2020 United States House of Representatives elections in California


The 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in California were held on November 3, 2020, to elect 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 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate, and various state and local elections.
This is the first general election since 1994 in which a Republican defeated an incumbent House Democrat in California. This year, despite the statewide dominance by Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, a record-breaking number of Republicans defeated Democratic House incumbents: Young Kim defeated Gil Cisneros in District 39, Michelle Park Steel defeated Harley Rouda in District 48, and David Valadao defeated TJ Cox in District 21 to reclaim his old seat. This happened even as Democrats won the statewide combined House vote by a wider margin than Biden. Mike Garcia also defeated Christy Smith in District 25 to retain the seat he flipped in the May 12 special election to fill the seat vacated by Katie Hill.

Overview

District 1

The 1st district covers the northeastern part of the state bordering Nevada and Oregon. Incumbent Republican Doug LaMalfa, who had represented the district since 2013, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 54.9% of the vote in 2018. The district had a PVI of R+11.

Primary election

Advanced to general

  • Doug LaMalfa, incumbent U.S. representative

    Democratic candidates

Advanced to general
  • Audrey Denney, educator, farmer and general election candidate for this seat in 2018
    Eliminated in primary
  • Rob Lydon, veterinarian

    Independent candidates

Eliminated in primary

General election

Endorsements

Organizations
U.S. senators
Labor unions
Organizations

Predictions

Results

District 2

The 2nd district encompasses the North Coast, stretching from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border, taking in San Rafael, Petaluma, Novato, Windsor, Healdsburg, Ukiah, Fort Bragg, Fortuna, Eureka, Arcata, McKinleyville, and Crescent City. Incumbent Democrat Jared Huffman, who had represented the district since 2013, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 77.0% of the vote in 2018. The district had a PVI of D+22.

Primary election

Democratic candidates

Advanced to general
  • Jared Huffman, incumbent U.S. representative
    Eliminated in primary
  • Rachel Moniz, operations officer

    Republican candidates

Advanced to general
  • Dale K. Mensing, cashier and general election candidate for this seat in 2014, 2016, and 2018

    Green candidates

Eliminated in primary
  • Melissa Bradley, businesswoman

    American Independent candidates

Eliminated in primary
  • Charles "Wally" Coppock

    Results

General election

Predictions

Results

District 3

The 3rd district takes in areas north and west of Sacramento. It consists of Colusa, Sutter, and Yuba counties plus portions of Glenn, Lake, Sacramento, Solano, and Yolo counties. Incumbent Democrat John Garamendi, who had represented the 3rd district since 2013 and had previously represented the 10th district from 2009 to 2013, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 58.1% of the vote in 2018. The district had a PVI of D+5.

Primary election

Democratic candidates

Advanced to general
  • John Garamendi, incumbent U.S. representative

    Republican candidates

Advanced to general
  • Tamika Hamilton, U.S. Air Force veteran
    Eliminated in primary
  • Sean Feucht, gospel singer

    Results

General election

Endorsements

U.S. Executive Branch officials
U.S. senators
U.S. representatives
State officials
State legislators
Labor unions
Organizations
Newspapers
  • Daily Democrat
  • Daily Republic
  • The Reporter
  • The Sacramento Bee
Organizations

Results

District 4

The 4th district encompasses the suburbs of Sacramento and the Sierra Nevada. Incumbent Republican Tom McClintock, who had represented the district since 2009, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 54.1% of the vote in 2018. The district had a PVI of R+10.

Primary election

Republican candidates

Advanced to general
  • Tom McClintock, incumbent U.S. representative
    Eliminated in primary
  • Julianne Benzel, history teacher
  • Jamie Byers, state parole agent
  • Jacob Thomas, businessman

    Democratic candidates

Advanced to general
  • Brynne S. Kennedy, businesswoman

    Withdrawn

  • Sean Frame, Placerville Union school board member

    Independent candidates

Eliminated in primary
  • Robert Lawton, businessman and Democratic candidate for this seat in 2018

    Declined

  • Jessica Morse, deputy secretary of forest resources management at the California Natural Resources Agency and general election candidate for this seat in 2018

    Results

General election

Endorsements

Organizations
U.S. senators
  • Kamala Harris, U.S. senator ; 2020 vice presidential nominee
State officials
Labor unions
  • AFL-CIO
  • American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
  • California Federation of Teachers
  • California School Employees Association
  • California Teachers Association
Organizations
Individuals
  • Meg Whitman, 2010 Republican nominee for governor