Cook PVI R+10 | ||
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Current Representative Doug LaMalfa (R–Richvale) Ethnicity 79.1% White
1.7% Black
3.1% Asian
12% Hispanic
4.1% other | ||
California's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California.
Contents
Doug LaMalfa, a Republican, has represented the district since January 2013.
Currently, the 1st district encompasses the northeastern part of the state. It consists of Butte, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, and Tehama counties plus portions of Glenn, Nevada, and Placer counties.
Prior to redistricting by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission of 2011, the 1st district encompassed the northern coast of the state. It consisted of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino and Napa counties plus portions of Sonoma and Yolo counties. Much of that area is now the 5th district, while the current 1st district comprises much of the territory that had been the 2nd district.
Competitiveness
The GOP held the seat for all but three years from 1949 to 1983. After 20-year incumbent Don Clausen was unseated in 1983, the district was a swing area for most of the next 15 years. The GOP last held the seat in 1998 when U.S. Representative Frank Riggs decided to run for the U.S. Senate. Riggs was replaced by long-time Democratic Assemblyman and State Senator Mike Thompson. Redistricting in 2001 added Democratic-leaning areas of Yolo County.
John Kerry won the district in 2004 presidential election with 59.7% of the vote. Barack Obama carried the district in 2008 presidential election with 65.60% of the vote.
Living former Members
As of April 2015, there are four former members of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 1st congressional district that are currently living. The most recent representative to die was Donald H. Clausen (1963-1975) on February 7, 2015. the most recently serving representative to die was Eugene A. Chappie (1981-1983) on May 31, 1992.