California's 4th congressional district explained

State:	California
District Number:	4
Image Caption:	Interactive map of district boundaries since 2023 (Used in the 2022 elections)
Representative:	Mike Thompson
Party:	Democratic
Residence:	St. Helena
Population:	765,203
Population Year:	2022
Median Income:	$87,319^[1]
Percent White:	51.3
Percent Hispanic:	31.4
Percent Black:	2.8
Percent Asian:	7.6
Percent More Than One Race:	5.3
Percent Other Race:	1.6
Cpvi:	D+17^[2]

California's 4th congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in California. The district is located in the northwestern part of the state, and includes all of Lake County and Napa County, most of Yolo County, and parts of Solano County and Sonoma County. Major cities in the district include Davis, Woodland, Napa, Vacaville, and most of Santa Rosa. The new 4th district is solidly Democratic, and is represented by Mike Thompson.^[3]

From 2013 to 2023, the district encompassed the Sierras from Truckee to the Sequoia National Forest, as well as a largely suburban area on the edge of the Sacramento Valley in southwestern Placer County. It consisted of Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Mariposa, and Tuolumne counties plus most of Placer County and portions of Fresno, Madera, and Nevada counties. The district was represented by Republican Tom McClintock.^[4]

Competitiveness

In 2006, Republicans had 48 percent of voter registrations, Democrats had 30 percent, and Libertarians had roughly 5 percent.^[5] A Democratic congressional candidate nearly won the district in 2008, losing by only half a percentage point and less than 1,600 votes, indicating that the district was much more competitive than it appeared to be.

New district boundaries for the 2012 elections shifted the population center to the south and east. Registered Democrats and Independents/Decline to State voters in the new district area outnumber registered Republicans by 12%. However, Republicans, Independents/Decline to State, and small third parties outnumber Democrats well over a 2 to 1 ratio. There were 183,800 Republicans, 117,300 Democrats, and 97,200 others.^[6] In presidential elections, Donald Trump won the district in 2016 with 54% of the vote and won in 2020 with 53.7% of the vote. In the 2018 and 2020 elections, the Republican candidate won over 53% of the vote.^[7]

In the 2020 redistricting, the district was shifted again to the San Francisco Bay Area. It includes all of Lake County and Napa County, most of Yolo County, and parts of Solano County and Sonoma County. Major cities in the district include Davis, Woodland, Napa, Vacaville, and most of Santa Rosa. The new 4th district is solidly Democratic, and is represented by Mike Thompson.^[3] The Solano County portion including Vacaville and Dixon have consistently been more conservative as evidenced by the 2022 midterms, voters in Congressional District 4 favored the Republican candidate 50.3% to 49.7%.^[8]

Recent voting history

Election results from statewide races
Year	Office	Results
1992	President	align=right	Bush (R) 40.7 - 33.9%
	Senator	align=right	Herschensohn (R) 50.0 - 39.7%
	Senator	align=right	Feinstein (D) 46.0 - 45.2%
1994	Governor	align=right	Wilson (R) 66.4 - 29.0%
	Senator	align=right
1996	President	align=right	Dole (R) 51.3 - 37.8%
1998	Governor	align=right
	Senator	align=right
2000	President^[9]	align=right	Bush (R) 58.1 - 36.9%
	Senator^[10]	align=right	Campbell (R) 51.1 - 41.8%
2002	Governor^[11]	align=right	Simon (R) 58.5 - 30.6%
2003	Recall^[12] ^[13]	align=right	Yes 70.4 - 29.6%
		align=right	Schwarzenegger (R) 60.6 - 17.6%
2004	President^[14]	align=right	Bush (R) 61.3 - 37.4%
	Senator^[15]	align=right	Jones (R) 55.6 - 40.1%
2006	Governor^[16]	align=right	Schwarzenegger (R) 72.2 - 22.8%
	Senator^[17]	align=right	Mountjoy (R) 50.2 - 44.3%
2008	President^[18]	align=right	McCain (R) 54.0 - 43.8%
2010	Governor^[19]	align=right	Whitman (R) 55.3 - 39.3%
	Senator^[20]	align=right	Fiorina (R) 59.5 - 33.7%
2012	President	align=right	Romney (R) 57.9 - 39.5%
	Senator	align=right	Emken (R) 58.5 - 41.5%
2014	Governor	align=right	Kashkari (R) 55.1 - 44.9%
2016	President	align=right	Trump (R) 54.0 - 39.3%
	Senator	align=right	Harris (D) 63.3 - 36.7%
2018	Governor	align=right	Cox (R) 59.5 - 40.5%
	Senator	align=right	de Leon (D) 54.7 - 45.3%
2020	President	align=right	Trump (R) 53.7 - 43.9%
2021	Recall^[21]	align=right	Yes 58.9 - 41.1%
2022	Governor^[22]	align=right	Newsom (D) 63.3 - 36.7%
	Senator	align=right	Padilla (D) 65.7 - 34.3%

Composition

	County	Seat	Population
33	Lake	Lakeport	68,766
55	Napa	Napa	136,207
113	Yolo	Woodland	216,986

As of 2023, California's 4th congressional district encompasses Lake, Napa, and Yolo Counties, and parts of Sonoma and Solano Counties.

Sonoma County is split between this district and the 2nd district. They are partitioned by Petaluma River, Highway 116, Redwood Highway, Robber Rd, Petersen Rd, Llano Rd, S Wright Rd, W College Ave, Jennings Ave, Administration Dr, Bicentennial Way, Cleveland Ave, Old Redwood Highway, Cross Creek Rd, Sonoma Highway, and Sonoma Creek. The 4th district takes in the cities of Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Sonoma, and Cotati, the town of Windsor, and the census-designated places of Boyes Hot Spring, Roseland, El Verano, Penngrove.

Solano County is split between this district and the 8th district. They are partitioned by Soda Springs Rd, Union Pacific, Alamo Dr, Leisure Town Rd, Hawkins Rd, Bay Area Exxextric, Shilo Rd, Collinsville Rd, and Montezuma Slough. The 4th district takes in the city of Vacaville, Dixon, Rio Vista, and the census-designated place of Hartley.

Cities & CDP with 10,000 or more people

• Vacaville - 102,386
• Napa - 77,480
• Davis - 66,850
• Woodland - 55,229
• West Sacramento - 53,519
• American Canyon - 21,837
• Dixon - 18,974
• Clearlake - 15,134

2,500-10,000 people

• University of California, Davis - 6,805
• Hidden Valley Lake - 6,243
• Winters - 6,616
• St. Helena - 5,939
• Calistoga - 5,266
• Lakeport - 4,799
• North Lakeport - 3,514
• Angwin - 3,179
• Yountville - 2,984
• Kelseyville - 2,923
• Clearlake Riviera - 2,850
• Esparto - 2,877

List of members representing the district

Member	Party	Dates	Cong ress	Electoral history	Counties
District created March 4, 1873
align=left	Sherman Otis Houghton		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875		Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1872. lost re-election.	Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, Monterey, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus, Tulare, Ventura
align=left	Peter D. Wigginton		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877		Elected in 1875. Retired.
align=left	Romualdo Pacheco		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1877 – February 7, 1878		Lost contested election.
align=left	Peter D. Wigginton		Democratic	nowrap	February 7, 1878 – March 3, 1879		Won contested election. Retired.
align=left	Romualdo Pacheco		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1883		Elected in 1879. Re-elected in 1880. Retired.
align=left	Pleasant B. Tully		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1885		Elected in 1882. Retired.	San Francisco
align=left	William W. Morrow		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1891		Elected in 1884. Re-elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. Retired.
align=left	John T. Cutting		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893		Elected in 1890. Retired.
align=left	James G. Maguire		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1899		Elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Lost re-election.
align=left	Julius Kahn		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1903		Elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Lost re-election.
align=left	Edward J. Livernash		Democratic/ Union Labor	nowrap	March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1905		Elected in 1902. Lost re-election.
align=left	Julius Kahn		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1905 – December 18, 1924		Elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Re-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. Died.
Vacant		nowrap	December 18, 1924 – February 17, 1925
align=left	Florence Prag Kahn		Republican	nowrap	February 17, 1925 – January 3, 1937		Elected to finish husband's term. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Re-elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Lost re-election.
Franck R. Havenner		Progressive	nowrap	January 3, 1937 – January 3, 1939		Elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Lost re-election.
	Democratic	nowrap	January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1941
align=left	Thomas Rolph		Republican	nowrap	January 3, 1941 – January 3, 1945		Elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Lost re-election.
align=left	Franck R. Havenner		Democratic	nowrap	January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1953		Elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Lost re-election.
align=left	William S. Mailliard		Republican	nowrap	January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1963		Elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Redistricted to the .
Robert Leggett	Democratic	January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1979		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.	1963–1967 Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Solano, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba
1967–1973 Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Sacramento (outside the city), Solano, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba
1973–1975 Colusa, Glenn, Solano, southwestern Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba
1975–1983 Colusa, western Sacramento, Solano, Sutter, Yolo
	Vic Fazio	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 .
1983–1993 Sacramento (outside the city), Solano, Yolo
John Doolittle	Republican	January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2009		Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Retired.	1993–2003 Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Mono, Placer, northeastern Sacramento, Tuolumne
2003–2013 Eastern Butte, El Dorado, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento (Orangevale), Sierra
	Tom McClintock	Republican	January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2023		Elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Redistricted to the .
2013–2023 Eastern central California including Lake Tahoe, Roseville, and Yosemite National Park
align=left	Mike Thompson		Democratic	nowrap	January 3, 2023 – present		Redistricted from the and re-elected in 2022.	2023–present Lake, Napa, most of Yolo, parts of Solano and Sonoma

Election results for representatives

align=center

1872 • 1874 • 1876 • 1878 • 1880 • 1882 • 1884 • 1886 • 1888 • 1890 • 1892 • 1894 • 1896 • 1898 • 1900 • 1902 • 1904 • 1906 • 1908 • 1910 • 1912 • 1914 • 1916 • 1918 • 1920 • 1922 • 1924 • 1926 • 1928 • 1930 • 1932 • 1934 • 1936 • 1938 • 1940 • 1942 • 1944 • 1946 • 1948 • 1950 • 1952 • 1954 • 1956 • 1958 • 1960 • 1962 • 1964 • 1966 • 1968 • 1970 • 1972 • 1974 • 1976 • 1978 • 1980 • 1982 • 1984 • 1986 • 1988 • 1990 • 1992 • 1994 • 1996 • 1998 • 2000 • 2002 • 2004 • 2006 • 2008 • 2010 • 2012 • 2014 • 2016 • 2018 • 2020 • 2022

2018

In 2018, six Democratic candidates filed statements of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission (FEC).^[23] They were, in alphabetical order by last name: Regina Bateson; Roza Calderon; Richard Martin; Robert Lawton; Jessica Morse; and Rochelle Wilcox. Martin and Wilcox^[24] dropped out of the race, with Wilcox^[25] endorsing Morse in February.

Retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Brown, who was the Democratic nominee for this seat in 2006 and 2008, was "seriously considering" running in 2018,^[26] but decided in June 2017 against a third campaign. In January 2018, Brown endorsed Morse for the nomination.^[27] Bob Derlet,^[28] the Democratic nominee in 2016, also endorsed Morse in January.

On the Republican side, McClintock had one challenger, Mitchell Kendrick White, who filed with the FEC in January.^[29]

In February, the California Democratic Party (CDP) endorsed^[30] Jessica Morse in a contested nomination. Roza Calderon was able to successfully collect 322 CDP-credentialed delegate signatures needed to block the endorsement, in which Morse only received 44 delegate votes. However, CDP staff refused to accept the forms after it was alleged they closed doors early to prevent the submission. A petition was later filed with the Compliance Review Commission (CRC)^[31] by Calderon. The CRC voted to accept and count the signatures, ultimately disqualifying enough signatures to proceed with Morse's endorsement.

California allows candidates to include their professional description under their names on the ballot. Regina Bateson challenged Morse's ballot designation title of "National Security Fellow" at the Sacramento Superior Court after months of controversy that Morse was "fluffing" her credentials.^[32] California's Secretary of State, Alex Padilla, struck down Morse's three ballot designations before Judge Gevercer ruled^[33] that she presented "no credible evidence" to use the ballot designation of "National Security Fellow". Instead, he held that this title would mislead the average person about her recent activities. In the official Certified Candidate List for the primary election,^[34] Morse's ballot designation was left blank.

Under the California nonpartisan blanket ("jungle") primary system, only the two candidates with the most votes on June 5, regardless of party, went on to the general election on November 6. Two Republicans and four Democrats appeared on the primary ballot. Morse finished second, qualifying for the general election ballot, along with McClintock.

For the November ballot, Morse was also denied "National Security" as her designation.^[35] In the November general election, McClintock held the district with an advantage of more than eight percentage points.^[36]

2022

See also

• List of United States congressional districts

• California's congressional districts

External links

• GovTrack.us: California's 4th congressional district

• California Citizens Redistricting Commission: wedrawthelines.ca.gov 2012 final district maps

Notes and References

1. Web site: My Congressional District.
2. Web site: 2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List. 2023-01-10. Cook Political Report. July 12, 2022 . en.
3. Web site: CA 2022 Congressional. Dave's Redistricting. 2022-01-04. 2022-11-11.
4. Web site: Maps: Final Congressional Districts . February 24, 2013 . Citizens Redistricting Commission . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130310180458/http://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/maps-final-draft-congressional-districts.html . March 10, 2013.
5. https://archive.today/20070310212125/http://www.sacbee.com/content/opinion/story/14253547p-15069375c.html "Editorial: 4th Congressional District"
6. Web site: 2018 California's 4th Congressional District election . Ballotpedia . en . March 3, 2019.
7. https://ballotpedia.org/California%27s_4th_Congressional_District California's 4th Congressional District
8. Web site: Solano County - NOVEMBER 8, 2022 - Election Results.
9. Web site: Statement of Vote (2000 President) . ca.gov . May 7, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110520021824/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2000_general/ssov/cong_dis.pdf . May 20, 2011.
10. Web site: Statement of Vote (2000 Senator) . ca.gov . May 7, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110520021829/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2000_general/ssov/us_senate_cong_dis.pdf . May 20, 2011.
11. http://sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2002_general/ssov/gov_cong.pdf Statement of Vote (2002 Governor)
12. Web site: Statement of Vote (2003 Recall Question) . ca.gov . May 7, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110520020512/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2003_special/ssov/recall_ques_cd.pdf . May 20, 2011.
13. Web site: Statement of Vote (2003 Governor) . ca.gov . May 7, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110520020528/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2003_special/ssov/gov_cd.pdf . May 20, 2011.
14. Web site: Statement of Vote (2004 President) . ca.gov . May 7, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100801053554/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2004_general/ssov/pres_general_ssov_congressional.pdf . August 1, 2010.
15. http://sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2004_general/ssov/us_senate_ssov_congressional.pdf Statement of Vote (2004 Senator)
16. http://sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2006_general/ssov/gov_by_cd.pdf Statement of Vote (2006 Governor)
17. http://sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2006_general/ssov/us_sen_by_cd.pdf Statement of Vote (2006 Senator)
18. Web site: (2008 President) . 2008racetracker.com . May 7, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090626210346/http://www.2008racetracker.com/page/ca-03 . June 26, 2009.
19. Web site: Statement of Vote (2010 Governor) . ca.gov . May 7, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110520072347/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2010-general/ssov/ssov-complete.pdf . May 20, 2011.
20. Web site: Statement of Vote (2010 Governor . ca.gov . May 7, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110520072347/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2010-general/ssov/ssov-complete.pdf . May 20, 2011.
21. Web site: September 14, 2021 . Counties by Congressional District for Recall Question . May 2, 2022 . sos.ca.gov.
22. Web site: November 8, 2022 . Counties by Congressional Districts for Governor . May 4, 2023 . sos.ca.gov.
23. Web site: Federal Election Commission, Registered Candidates in California's Fourth Congressional District . July 27, 2017 . Federal Election Commission.
24. Web site: Rochelle Wilcox . Rochelle Wilcox . en-US . January 25, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180119013039/https://rochellewilcox.com/ . January 19, 2018 .
25. Web site: https://twitter.com/Morse4America/status/969295288740470785 . @Morse4America . en. January 12, 2018. live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180507002223/https://twitter.com/Morse4America/status/969295288740470785 . May 7, 2018.
26. Web site: Although Tough on Trump, McClintock Faces Backlash at Another Town Hall . Johnson . Doug . April 8, 2017 . . April 10, 2017. live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170411060508/http://fox40.com/2017/04/08/although-tough-on-trump-mcclintock-faces-backlash-at-another-town-hall . April 11, 2017.
27. Web site: I am thrilled & grateful to be endorsed by Charlie Brown, 2006 & 2008 Congressional Candidate for #CA04. From Charlie: "Jessica has the knowledge & experience to best represent the people in the 4th Congressional District." To read his full statement. live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180507002223/https://twitter.com/Morse4America/status/955877959126073344 . May 7, 2018.
28. Web site: We are so grateful to have the support of community leaders, such as Dr. Bob Derlet - the 2016 Democratic candidate for #CA04! "I am behind Jessica because she is a fighter. She will stand up for the people of this district & not back down." Thank you, Dr. Derlet! #JessWeCanpic.twitter.com/e5tv0OC6bk . Morse . Jessica . January 11, 2018 . @Morse4America . January 12, 2018. live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180507002223/https://twitter.com/Morse4America/status/951545744414031872 . May 7, 2018.
29. Web site: PAGE BY PAGE REPORT DISPLAY FOR 201801199090468752 (Page 1 of 1) . docquery.fec.gov. January 25, 2018.
30. Web site: Gold Country News Gold Country Media. en. February 27, 2018. live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180228044554/http://www.thepresstribune.com/article/2/27/18/jessica-morse-wins-contested-endorsement-california-democratic-party . February 28, 2018.
31. Web site: California Democratic Party Rules Committee Agenda and Packet. California Democratic Party.
32. Web site: Tom McClintock rival Morse is stretches résumé. Cadei. Emily. February 20, 2018. Sacramento Bee.
33. Web site: Secretary of State Padilla Responds. 24 March 2018. Regina Bateson.
34. Web site: California Certified List of Candidates. Padilla. Alex. March 29, 2018. California Secretary of State.
35. Web site: ONCE AGAIN, MORSE DENIED 'NATIONAL SECURITY' BALLOT DESIGNATION. Anderson. Bryan. September 5, 2018. Sacramento Bee.
36. Web site: 2018 California's 4th Congressional District election . Ballotpedia . en. March 3, 2019.