California's 18th congressional district is a

congressional district Congressional districts, also known as electoral districts in other nations, are divisions of a larger administrative region that represent the population of a region in the larger congressional body. Countries with congressional districts includ ...

located in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

. The district is currently represented by . Since the 2022 election, the district is landlocked and includes all of

San Benito County San Benito County (; ''San Benito'', Spanish for " St. Benedict"), officially the County of San Benito, is a county located in the Central Coast region of California. Situated in the California Coast Ranges, the county had a population of 64 ...

and parts of Santa Clara and

Monterey Monterey ( ; ) is a city situated on the southern edge of Monterey Bay, on the Central Coast of California. Located in Monterey County, the city occupies a land area of and recorded a population of 30,218 in the 2020 census. The city was fou ...

counties, including Salinas, Hollister,

Watsonville Watsonville is a city in Santa Cruz County, California, in the Monterey Bay Area of the Central Coast of California. The population was 52,590 at the 2020 census. Predominantly Latino and Democratic, Watsonville is a self-designated sanctua ...

, Gilroy, Soledad, and downtown and eastern San Jose. Due to the presence of

Silicon Valley Silicon Valley is a region in Northern California that is a global center for high technology and innovation. Located in the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area, it corresponds roughly to the geographical area of the Santa Clara Valley ...

, the district had a

median household income The median income is the income amount that divides a population into two groups, half having an income above that amount, and half having an income below that amount. It may differ from the mean (or average) income. Both of these are ways of und ...

of $149,375, the second highest of any congressional district in the country. After redistricting, the district picked up agricultural areas of Monterey County, and its median household income dropped substantially, to $90,456.

History

2020 redistricting

Following the 2020 census and the subsequent

2020 United States redistricting cycle The 2020 United States redistricting cycle is in progress following the completion of the 2020 United States census. In all fifty states, various bodies are re-drawing state legislative districts. States that are apportioned more than one ...

, California lost a congressional district, leading to significant changes across California's districts. Most of the area previously part of the 18th district was split into the new 16th district and 19th district. The 18th district was moved to cover the

Salinas Valley The Salinas Valley (Spanish language, Spanish: ''Valle de Salinas'') is one of the major valleys and most productive Agriculture, agricultural regions in California. It is located west of the San Joaquin Valley and south of San Francisco Bay and ...

Monterey County Monterey County ( ), officially the County of Monterey, is a county located on the Pacific coast in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 United States census, its population was 439,035. The county's largest city and county seat is ...

and the downtown and east side of San Jose. With the changes, the 18th became a Latino majority district.

2010 redistricting

Following the 2010 census and the subsequent

2010 United States redistricting cycle The 2010 United States redistricting cycle took place following the completion of the 2010 United States census. In all fifty states, various bodies re-drew state legislative districts. States that are apportioned more than one seat in the Un ...

, California's 18th congressional district was redrawn by the

California Citizens Redistricting Commission The California Citizens Redistricting Commission is the redistricting commission for the California, State of California responsible for determining the boundaries of districts for the California State Senate, State Senate, California State Asse ...

. Cities and CDPs in the district include

Palo Alto Palo Alto ( ; Spanish language, Spanish for ) is a charter city in northwestern Santa Clara County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area, named after a Sequoia sempervirens, coastal redwood tree known as El Palo Alto. Th ...

Stanford Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University, is a private research university in Stanford, California, United States. It was founded in 1885 by railroad magnate Leland Stanford (the eighth governor of and th ...

, Los Altos, Woodside, Mountain View, Los Altos Hills, Campbell, Saratoga,

Los Gatos Los Gatos (; ; ) is an incorporated town in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population is 33,529 according to the 2020 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area just southwest of San Jose in the foothills of t ...

, and

Scotts Valley Scotts Valley is a small city in Santa Cruz County, California, United States, about south of downtown San Jose and north of the city of Santa Cruz, in the upland slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains. As of the 2020 census, the city populati ...

; most of Menlo Park and

Redwood City Redwood City is a city on the San Francisco Peninsula in the Bay Area of Northern California, approximately south of San Francisco and northwest of San Jose. The city's population was 84,292 according to the 2020 census. The Port of Redwo ...

; and part of San Jose.

2000 redistricting

Following the 2000 census and the subsequent 2000 United States redistricting cycle, California's congressional districts were redrawn by the

California State Legislature The California State Legislature is the bicameral state legislature of the U.S. state of California, consisting of the California State Assembly (lower house with 80 members) and the California State Senate (upper house with 40 members). ...

. From 2003 to 2013, the district was located in the

San Joaquin Valley The San Joaquin Valley ( ; Spanish language in California, Spanish: ''Valle de San Joaquín'') is the southern half of California's Central Valley (California), Central Valley. Famed as a major breadbasket, the San Joaquin Valley is an importa ...

. It included

Merced County Merced County ( ) is a county located in the northern San Joaquin Valley section of the Central Valley, in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 281,202. The county seat is Merced. The county is named after ...

and portions of San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Madera, and

Fresno Fresno (; ) is a city in the San Joaquin Valley of California, United States. It is the county seat of Fresno County, California, Fresno County and the largest city in the greater Central Valley (California), Central Valley region. It covers a ...

counties. Cities in the district included

Modesto Modesto ( ; ) is the county seat and largest city of Stanislaus County, California, United States. With a population of 218,069 according to 2022 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, it is the 19th-most populous city in California. Modesto is locate ...

, most of Stockton, Ceres, Atwater,

Merced Merced (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Mercy") is a city in, and the county seat of, Merced County, California, United States, in the San Joaquin Valley. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 86,333, up ...

, and Los Banos.

Recent election results from statewide races

Composition

Under the 2020 redistricting, California's 18th congressional district was shifted geographically to cover the

. It encompasses

, the southernmost point of Santa Cruz County, and the interiors of Santa Clara and

Counties. The area in Santa Cruz County includes most of the city of

; and the census-designated places

Interlaken Interlaken (; lit.: ''between lakes'') is a Swiss town and municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern. It is an important and well-known tourist destination in the Bernese Oberland region of the Swiss ...

, Amesti, and

Freedom Freedom is the power or right to speak, act, and change as one wants without hindrance or restraint. Freedom is often associated with liberty and autonomy in the sense of "giving oneself one's own laws". In one definition, something is "free" i ...

. The area in Santa Clara County includes the center of the city of San Jose; part of the San Jose district of Alum Rock; the cities of

Morgan Hill Morgan Hill is a city in Santa Clara County, California, at the southern tip of Silicon Valley in the San Francisco Bay Area. Morgan Hill is an affluent residential community, the seat of several high-tech companies, and a dining and recreation ...

and Gilroy; and the census-designated places East Foothills and San Martin. The area in Monterey County includes the cities of Salinas, Soledad,

Greenfield Greenfield or Greenfields may refer to: Places Canada * Greenfield, Edmonton, Alberta, a neighbourhood * Greenfield, Colchester County, Nova Scotia * Greenfield, Hants County, Nova Scotia * Greenfield, Kings County, Nova Scotia * Greenfield, Q ...

, King City, and

Gonzales Gonzales may refer to: Places * Gonzales, California, U.S. * Gonzales, Louisiana, U.S. * Gonzales, Texas, U.S. * Gonzales County, Texas Other uses * Battle of Gonzales, 1835 * Gonzales (horse) (1977 – after 1996), an American-bred Thoroughbr ...

; the north side of the census-designated place Prunedale; and the census-designated places Aromas (shared with San Benito County), Pajaro, Las Lomas, Boronda, Chualar, Pine Canyon, San Lucas, San Ardo, Lockwood, and

Fort Hunter Liggett Fort Hunter Liggett is a United States Army post in Jolon, California, in southern Monterey County, California. The fort, named in 1941 after General Hunter Liggett, is primarily used as a training facility, where activities such as field maneuv ...

. Santa Cruz County is split between this district and the 19th district. They are partitioned by Pajaro River, Highway 129, W Beach St, Lee Rd, Highway 1, Harkins Slough Rd, Harkins Slough, Old Adobe Rd, Corralitos Creek, Varin Rd, Pioneer Rd, Green Valley Rd, Casserly Rd, Mt Madonna Rd. Santa Clara County is split between this district, the 19th district, the 16th district, and the 17th district. The 18th, 16th, and 19th are partitioned by Bella Vista Ln, Bodfish Creek, Burchell Rd, Bluebell Dr, Day Rd, Highway G8, W San Martin Ave, Santa Teresa Blvd, Sunnyside Ave, Morgan Hill City Limits, Hale Ave, Tilton Ave, Monterey Rd, Highway 101, Coyote Rd, Anderson Lake, Las Animas Rd, Metcalf Rd, Yerba Buena Creek, Old Yerba Buena Rd, Aborn Rd, Quincy Rd, Norwood Ave, Murillo Ave, Pleasant Acres Dr, Westview Dr, Pleasant Knoll Dr, Guluzzo Dr, Flint Ave, Marten Ave, Coldwater Dr, Ocala Ave, Wonderama Dr, Cunningham Ave, Swift Ave, Highway 101, Story Rd, Monterey Rd, Highway 87, Highway 280, Highway 880. The 18th and 17th are partitioned by Steven's Creek Blvd, Di Salvo Ave, Bellerose Dr, Forest Ave, Wabash Ave, W San Carlos St, Race St, The Alameda, University Ave, Elm St, Highway 82, Newhall St, Morse St, Idaho St, Alameda Ct, Sherwood Ave, Hamline St, Highway 880, Highway 101, McKee Rd, Toyon Ave, Penitencia Creek Rd, Canon Vista Ave, Crothers Rd, Alum Rock Park, Sierra Rd, Felter Rd, Weller Rd. Monterey County is split between this district and the 19th district. They are partitioned by Union Pacific, Highway G12, Elkhorn Rd, Echo Valley Rd, Maher Rd, Maher Ct, La Encina Dr, Crazy Horse Canyon Rd, San Juan Grade Rd, Highway 101, Espinosa Rd, Castroville Blvd, Highway 156, Highway 1, Tembladero Slough, Highway 183, Cooper Rd, Blanco Rd, Salinas River, Davis Rd, Hitchcock Rd, Highway 68, E Blanco Rd, Nutting St, Abbott St, Highway G17, Limekiln Creek, Likekiln Rd, Rana Creek, Tularcitos Creek, Highway G16, Tassajara Rd, Camp Creek, Lost Valley Creek, Lost Valley Conn, N Coast Rdg, 2 Central Coa, Cone Peak Rd, Nacimiento Fergusson Rd, Los Bueyes Creek, and the Monterey County Southern border.

Cities and CDPs with 10,000 or more people

* San Jose – 971,233 * Salinas – 163,542 * Gilroy – 58,101 *

– 52,590 *

– 45,483 * Hollister – 41,678 * Soledad – 24,925 *

– 18,937 * Prunedale – 18,885 *

– 17,516 * King City – 13,332 * Alum Rock – 12,042

2,500 – 10,000 people

– 8,647 * Castroville – 7,515 *

– 7,368 * San Martin – 7,027 * East Foothills – 6,803 *

– 3,835 * Ridgemark – 3,212 * Las Lomas – 3,046 * Pajaro – 2,882 * Aromas – 2,708 * Amesti – 2,637

List of members representing the district

Election results

1932

1934

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1940

1942

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1946

1948

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1962

1964

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1996

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2000

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2006

2008

2010

2012

2014

2016

2018

2020

2022

2024

References

External links

*GovTrack.us
California's 18th congressional districtCalifornia Voter Foundation map - CD18
{{DEFAULTSORT:California's 18th Congressional District 18 Government of San Mateo County, California Government of Santa Clara County, California Santa Cruz Mountains Silicon Valley Congressional District 18 Los Gatos, California Mountain View, California Palo Alto, California Portola Valley, California Redwood City, California Sunnyvale, California San Jose, California Woodside, California Constituencies established in 1933 Congressional District 18 Congressional District 18