Trustees in 1979. He was re-elected in 1983 and 1987.

Baca ran unsuccessfully for the state Assembly in 1988 and 1990 and was elected to the Assembly on his third try in 1992. He was re-elected to the Assembly in 1994 and 1996. He was elected to the state Senate in 1998.

Ken Calvert won his House seat in 1992, defeating Democrat Mark A. Takano with 47 percent of the vote.

He was re-elected in 1994 with 55 percent, again defeating Takano. In 1996, he was re-elected with 54 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Guy Kimbrough.

Calvert won a fourth term in 1998, defeating Democrat Mike Rayburn with 55 percent of the vote. Calvert won again in 2000 with 74 percent of the vote. He faced no major-party opposition.

He was re-elected in 2002, defeating Democrat Louis Vandenberg with 64 percent of the vote. He defeated Vandenberg again in 2004 with 61 percent of the vote.

Calvert faced the poorly financed Vandenberg for a third time in 2006, winning easily with 60 percent of the vote.

In 2008, Calvert faced Democratic challenger Bill Hedrick, winning with 51 percent of the vote.

Calvert lost his first attempt at a U.S. House seat in 1982, losing to Riverside County Supervisor Al McCandless in the Republican primary.

After the 1998 skiing death of her husband, Rep. Sonny Bono, Mary Bono won a special election in April 1998 to take his place.

In November of that year, she won a full term, defeating Democrat Ralph Waite with 60 percent of the vote. Bono won her reelection fight in 2000 with 59 percent of the vote against Democrat Ron Oden. She was re-elected in 2002, defeating Democrat Elle Kurpiewski with 65 percent of the vote.

In 2004, she defeated Richard Meyer with 66 percent of the vote. In 2006, she defeated David Roth with 60.7 percent of the vote.

Democrats have mentioned her seat as a possible target in recent campaign cycles, but so far without spending much money or having much success.

Bono Mack won re-election in 2008 against Democrat Julie Bornstein with 58 percent of the vote.

Dana Rohrabacher was first elected to the U.S. House in 1988 with 66 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Guy C. Kimbrough. He defeated Kimbrough again in 1990 with 59 percent of the vote.

Rohrabacher held onto his seat again in 2000 in a race with 62 percent of the vote against Democrat Ted Crissell. He was re-elected in 2002, defeating Gerrie Schipske with 62 percent of the vote.

In 2004, he defeated Democrat Jim Brandt with 62 percent of the vote. In 2006 he again defeated Brandt, this time with 59.6 percent.

Rohrabacher faced Democratic challenger Debbie Cook in the solidly Republican district in 2008, winning re-election with 53 percent of the vote against the Huntington Beach mayor.

(Last updated by Michael R. Blood on May 6, 2009.)

In 1996, Loretta Sanchez won her seat in the U.S. House, defeating incumbent Republican Rep. Robert K. Dornan with 47 percent of the vote to Dornan's 46 percent.

Dornan said Sanchez won because non-citizens voted, but authorities couldn't find enough evidence to prosecute anyone, and the GOP-controlled House declined to overturn the election result.

Sanchez then won a 1998 rematch with Dornan, taking 56 percent of the vote to Dornan's 39 percent.

Sanchez retained her seat in 2000, winning 59 percent of the vote against Republican Gloria Tuchman.

She was re-elected in 2002, defeating Republican Jeff Chavez with 61 percent of the vote.

In 2004, she defeated Alex Coronado with 60 percent of the vote.

She defeated Republican Tan Nguyen in 2006, 62 percent to 38 percent, in a contest marked by accusations of voter intimidation. During the race, Nguyen's campaign sent out 14,000 letters to Hispanic immigrants claiming they could be deported or jailed for voting. State investigators seized computers and documents from Nguyen's headquarters and home but did not file charges against him after concluding there was no criminal intent.

In 2008, Sanchez defeated Republican Rosie Avila with 69 percent of the vote.

Sanchez first ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Anaheim City Council in 1994.

(Last updated by Michael R. Blood on May 6, 2009.)

John Campbell first won his 48th District seat with 44 percent of the vote in a special election in December 2005. He replaced Christopher Cox, who resigned after 17 years to head the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Campbell was re-elected in 2006 with 60 percent of the vote.

Campbell faced Democratic challenger Steve Young in 2008, winning with 56 percent of the vote.

(Last updated by Michael R. Blood on May 6, 2009.)

Darrell Issa first won his U.S. House seat in 2000, winning 61 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in 2002, winning 77 percent of the vote over a Libertarian candidate.

In 2004, he defeated Democrat Mike Byron with 63 percent of the vote. He ran on an anti-illegal immigration platform in 2006 and captured 63 percent of the vote against Democrat Jeeni Criscenzo.

In 2008, Issa defeated Democrat Bob Hamilton and Libertarian Lars Grossmith with 58 percent of the vote.

In 1998, Issa spent heavily from his personal fortune in a bid for the GOP nomination to try and unseat Sen. Barbara Boxer, but lost the primary to then-state Treasurer Matt Fong.

(Last updated by Michael R. Blood on May 6, 2009.)

Brian Bilbray — who lost his House seat in 2000 — returned to Congress in 2006, when he won a special June 2006 election to finish the term of jailed former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham. He beat Democrat Francine Busby by less than 5 percentage points in the high-dollar contest that generated interest from both major political parties.

Bilbray faced Busby again in November 2006 in a bid for a full term, this time beating her with 53 percent of the vote.

He faced Democrat Nick Leibham and Libertarian Wayne Dunlap in 2008, winning re-election with 50.2 percent of the vote.

Previously, Bilbray was elected to the House in 1994, 1996 and 1998.

He lost narrowly to Democrat Susan Davis in 2000.

Bilbray won his first election in 1975 at age 24 to the Imperial Beach City Council. He went on to become mayor of that city, serving from 1978 to 1985. Bilbray then served as a San Diego County supervisor from 1985 until he was elected to Congress in the Republican landslide of 1994.

(Last updated by Daisy Nguyen on May 11, 2009.)

Bob Filner won a seat in the U.S. House in 1992 with 57 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Tony Valencia to serve California's 51st District.

He was re-elected in 1994 with 57 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Mary Alice Acevedo, and again in 1996 with 62 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Jim Baize.

Filner faced no major party opposition during his 1998 re-election. He won in 2000 with 69 percent of the vote against Republican Bob Divine and was re-elected in 2002 with 58 percent of the vote over Maria Guadalupe Garcia.

He was re-elected in 2004, defeating Republican Michael Giorgino with 62 percent of the vote.

In June 2006, he won his district's Democratic primary, defeating state Assemblyman Juan Vargas of Chula Vista with 52 percent of the vote. He cruised to victory in November with 68 percent of the vote over Republican Blake Miles.

Filner defeated Republican David Joy and Libertarian Dan Litwin in 2008 with 73 percent of the vote.

Filner was elected to the San Diego Board of Education in 1979 and to the San Diego City Council in 1987 and 1991.

(Last updated by Daisy Nguyen on May 11, 2009.)

Duncan D. Hunter won election to the U.S. House in 2008 to take over the seat vacated by his father, Duncan L. Hunter. The elder Hunter announced in 2006 that he would not seek a 15th term in Congress to make a bid for the presidency but dropped out of the race in January 2008 after a poor showing in the Nevada caucus.

Duncan D. Hunter defeated Democrat Mike Lumpkin with 56 percent of the vote.

(Last updated by Daisy Nguyen on May 11, 2009.)

Susan Davis won her seat in the U.S. House in 2000, beating GOP incumbent Brian Bilbray with 50 percent of the vote to Bilbray's 47 percent.

She was re-elected in 2002, defeating Bill VanDeWeghe with 62 percent of the vote. In 2004, she defeated Republican Darin Hunzeker with 67 percent of the vote.

Davis beat Republican John "Woody" Woodrum in 2006 with 68 percent of the vote.

In 2008, Davis defeated Republican Michael Crimmins and Libertarian Edward M. Teyssier with 68 percent of the vote.

Davis won a seat in the California Assembly in 1994 and served three terms.

She was elected to the San Diego Board of Education in a special election in 1982 and was re-elected in 1984 and 1988.

(Last updated by Daisy Nguyen on May 11, 2009.)