California's 21st congressional district explained

State:California
District Number:21
Image Caption:Interactive map of district boundaries since 2023 (Used in the 2022 elections)
Representative:Jim Costa
Party:Democratic
Residence:Fresno
Population:748,904
Population Year:2022
Median Income:$61,213[1]
Percent White:17.9
Percent Hispanic:64.3
Percent Black:4.6
Percent Asian:9.8
Percent More Than One Race:2.2
Percent Other Race:1.1
Cpvi:D+9[2]

California's 21st congressional district (or CA-21) is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California. It is located in the San Joaquin Valley and includes parts of Fresno County and Tulare County. Cities in the district include the majority of Fresno, the north side of Visalia, and all of Sanger, Selma, Kingsburg, Parlier, Reedley, Orange Cove, Dinuba, Orosi, Cutler, Farmersville, Woodlake and Exeter.[3] The district is currently represented by Democrat Jim Costa.

Demographics

According to the APM Research Lab's Voter Profile Tools (featuring the U.S. Census Bureau's 2019 American Community Survey), the district contained about 377,000 potential voters (citizens, age 18+). Of these, 63% are Latino, while 26% are White. Immigrants make up 16% of the district's potential voters. Median income among households (with one or more potential voter) in the district is about $51,500, while 15% of households live below the poverty line. As for the educational attainment of potential voters in the district, 23% of those 25 and older have not earned a high school degree, while 12% hold a bachelor's or higher degree.

Election results from statewide races

YearOfficeResults
2008PresidentObama 51.5–45.7%
2010GovernorBrown 47.5–43.8%
SenatorFiorina 49.9–39.5%
Attorney GeneralCooley 48.9–37.2%
TreasurerLockyer 49.7–38.7%
ControllerChiang 50.1–37.8%
2012PresidentObama 54.6–43.5%
Senatoralign=right Feinstein 55.6–44.4%
2014GovernorBrown 52.4–47.6%
2016PresidentClinton 55.2–39.7%
Senatoralign=right Sanchez 56.7–43.3%
2018GovernorNewsom 52.1–47.9%
Senatoralign=right de Leon 57.0–43.0%
2020PresidentBiden 54.4–43.5%
2021Recall[4] align="right" Yes 51.4–48.6%
2022Governor[5] Newsom 50.9 - 49.1%
SenatorPadilla 53.5 - 46.5%

Composition

CountySeatPopulation
19FresnoFresno1,015,190
107TulareVisalia477,433

Cities with 10,000 or more people

2,500-10,000 people

List of members representing the district

RepresentativePartyDatesCong
ress(es)
Electoral historyCounties
District created January 3, 1943
align=left
Harry R. Sheppard
Democraticnowrap January 3, 1943 –
January 3, 1953
Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Redistricted to the .
1943–1953
Northern Los Angeles, San Bernardino
align=left
Edgar W. Hiestand
Republicannowrap 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 and lost re-election.
1953–1983
Los Angeles
align=left
Augustus Hawkins
Democraticnowrap January 3, 1963 –
January 3, 1975
Elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Redistricted to the .
align=left
James C. Corman
Democraticnowrap January 3, 1975 –
January 3, 1981
Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Lost re-election.

Bobbi Fiedler
Republicannowrap rowspan=2 January 3, 1981 –
January 3, 1987
Elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
1983–1993
Los Angeles (western San Fernando Valley), southeastern Ventura
align=left
Elton Gallegly
Republicannowrap January 3, 1987 –
January 3, 1993
Elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Redistricted to the .
align=left
Bill Thomas
Republicannowrap January 3, 1993 –
January 3, 2003
Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Redistricted to the .
1993–2003
Kern, eastern Tulare
align=left
Devin Nunes
Republicannowrap January 3, 2003 –
January 3, 2013
Elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Redistricted to the .
2003–2013

Eastern Fresno, Tulare
align=left
David Valadao
Republicannowrap January 3, 2013 –
January 3, 2019
Elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Lost re-election.
2013–2023

Kings, parts of Fresno, Kern and Tulare.
align=left
TJ Cox
Democraticnowrap January 3, 2019 –
January 3, 2021
Elected in 2018.
Lost re-election.
align=left
David Valadao
Republicannowrap January 3, 2021–
January 3, 2023
Elected in 2020.
Redistricted to the .
align=left
Jim Costa
Democraticnowrap January 3, 2023 –
present
Redistricted from the and re-elected in 2022.2023–present

central San Joaquin Valley between Fresno and Visalia

Election results

2018

See main article: 2018 California's 21st congressional district election.

2022

See also

External links

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. en.
  3. Web site: CA 2022 Congressional. Dave's Redistricting. 2022-01-04. 2022-11-11.
  4. Web site: September 14, 2021 . Counties by Congressional District for Recall Question . May 2, 2022 . sos.ca.gov.
  5. Web site: November 8, 2022 . Counties by Congressional Districts for Governor . May 4, 2023 . sos.ca.gov.