California's 45th congressional district

California's 45th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California currently represented by Republican Michelle Steel. It was one of 18 districts that would have voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election had they existed in their current configuration while being won or held by a Republican in 2022.

California's 45th congressional district
Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative	Michelle Steel R–Fountain Valley
Population (2022)	752,508
Median household income	$100,891^[1]
Ethnicity	36.9% Asian 35.6% White 23.0% Hispanic 2.9% Black
Cook PVI	D+2^[3]

The 45th district was created as a result of the redistricting cycle after the 1980 census.

The district is based in Orange and Los Angeles counties and includes all of Garden Grove, Westminster, Cerritos, Buena Park, Placentia, Hawaiian Gardens, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Artesia, Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, and La Palma, as well as parts of Brea, Lakewood, and Fullerton.

In 2018, incumbent Representative Mimi Walters competed against a field of four Democrats and an independent candidate in the primary election for the 2018 midterm elections. On February 25, 2018, UC Irvine (UCI) assistant law professor Dave Min received the endorsement of the California Democratic Party.^[4]

Min, former White House senior technology advisor Brian Forde,^[5] former legislative assistant to Sherrod Brown (D-OH) Kia Hamadanchy,^[6] UCI law professor Katie Porter,^[7] and UCI business professor John Graham ran in the "top two" primary in June 2018. Walters and Porter placed first and second and advanced to the general election in November.

On November 14, 2018, 8 days after polls closed, Dave Wasserman, then the House Editor for The Cook Political Report, projected that Porter had won the general election.^[8]

In 2024, the election in this district is expected to be one of the state's most competitive. In its current form after the 2020 redistricting, the district has a significant presence of Asian American voters.^[9]

Recent results in statewide elections

Election results from statewide races
Year	Office	Results
1990	Governor^[10]	Wilson 60.5% – 32.3%
1992	President^[11]	Bush 42.3% – 32.2%
	Senator^[12]	Herschensohn 56.6% – 34.0%
	Senator (Special)^[12]	Seymour 54.5% – 40.4%
1994	Governor^[13]	Wilson 67.6% – 27.5%
	Senator^[14]	Huffington 58.7% – 31.7%
1996	President^[15]	Dole 50.5% – 37.9%
1998	Governor^[16]	Lungren 51.7% – 45.0%
	Senator^[17]	Fong 56.2% – 39.4%
2000	President^[18]	Bush 55.6% – 39.9%
	Senator^[19]	Feinstein 50.0% – 41.8%
2002	Governor^[20]	Simon 51.5% – 42.3%
2003	Recall^[21]^[22]	Yes 68.4% – 31.6%
		Schwarzenegger 59.6% – 23.5%
2004	President^[23]	Bush 56.0% – 43.1%
	Senator^[24]	Boxer 49.5% – 47.0%
2006	Governor^[25]	Schwarzenegger 65.2% - 31.0%
	Senator^[26]	Feinstein 50.5% – 45.0%
2008	President^[27]	Obama 51.5% – 46.9%
2010	Governor^[28]	Whitman 50.2% – 43.9%
	Senator^[29]	Fiorina 52.1% – 42.4%
2012	President^[30]	Romney 54.8% – 43.0%
	Senator^[31]	Emken 55.6% – 44.4%
2014	Governor^[32]	Kashkari 58.5% – 41.5%
2016	President^[33]	Clinton 49.8% – 44.4%
	Senator^[34]	Harris 66.0% – 34.0%
2018	Governor^[35]	Cox 50.6% – 49.4%
	Lieutenant Governor^[36]	Kounalakis 56.3% – 43.7%
	Secretary of State^[37]	Padilla 51.2% – 48.8%
	Controller^[38]	Yee 52.0% – 48.0%
	Treasurer^[39]	Ma 51.0% – 49.0%
	Attorney General^[40]	Becerra 50.8% – 49.2%
	Insurance Commissioner^[41]	Poizner 59.7% – 40.3%
	Board of Equalization, 4th District^[42]	Anderson 52.4% – 47.6%
	Senator^[43]	Feinstein 54.3% – 45.7%
2020	President^[44]	Biden 53.6% – 42.5%
2021	Recall^[45]	No 52.6% – 47.4%
2022	Governor^[46]	Dahle 51.0% – 49.0%
	Senator^[47]	Meuser 50.7% – 49.3%
	Senator (Special)^[48]	Meuser 50.8% – 49.2%

Composition

#	County	Seat	Population
37	Los Angeles	Los Angeles	9,829,544
59	Orange	Santa Ana	3,167,809

As of the 2020 redistricting, California's 45th congressional district is located in Southern California. It takes up western Orange County and east Los Angeles.

Orange County is split between this district, the 40th district, the 46th district, and the 47th district. The 45th and 40th are partitioned by Orange Freeway, E Lambert Rd, Sunrise Rd, Foothill Ln, Wandering Ln, N Associated Rd, E Birch St, S Valencia Ave, La Plaza Dr, La Floresta Dr, La Crescenta Dr, Highway 90, 1053 E Imperial Highway-343 Tolbert St, Vesuvius Dr, Rose Dr, Wabash Ave, 6th St, Golden Ave, Carbon Canyon Creek, E Yorba Linda Blvd, Jefferson St, 1401 Zion Ave-N Van Buren St, Buena Vista Ave, 17225 Orange Blossom Ln-1480 E Howard Pl, 17511 Pine Cir-Orchard Dr, Mariposa Ave, Lakeview Ave, E Miraloma Ave, Fee-Ana St, Sierra Madre Cir, E Orangethorpe Ave, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, Kensington Ave, N Kraemer Blvd, Carbon Creek, and E La Jolla St.

The 45th and 46th are partitioned by Santa Ana River, W Lehnhardt Ave, Gloxinia Ave, Lilac Way, Edinger Ave, Pebble Ct, 10744 W Lehnhardt Ave-10726 Kedge Ave, 724 S Sail St-5641 W Barbette Ave-407 S Starboard St, Starboard St/S Cooper St, Taft St, Hazard Ave, N Euclid St, Westminster Ave, Clinton St, 14300 Clinton St-1001 Mar Les Dr, Mar Les Dr, 2729 Huckleberry Rd, N Fairview St, Fairview St, 13462 Garden Grove Blvd-13252 Marty Ln, Townley St/Siemon Ave, W Garden Grove Blvd, S Lewis St, W Chapman Ave, E Simmons Ave, S Haster St, Ascot Dr, W Orangewood Ave, S 9th St, 2209 S Waverly Dr-11751 S Waverly Dr, Euclid St, Haven Ln, W Dudley Ave, S Euclid St, Katella Ave, Dale St, Rancho Alamitos High School, Orangewood Ave, Barber City Channel, Arrowhead St, Del Rey Dr, Westcliff Dr, Lampson Ave, Fern St, Garden Glove Blvd, Union Pacific Railroad, 7772 W Chapman Ave-Bently Ave, Highway 39, Western Ave, Stanton Storm Channel, Knott Ave, 6970 Via Kannela-6555 Katella Ave, Cerritos Ave, 10490 Carlotta Ave-Ball Rd, John Beat Park, S Knott Ave, Solano Dr, Monterra Way, Campesina Dr, Holder Elementary School, W Orange Ave, 6698 Via Riverside Way-Orangeview Junior High School, W Lincoln Ave, 195 N Western Ave-298 N Western Ave, 3181 W Coolidge Ave-405 N Dale St, W Crescent Ave, N La Reina St, W La Palma Ave, Boisseranc Park, I-5 HOV Lane, Orangethorpe Ave, Fullerton Creek, Whitaker St, Commonwealth Ave, Los Angeles County Metro, W Malvern Ave, W Chapman Ave, E Chapman Ave, S Placentia Ave, Kimberly Ave, E Orangethorpe Ave, and 2500 E Terrace St-Highway 57.

The 45th and 47th are partitioned by Highway 405, Old Ranch Parkway, Seal Beach Blvd, St Cloud Dr, Montecito Rd, Rossmoor Center Way, 12240 Seal Beach Blvd-Los Alamitos Army Airfield, Bolsa Chica Channel, Rancho Rd, Harold Pl, Springdale St, 6021 Anacapa Dr-Willow Ln, Edward St, Bolsa Ave, Goldenwest St, McFadden Ave, Union Pacific Railroad, 15241 Cascade Ln-15241 Cedarwood Ave, Highway 39, Edinger Ave, Newland St, Heil Ave, Magnolia St, Warner Ave, Garfield Ave, and the Santa Ana River.

The 45th district takes in the cities of Cypress, Brea, Placentia, Westminster, Garden Grove, Buena Park, Fountain Valley, and northern Fullerton, as well as the census-designated place Rossmoor.

Los Angeles County is split between this district, the 38th district, and the 42nd district. The 45th and 42nd are partitioned by San Gabriel River, Palo Verde Ave, South St, Del Amo Blvd, Pioneer Blvd, Coyote Creek, Centralia Creek, Hawaiian Ave, Verne Ave, Bloomfield Park, Highway 605, 226th St, Dorado Cir, Cortner Ave, E Woodson St, Bloomfield Ave, Lilly Ave, Marna Ave, and Los Alamos Channel.

The 45th and 38th are partitioned by Valley View Ave, Southern Pacific Railroad, Alondra Blvd, 15917 Canyon Creek Rd-12371 Hermosura St, Norwalk Blvd, 166th St, and Cerritos College Child Development-Alondra Blvd. The 45th district takes in the cities of Cerritos, Artesia, and Hawaiian Gardens.

Cities & CDP with 10,000 or more people

• Garden Grove - 171,949
• Fullerton - 143,617
• Westminster - 90,643
• Buena Park - 84,034
• Fountain Valley - 57,047
• Placentia - 51,233
• Cypress - 50,151
• Brea - 47,325
• Cerritos - 49,578
• Artesia - 16,395
• Hawaiian Gardens - 14,149
• Rossmoor - 10,625

List of members representing the district

Member	Party	Dates	Cong ress(es)	Electoral history	Counties
District created January 3, 1983
Duncan Hunter (Coronado)^[49]	Republican	January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1993	98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd	Redistricted from the 42nd district and re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Redistricted to the 52nd district.	1983–1993 Imperial, San Diego
Dana Rohrabacher (Huntington Beach)^[50]	Republican	January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2003	103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th	Redistricted from the 42nd district and re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Redistricted to the 46th district.	1993–2003 Orange
Mary Bono (Palm Springs)^[51]	Republican	January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2013	108th 109th 110th 111th 112th	Redistricted from the 44th district and re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Redistricted to the 36th district and lost re-election.	2003–2013   Riverside
John Campbell (Irvine)^[52]	Republican	January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015	113th	Redistricted from the 48th district and re-elected in 2012. Retired.	2013–2023   Orange
Mimi Walters (Irvine)^[53]	Republican	January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2019	114th 115th	Elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Lost re-election.
Katie Porter (Irvine)^[54]	Democratic	January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023	116th 117th	Elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Redistricted to the 47th district.
Michelle Steel (Fountain Valley)^[55]	Republican	January 3, 2023 – present	118th	Redistricted from the 48th district and re-elected in 2022.	2023–present:   Orange, Los Angeles

Election results

1982

1982 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[56]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Duncan Hunter (Incumbent)	117,771	68.6
	Democratic	Richard Hill	50,148	29.2
	Libertarian	Jack R. Sanders	3,839	2.2
Total votes			171,758	100.0
	Republican hold

1984

1984 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[57]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Duncan Hunter (Incumbent)	149,011	75.1
	Democratic	David W. Guthrie	45,325	22.9
	Libertarian	Patrick "Pat" Wright	3,971	2.0
Total votes			198,307	100.0
	Republican hold

1986

1986 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[58]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Duncan Hunter (Incumbent)	118,900	58.1
	Democratic	Hewitt Fitts Ryan	82,800	40.5
	Libertarian	Lee Schwartz	2,975	1.4
Total votes			204,675	100.0
	Republican hold

1988

1988 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[59]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Duncan Hunter (Incumbent)	166,451	74.0
	Democratic	Pete Lepiscopo	54,012	24.0
	Libertarian	Perry Willis	4,440	2.0
Total votes			224,903	100.0
	Republican hold

1990

1990 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[60]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Duncan Hunter (Incumbent)	123,591	72.8
	Libertarian	Joe Shea	46,068	27.2
Total votes			169,659	100.0
	Republican hold

1992

1992 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[61]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Dana Rohrabacher (Incumbent)	123,731	54.5
	Democratic	Patricia "Pat" McCabe	88,508	39.0
	Libertarian	Gary David Copeland	14,777	6.5
Total votes			227,016	100.0
	Republican hold

1994

1994 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[62]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Dana Rohrabacher (Incumbent)	124,875	69.1
	Democratic	Brett Williamson	55,849	30.9
Total votes			180,724	100.0
	Republican hold

1996

1996 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[63]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Dana Rohrabacher (Incumbent)	125,326	61.0
	Democratic	Sally Alexander	68,312	33.2
	Libertarian	Mark Murphy	8,813	4.3
	Natural Law	Rand McDevitt	3,071	1.5
Total votes			205,522	100.0
	Republican hold

1998

1998 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[64]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Dana Rohrabacher (Incumbent)	94,296	58.7
	Democratic	Patricia W. Neal	60,022	37.3
	Libertarian	Don Hull	4,337	2.7
	Natural Law	William "Bill" Verkamp Jr.	2,115	1.3
Total votes			160,770	100.0
	Republican hold

2000

2000 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[65]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Dana Rohrabacher (Incumbent)	136,275	62.2
	Democratic	Ted Crisell	71,066	32.4
	Libertarian	Don Hull	8,409	3.8
	Natural Law	Constance Betton	3,635	1.6
Total votes			219,385	100.0
	Republican hold

2002

2002 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[66]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mary Bono (Incumbent)	87,101	65.3
	Democratic	Elle K. Kurplewski	43,692	32.7
	Libertarian	Rod Miller-Boyer	2,740	2.0
Total votes			133,533	100.0
	Republican hold

2004

2004 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[67]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mary Bono (Incumbent)	153,523	66.7
	Democratic	Richard J. Meyer	76,967	33.3
Total votes			230,490	100.0
	Republican hold

2006

2006 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[68]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mary Bono (Incumbent)	99,638	60.7
	Democratic	David Roth	64,613	39.3
Total votes			164,251	100.0
	Republican hold

2008

2008 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[69]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mary Bono (Incumbent)	155,166	58.3
	Democratic	Julie Bornstein	111,026	41.7
Total votes			266,192	100.0
Turnout				74.4
	Republican hold

2010

2010 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[70]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mary Bono (Incumbent)	106,472	51.5
	Democratic	Steve Pougnet	87,141	42.1
	American Independent	Bill Lussenheide	13,188	6.4
Total votes			206,801	100.0
Turnout				60.5
	Republican hold

2012

2012 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[71]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Campbell (Incumbent)	171,417	58.5
	Democratic	Sukhee Kang	121,814	41.5
Total votes			293,231	100.0
	Republican hold

2014

2014 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[72]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mimi Walters	106,083	65.1
	Democratic	Drew E. Leavens	56,819	34.9
Total votes			162,902	100.0
	Republican hold

2016

2016 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[73]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mimi Walters (Incumbent)	182,408	58.6
	Democratic	Ron Varasteh	128,996	41.4
Total votes			311,404	100.0
	Republican hold

2018

2018 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[74]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Katie Porter	158,906	52.1
	Republican	Mimi Walters (Incumbent)	146,383	47.9
Total votes			305,289	100.0
	Democratic gain from Republican

2020

2020 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[75]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Katie Porter (Incumbent)	221,843	53.5
	Republican	Greg Raths	193,096	46.5
Total votes			414,939	100.0
	Democratic hold

2022

2022 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[76]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Michelle Steel (Incumbent)	113,960	52.4
	Democratic	Jay Chen	103,466	47.6
Total votes			217,426	100.0
	Republican hold

Historical district boundaries

2003-13

From 2003 to 2013, this district was based in Riverside County. The district included the communities of Palm Springs, Moreno Valley, Palm Desert, Hemet, Cathedral City, Temecula, Blythe, Rancho Mirage, Murrieta, Indio, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Cabazon, Anza, Thermal, Idyllwild, Coachella, and other unincorporated areas of Riverside County.

 

2013-23

 

See also

• List of United States congressional districts

•  United States portal
•  California portal

References

1. US Census
2. We Draw The Lines
3. "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. July 12, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
4. Hagen, Lisa (February 25, 2018). "California Dems endorse three candidates in pivotal House races". The Hill. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
5. Mai-Duc, Christine (July 19, 2017). "Former Obama advisor jumps in to challenge Rep. Mimi Walters in Orange County". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
6. Wire, Sarah D. "A third challenger announces bid for Rep. Mimi Walters' Orange County seat". LA Times. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
7. Lagos, Marisa (May 21, 2017). "Democratic Hopefuls Look to Unseat Republicans in 2018". KQED News. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
8. Wasserman, Dave [@Redistrict] (November 15, 2018). "Projection: Katie Porter (D) has defeated Rep. Mimi Walters (R) in #CA45" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
9. Tensley, Brandon (November 3, 2022). "Battle over House seat in California is a wake-up call about the importance of Asian American voters". CNN. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
10. Statement of Vote (1990 Governor)
11. Statement of Vote (1992 President)
12. Statement of Vote (1992 Senate)
13. Statement of Vote (1994 Governor)
14. Statement of Vote (1994 Senate)
15. Statement of Vote (1996 President)
16. Statement of Vote (1998 Governor) September 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
17. Statement of Vote (1998 Senate) September 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
18. Statement of Vote (2000 President)
19. Statement of Vote (2000 Senator)
20. Statement of Vote (2002 Governor)
21. Statement of Vote (2003 Recall Question)
22. Statement of Vote (2003 Governor)
23. Statement of Vote (2004 President)
24. Statement of Vote (2004 Senator)
25. Statement of Vote (2006 Governor)
26. Statement of Vote (2006 Senator)
27. Statement of Vote (2008 President)
28. Statement of Vote (2010 Governor)
29. Statement of Vote (2010 Senator)
30. Statement of Vote (2012 President)
31. Statement of Vote (2012 Senator)
32. Statement of Vote (2014 Governor)
33. Statement of Vote (2016 President)
34. Statement of Vote (2016 Senator)
35. Statement of Vote (2018 Governor)
36. Orange County Elections - Lieutenant Governor (p. 103)
37. Orange County Elections - Secretary of State (p. 158)
38. Orange County Elections - Controller (p. 215)
39. Orange County Elections - Treasurer (p. 268)
40. Orange County Elections - Attorney General (p. 323)
41. Orange County Elections - Insurance Commissioner (p. 378)
42. Orange County Elections - Board of Equalization, 4th District (p. 433)
43. Statement of Vote (2018 Senator)
44. "Statement of Votes" (PDF). OCVote. Orange County Registrar of Voters. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
45. "Counties by Congressional District for Recall Question" (PDF). sos.ca.gov. September 14, 2021. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
46. "Counties by Congressional Districts for Governor" (PDF). sos.ca.gov. November 8, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
47. Statement of Vote (2022 Senator)
48. Statement of Vote (2022 Senator)
49. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CDOC-108hdoc222/pdf/GPO-CDOC-108hdoc222.pdf
50. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CDOC-108hdoc222/pdf/GPO-CDOC-108hdoc222.pdf
51. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CDOC-108hdoc222/pdf/GPO-CDOC-108hdoc222.pdf
52. "Ex-Congressman John Campbell asks $6.7 million for Irvine house with 'Bat-cave' garage". Orange County Register. July 8, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
53. https://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2016/115-nominations.pdf
54. https://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2020/117-nominations.pdf
55. https://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2022/118-nominations.pdf
56. 1982 election results
57. 1984 election results
58. 1986 election results
59. 1988 election results
60. 1990 election results
61. 1992 election results
62. 1994 election results
63. 1996 election results
64. 1998 election results
65. 2000 election results
66. 2002 election results
67. 2004 election results
68. 2006 election results
69. 2008 election results
70. 2010 election results
71. 2012 election results
72. 2014 election results
73. 2016 election results
74. 2018 election results
75. 2020 election results
76. 2022 election results

External links

• GovTrack.us: California's 45th congressional district

33°42′51″N 117°40′06″W / 33.71417°N 117.66833°W / 33.71417; -117.66833