California's 51st congressional district

"CA-51" redirects here. For California State Route 51, see Interstate 80 Business (Sacramento, California).

California's 51st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California. The district is currently represented by Democrat Sara Jacobs. The district currently includes central and eastern portions of San Diego, as well as eastern suburbs such as El Cajon, La Mesa, Spring Valley, and Lemon Grove.

California's 51st congressional district
Interactive map of district boundaries since 2023 (Used in the 2022 elections)
Representative	Sara Jacobs D–San Diego
Area	4,896 sq mi (12,680 km^2)
Population (2022)	757,528^[1]
Median household income	$100,357^[2]
Ethnicity	69.4% Hispanic 13.3% White 8.3% Asian 6.7% Black 1.5% Two or more races 0.7% other
Cook PVI	D+12^[3]

Recent results from statewide elections

Election results from statewide races
Year	Office	Results
1992	President^[4]	Bush 40.3% – 32.3%
	Senator^[5]	Herschensohn 52.1 – 38.2%
	Senator (Special)^[6]	Seymour 48.0% – 43.3%
1994	Governor^[7]	Wilson 69.1% - 27.0%
	Senator^[8]	Huffington 56.4% – 35.7%
1996	President^[9]	Dole 51.7% – 38.5%
1998	Governor^[10]	Lungren 52.7% – 43.9%
	Senator^[11]	Fong 55.3% – 41.0%
2000	President^[12]	Bush 55.2% – 40.5%
	Senator^[13]	Campbell 46.7% – 46.2%
2002	Governor^[14]	Davis 53.5% – 39.7%
2003	Recall^[15]^[16]	Yes 60.4% – 39.6%
		Schwarzenegger 48.8% – 36.4%
2004	President^[17]	Kerry 53.4% – 45.7%
	Senator^[18]	Boxer 61.0% - 33.7%
2006	Governor^[19]	Schwarzenegger 51.6% – 43.1%
	Senator^[20]	Feinstein 62.6% – 32.2%
2008	President^[21]	Obama 63.1% – 35.5%
2010	Governor^[22]	Brown 56.3% – 36.3%
	Senator^[23]	Boxer 55.5% – 37.4%
2012	President^[24]	Obama 69.4% – 28.9%
	Senator^[25]	Feinstein 70.1% - 29.9%
2014	Governor^[26]	Brown 66.2% – 33.8%
2016	President^[27]	Clinton 71.8% – 22.8%
	Senator^[28]	Sanchez 56.6% – 43.4%
2018	Governor^[29]	Newsom 67.9% – 32.1%
	Lieutenant Governor^[30]^[31]	Hernandez 50.9% – 49.1%
	Secretary of State^[32]^[33]	Padilla 72.5% – 27.5%
	Controller^[34]^[35]	Yee 72.8% – 27.2%
	Treasurer^[36]^[37]	Ma 71.6% – 28.4%
	Attorney General^[38]^[39]	Becerra 71.6% – 28.4%
	Insurance Commissioner^[40]^[41]	Lara 67.5% – 32.5%
	Board of Equalization, 4th District^[42]^[43]	Schaefer 68.0% – 32.0%
	Senator^[44]	de León 51.6% – 48.4%
2020	President^[45]	Biden 66.9% – 30.9%
2021	Recall^[46]	No 65.4% – 34.6%
2022	Governor^[47]	Newsom 59.5% – 40.5%
	Senator^[48]	Padilla 61.2% – 38.8%
	Senator (Special)^[49]	Padilla 61.1% – 38.9%

Composition

#	County	Seat	Population
73	San Diego	San Diego	3,286,069

As of the 2020 redistricting, California's 51st congressional district is located in Southern California. It is almost entirely within the San Diego Metropolitan Area of San Diego County.

San Diego County is split between this district, the 50th district, the 48th district, and the 52nd district. The 51st and 48th are partitioned by Sabre Springs Openspace, Scripps Miramar Openspace, Beeler Canyon Rd, Sycamore Canyon Openspace, Weston Rd, Boulder Vis, Mast Blvd, West Hills Parkway, San Diego River, Highway 52, Simeon Dr, Mission Trails Openspace, Fanita Dr, Farmington Dr, Lund St, Nielsen St, Paseo de Los Castillos, Gillespie Air Field, Kenney St, San Vicente Freeway, Airport Dr, Wing Ave, W Bradley Ave, Vernon Way, Hart Dr, Greenfield Dr, E Bradley Ave, 830 Adele St-1789 N Mollison Ave, Peppervilla Dr/N Mollison Ave, Pepper Dr, Greta St/Cajon Greens Dr, N Mollison Ave/Buckey Dr, Denver Ln, Broadway Channel, N 2nd St, Flamingo Ave/Greenfield Dr, Dawnridge Ave/Cresthill Rd, Groveland Ter/Camillo Way, Sterling Dr, Kumeyaay Highway, E Madison Ave, Granite Hills Dr, E Lexington Ave, Dehesa Rd, Vista del Valle Blvd, Merritt Ter, E Washington Ave, Merritt Dr, Dewitt Ct, Emerald Heights Rd, Foote Path Way, Highway 8, Lemon Ave, Lake Helix Dr, La Cruz Dr, Carmichael Dr, Bancroft Dr, Campo Rd, and Sweetwater River.

The 51st and 50th are partitioned by Camino del Norte, Highway 15, Carmel Mountain Rd, Ted Williams Parkway, Del Mar Mesa Openspace, Los Penasquitos Creek, Inland Freeway, Governor Dr, Pavlov Ave, Stetson Ave, Millikin Ave, Regents Rd, Ducommun Ave, Bunch Ave, Branting St, Streseman St, Pennant Way, Highway 52, San Diego Freeway, Sea World Dr, Friars Rd, Kumeyaay Highway, and Highway 805.

The 51st and 52nd are partitioned by El Cajon Blvd, 58th St, Streamview Dr, College Ave, Meridian Ave, Lemarand Ave, Highway 94, Charlene Ave, 69th St, Imperial Ave, Larwood Rd, Taft St, Lincoln Pl, Glencoe Dr, Braddock St, Carlisle Dr, Carlsbad Ct/Osage Dr, Potrero St, Carlsbad St, Innsdale Ave, Worthington St/Innsdale Ln, Brady Ct/Innsdale Ln, Parkbrook Way/Alene St, Tinaja Ln/Bluffview Rd, Highway 54, Sweetwater Rd, and Bonita Rd.

The 51st district takes in the cities of El Cajon, Lemon Grove, La Mesa, and National City, as well as the census-designated place La Presa. It also encompasses the San Diego neighborhoods of Paradise Hills, Mira Mesa, Miramar, San Carlos, Sorrento, Clairemont, Normal Heights, Allied Gardens, Grantville, Balboa Park, Linda Vista, and Serra Mesa.

Cities & CDP with 10,000 or more people

• San Diego - 1,386,932
• El Cajon - 106,215
• La Mesa - 59,249
• La Presa - 37,410
• Lemon Grove - 27,627

List of members representing the district

Member	Party	Dates	Cong ress(es)	Electoral history	Counties
District created January 3, 1993
Duke Cunningham	Republican	January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2003	103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th	Redistricted from the 44th 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 50th district.	1993–2003 Northern San Diego
Bob Filner	Democratic	January 3, 2003 – December 3, 2012	108th 109th 110th 111th 112th	Redistricted from the 50th district and re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Resigned to become Mayor of San Diego.	2003–2013   Imperial Eastern San Diego
Vacant		December 3, 2012 – January 3, 2013	112th
Juan Vargas	Democratic	January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2023	113th 114th 115th 116th 117th	Elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Redistricted to the 52nd district.	2013–2023   Imperial Southern San Diego
Sara Jacobs	Democratic	January 3, 2023 – present	118th	Redistricted from the 53rd district and re-elected in 2022.	2023–present:   Central and eastern portions of San Diego, as well as eastern suburbs such as El Cajon, La Mesa, Spring Valley, and Lemon Grove

Election results

1992

1992 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[50]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Duke Cunningham (Incumbent)	141,890	56.1
	Democratic	Bea Herbert	85,148	33.7
	Libertarian	Bill Holmes	10,309	4.1
	Peace and Freedom	Miriam Clark	10,307	4.1
	Green	Richard Roe	5,328	2.1
	Independent	Johnson (write-in)	13	0.0
Total votes			262,995	100.0
	Republican hold

1994

1994 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[51]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Duke Cunningham (Incumbent)	138,547	66.9
	Democratic	Rita K. Tamerius	57,374	27.7
	Libertarian	Bill Holmes	6,968	3.4
	Peace and Freedom	Miriam Clark	4,099	2.0
Total votes			206,968	100.0
	Republican hold

1996

1996 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[52]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Duke Cunningham (Incumbent)	149,032	65.1
	Democratic	Rita Tamerius	66,250	29.0
	Peace and Freedom	Miriam Clark	5,407	2.3
	Libertarian	J.C. Anderson	5,298	2.3
	Natural Law	Eric Bourdette	3,037	1.3
Total votes			215,282	100.0
	Republican hold

1998

1998 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[53]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Duke Cunningham (Incumbent)	126,229	61.02
	Democratic	Dan Kripke	71,706	34.66
	Libertarian	Jack Anderson	5,411	2.62
	Natural Law	Eric Bourdette	3,532	1.71
	Independent	Don J. Pando (write-in)	0	0.0
Total votes			206,878	100.0
	Republican hold

2000

-->

2000 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[54]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Duke Cunningham (Incumbent)	172,291	64.4
	Democratic	George "Jorge" Barraza	81,408	30.4
	Libertarian	Daniel L. Muhe	7,159	2.7
	Natural Law	Eric Hunter Bourdette	6,941	2.5
Total votes			267,799	100.0
Turnout
	Republican hold

2002

2002 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[55]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bob Filner (Incumbent)	59,541	58.0
	Republican	Maria Guadalupe Garcia	40,430	39.3
	Libertarian	Jeffrey S. Keup	2,816	2.7
Total votes			102,787	100.0
	Democratic hold

2004

2004 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[56]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bob Filner (Incumbent)	111,441	61.7
	Republican	Michael Giorgino	63,526	35.1
	Libertarian	Michael S. Metti	5,912	3.2
Total votes			180,879	100.0
	Democratic hold

2006

-->

2006 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[57]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bob Filner (Incumbent)	78,114	67.5
	Republican	Blake L. Miles	34,931	30.1
	Libertarian	Dan Litwin	2,790	2.4
	Independent	David Arguello (write-in)	4	0.0
Total votes			115,839	100.0
Turnout
	Democratic hold

2008

2008 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[58]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bob Filner (Incumbent)	148,281	72.8
	Republican	David Lee Joy	49,345	24.2
	Libertarian	Dan Litwin	6,199	3.0
Total votes			203,825	100.0
	Democratic hold

2012

2012 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[59]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Juan Vargas	85,672	71.5
	Republican	Michael Crimmins	36,649	28.5
Total votes			122,321	100.0
	Democratic hold

2014

2014 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[60]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Juan Vargas (Incumbent)	56,373	68.8
	Republican	Stephen Meade	25,577	31.2
Total votes			81,950	100.0
	Democratic hold

2016

2016 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[61]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Juan Vargas (Incumbent)	145,162	72.8
	Republican	Juan M Hidalgo Jr	54,362	27.2
Total votes			199,524	100.0
	Democratic hold

2018

2018 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[62]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Juan Vargas (Incumbent)	109,527	71.2
	Republican	Juan M Hidalgo Jr	44,301	28.8
Total votes			153,828	100.0
	Democratic hold

2020

2020 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[63]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Juan Vargas (Incumbent)	165,596	68.3
	Republican	Juan M Hidalgo Jr	76,841	31.7
Total votes			242,437	100.0
	Democratic hold

2022

2022 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[64]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Sara Jacobs (Incumbent)	144,186	61.9
	Republican	Stan Caplan	88,886	38.1
Total votes			233,072	100.0
	Democratic hold

Historical district boundaries

In the 1980s, California's 44th congressional district was one of four that divided San Diego. The district had been held for eight years by Democrat Jim Bates, and was considered the most Democratic district in the San Diego area. Randy "Duke" Cunningham won the Republican nomination and won the general election by just a point, meaning that the San Diego area was represented entirely by Republicans for only the second time since the city was split into three districts after the 1960 United States census.

After the 1990 United States census, the district was renumbered the 51st congressional district and much of its share of San Diego was moved to the new 50th congressional district.

2003-13

 

2013-23

 

See also

•  United States portal
•  California portal

• List of United States congressional districts

References

1. "American Fact Finder - Results". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
2. US Census
3. "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
4. Statement of Vote (1992 President)
5. Statement of Vote (1992 Senator)
6. Statement of Vote (1992 Senator)
7. Statement of Vote (1994 Governor)
8. Statement of Vote (1994 Senator)
9. Statement of Vote (1996 President)
10. Statement of Vote (1998 Governor) September 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
11. Statement of Vote (1998 Senator) September 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
12. Statement of Vote (2000 President)
13. Statement of Vote (2000 Senator)
14. Statement of Vote (2002 Governor)
15. Statement of Vote (2003 Recall Question)
16. Statement of Vote (2003 Governor)
17. Statement of Vote (2004 President)
18. Statement of Vote (2004 Senator)
19. Statement of Vote (2006 Governor)
20. Statement of Vote (2006 Senator)
21. Statement of Vote (2008 President)
22. Statement of Vote (2010 Governor)
23. Statement of Vote (2010 Senator)
24. Statement of Vote (2012 President)
25. Statement of Vote (2012 Senator)
26. Statement of Vote (2014 Governor)
27. Statement of Vote (2016 President)
28. Statement of Vote (2016 Senator)
29. Statement of Vote (2018 Governor)
30. San Diego Elections - Lieutenant Governor (p. 102)
31. Imperial Elections - Lieutenant Governor (p. 14)
32. San Diego Elections - Secretary of State (p. 216)
33. Imperial Elections - Secretary of State (p. 21)
34. San Diego Elections - Controller (p. 216)
35. Imperial Elections - Controller (p. 28)
36. San Diego Elections - Treasurer (p. 216)
37. Imperial Elections - Treasurer (p. 35)
38. San Diego Elections - Attorney General (p. 216)
39. Imperial Elections - Attorney General (p. 42)
40. San Diego Elections - Insurance Commissioner (p. 216)
41. Imperial Elections - Insurance Commissioner (p. 49)
42. San Diego Elections - Board of Equalization, 4th District (p. 216)
43. Imperial Elections - State Board of Equalization (p. 56)
44. Statement of Vote (2018 Senator)
45. Statement of Vote (2020 President)
46. "Counties by Congressional District for Recall Question" (PDF). sos.ca.gov. September 14, 2021. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
47. Statement of Vote (2022 Governor)
48. Statement of Vote (2022 Senator)
49. Statement of Vote (2022 Senator)
50. 1992 election results
51. 1994 election results
52. 1996 election results
53. 1998 election results
54. 2000 election results
55. 2002 election results
56. 2004 election results
57. 2006 election results
58. 2008 election results
59. 2012 election results
60. 2014 election results
61. 2016 election results
62. 2018 election results
63. 2020 election results
64. 2022 election results

External links

• District information at GovTrack.us

32°48′N 116°00′W / 32.8°N 116°W / 32.8; -116