Cook PVI D+19 | ||
 | ||
Current Representative Mike Thompson (D–St. Helena) Ethnicity 52.8% White
7% Black
12.1% Asian
25.7% Hispanic
2.4% other | ||
California's 5th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California.
Contents
Mike Thompson, a Democrat, has represented the district since January 2013.
Currently, the 5th district encompasses much of California's wine country. It consists of Napa County plus portions of Contra Costa, Lake, Solano, and Sonoma counties.
Cities in the district include Cotati, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Sonoma, Napa, American Canyon, Vallejo, Benicia, Hercules, and part of Martinez.
Prior to redistricting by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission of 2011, the 5th District encompassed the city of Sacramento and some of the Sacramento metropolitan area, while most of the territory now in the 5th District had formerly been the 1st District.
One of the main characters of the Netflix original series House of Cards, Jackie Sharp, is depicted as representing the district in the United States House of Representatives.
Competitiveness
John Kerry won the district in 2004 with 61.1% of the vote. The district swung more into the Democratic column in 2008 when Barack Obama won 69.62% of the vote while John McCain received 28.40%.
1923 (Special)
Republican Mae Nolan won the special election to replace her husband John I. Nolan, who won re-election but died before the 68th Congress convened. Data for this special election is not available.
1926 (Special)
Republican Richard J. Welch won the special election to replace fellow Republican Lawrence J. Flaherty, who died in office. Data for this special election is not available.
1949 (Special)
Democrat John F. Shelley won the special election to replace Republican Richard J. Welch, who died in office. Data for this special election is not available.
2005 (special)
Incumbent Robert Matsui died January 1, 2005. In a special election held on March 8, 2005 to fill the vacancy, Matsui's widow, Doris, won the seat with almost 68% of the vote. She was sworn in on March 10, 2005.
Living former Members
As of April 2015, there are two former members of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 5th congressional district that are currently living.