Candidate Center

Our new candidate center is designed to help keep you up-to-date with the campaigns going on across the country. Click on your state of interest and you’ll find a list of candidates running for each federal office, a brief overview of the state, and specific information for campaigns of interest as it becomes available. In the near future, the candidate center will include polls that will be updated as new ones are released, and links to FEC data.

California

Presidential primary: Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Congressional primary: Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Failing to win California in the presidential race would be catastrophic to Democratic hopes. In 2006, Democrats captured two seats in California and nearly won a third. California is likely to stay blue in the presidential race, but there are three House races that are worth mentioning.

President (55 Electoral Votes)

The California primary will play a crucial role in determining who will be the candidates for president in 2008, and if this state doesn't go for Democrats it would be simply disastrous. However, the state hasn't been in the Republican column since 1988, and due to the large minority population and a strong field of Democratic candidates, it is very unlikely that Democrats will lose this state. California's 55 electoral votes are essential to counterbalance the vast number of states consistently carried by Republicans in Middle America. These "small" states, along with Texas, represent a significant number of electoral votes. Democrats need California to level the playing field.

1st District - Mike Thompson (Dem)

Northern coast, Eureka, Napa

Mike Thompson (Dem) - Incumbent

2nd District - Wally Herger (Rep)

North Central, Chico, Redding

Wally Herger (Rep) - Incumbent

3rd District - Dan Lungren (Rep)

North central and east, part of Sacramento county

Dan Lungren (Rep) - Incumbent
Bill Durston (Dem) - Physician, Liberal Activist, Vietnam War Veteran and 2006 Nominee
Art Tuma (Libertarian) - Retired Engineer, Libertarian Activist and frequent candidate

4th District - John Doolittle (Rep)

Northeast border, Placer, El Dorado counties

On January 10, nine-term Republican incumbent John Doolittle announced that he will not seek reelection in 2008. Doolittle has been at the center of a corruption probe into his relationship with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, which resulted in an FBI raid on a family business. Doolittle's retirement makes the district a tougher challenge for Democratic candidate Charlie Brown who came within 3 percent of winning the race in 2006 largely due to Doolittle's alleged connection with Abramoff.

However, it was unclear whether Doolittle would have survived a primary challenge this year from Air Force reservist Eric England, among others. Doolittle's retirement will make the Republican field even more wide open, as State Assemblyman Ted Gaines and former Auburn Mayor Mike Holmes have already announced their candidacy in the upcoming primary along with England. Rumor has it that Doolittle's camp will support former State Senator Rico Oller as his successor, but he has yet to file. Filing for this race ends on March 12th.

John Doolittle (Rep) - Incumbent
Eric Egland (Rep) - Iraq War Veteran, Political Scientist and Conservative Activist
Ted Gaines (Rep) - State Assemblyman
Mike Holmes (Rep) - Former Auburn Mayor, Teacher, Retired Navy Officer and 2006 Candidate
Tom Sullivan (Rep) - Radio Talk Show Host and Newspaper Columnist
Charlie Brown (Dem) - Retired USAF Officer, Police Department Official and 2006 Nominee

5th District - Doris Matsui (Dem)

North central, Sacramento

Doris Matsui (Dem) - Incumbent
Paul Smith (Rep) - Real Estate/Mortgage Broker and Former Chef

6th District - Lynn Woolsey (Dem)

North Bay, Sonoma and Marin counties

Lynn Woolsey (Dem) - Incumbent
Michael John Halliwell (Rep)

7th District - George Miller (Dem)

Northeastern Bay

George Miller (Dem) - Incumbent

8th District - Nancy Pelosi (Dem)

Most of San Francisco

Nancy Pelosi (Dem) - Incumbent
Dana Walsh (Rep)
Cindy Sheehan (Ind) - Anti-War Activist

9th District - Barbara Lee (Dem)

Bay Area, part of Oakland, Berkeley

Barbara Lee (Dem) - Incumbent
John Dulk (Rep)

10th District - Ellen Tauscher (Dem)

East of the Bay, parts of Contra Costa, Solano and Alameda counties

Ellen Tauscher (Dem) - Incumbent
Bobby Saxon (Dem)
Nicholas Gerber (Rep) - Businessman

11th District - Jerry McNerney (Dem)

Central, parts of San Joaquin and Contra Costa counties

Democrat Jerry McNerney, a freshman member of Congress, is sure to see a significant challenge from the GOP. In 2006, McNerney defeated incumbent Richard Pombo by 7 percent. McNerney's presumed GOP challenger, former Board of Equalization member Dean Andal of Stockton, will make this a close race. The eleventh district leans Republican, but McNerney has plowed a moderate path in his first term. This race will be one to watch.

Jerry McNerney (Dem) - Incumbent
Dean Andal (Rep) - Former State Equalization Board Member, Former State Assemblyman and Businessman
Jill Buck (Rep) - GOP Activist
Brent Jones (Rep) - Former Pro Football Player
Jim Losi (R/Ind) - College Professor

12th District - Tom Lantos (Dem)

Bay Area, parts of San Francisco and San Mateo county

Tom Lantos (Dem) - Incumbent
Jackie Speier (Dem) - State Senator, Former State Assemblywoman, Attorney and 2006 Lieutenant Governor Candidate

13th District - Pete Stark (Dem)

East Bay, Fremont, Hayward

Pete Stark (Dem) - Incumbent

14th District - Anna Eshoo (Dem)

Bay Area, parts of San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties

Anna Eshoo (Dem) - Incumbent

15th District - Mike Honda (Dem)

South Bay, San Jose and Santa Clara

Mike Honda (Dem) - Incumbent

16th District - Zoe Lofgren (Dem)

Southeast of Bay, part of Santa Clara county

Zoe Lofgren (Dem) - Incumbent

17th District - Sam Farr (Dem)

Central coastline, Monterey and San Benito, and part of Santa Cruz counties

Sam Farr (Dem) - Incumbent

18th District - Dennis Cardoza (Dem)

Central Valley, part of Modesto, Merced and Stockton

Dennis Cardoza (Dem) - Incumbent

19th District - George Radanovich (Rep)

Central Valley, parts of Fresno and Modesto

George Radanovich (Rep) - Incumbent

20th District - Jim Costa (Dem)

South central, parts of Kern, King and Fresno counties

Jim Costa (Dem) - Incumbent
James Lopez (Rep)

21st District - Devin Nunes (Rep)

Central Valley, Tulare, part of Fresno county

Devin Nunes (Rep) - Incumbent
Ernest Steven Haze (Dem)

22nd District - Kevin McCarthy (Rep)

South central, Bakersfield and San Luis Obispo

Kevin McCarthy (Rep) - Incumbent

23rd District - Lois Capps (Dem)

South central coastline, parts of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties

Lois Capps (Dem) - Incumbent
Donald Regan (Rep)

24th District - Elton Gallegly (Rep)

Northern of Los Angeles county, part of Santa Barbara county

Elton Gallegly (Rep) - Incumbent
Timothy Charles Kalemkarian (Rep)
Michael Tenenbaum (Rep) - Attorney and 2006 Candidate
Richard Francis (Dem) - Former Ventura Mayor
Chip Fraser (Dem)
Elliot Maggin (Dem) - Educator, Writer and 1984 Candidate
Jill Martinez (Dem) - Minister, Community Activist and 2006 Nominee
Mary Pallant (Dem)
Brett Wagner (Dem) - Educator, National Security Policy Think Tank Founder and 2004 Nominee

25th District - Buck McKeon (Rep)

Santa Clarita, Northern Los Angeles county and southeastern border

Buck McKeon (Rep) - Incumbent

26th District - David Dreier (Rep)

Northeastern Los Angeles suburbs, Arcadia, Rancho Cucamonga, part of San Bernadino county

David Dreier (Rep) - Incumbent
Hoyt Hilsman (Dem) - Attorney, Screenwriter and Journalist
Russ Warner (Dem) - Magazine Distribution Company Owner

27th District - Brad Sherman (Dem)

Burbank, Northeast Los Angeles county

Brad Sherman (Dem) - Incumbent

28th District - Howard Berman (Dem)

San Fernando, Los Angeles county

Howard Berman (Dem) - Incumbent
Byron Walker Delear (Green)

29th District - Adam Schiff (Dem)

Pasadena, Glendale, part of Burbank, Northeastern Los Angeles county

Adam Schiff (Dem) - Incumbent

30th District - Henry Waxman (Dem)

Santa Monica, West Hollywood, West Los Angeles county

Henry Waxman (Dem) - Incumbent

31st District - Xavier Becerra (Dem)

Central, East and Southeast Los Angeles

Xavier Becerra (Dem) - Incumbent

32nd District - Hilda Solis (Dem)

El Monte, West Covina, Eastern Los Angeles county

Hilda Solis (Dem) - Incumbent

33rd District - Diane Watson (Dem)

West Los Angeles, Culver City

Diane Watson (Dem) - Incumbent

34th District - Lucille Roybal-Allard (Dem)

East-central Los Angeles

Lucille Roybal-Allard (Dem) - Incumbent

35th District - Maxine Waters (Dem)

South-central Los Angeles

Maxine Waters (Dem) - Incumbent

36th District - Jane Harman (Dem)

Torrance, Redondo Beach, Coastal Los Angeles county

Jane Harman (Dem) - Incumbent
Marcy Winograd (Dem)

37th District - VACANCY (Dem)

Compton, Carson, Southern Los Angeles county

Juanita Millender-McDonald (Dem) - died April 22, 2007
Peter Mathews (Dem) - College Professor and frequent candidate
Laura Richardson (Dem) - State Assemblywoman, Former Long Beach City Councilwoman and Businesswoman
Gerrie Schipske (Dem)
John Kanaley (Rep) - Police Officer and Army Reserve Officer
Daniel Abraham Brezenoff (Green) - Clinical Social Worker, Musician and Peace Activist
Herb Peters (Libertarian) - Retired Aerospace Engineer and frequent candidate

38th District - Grace Napolitano (Dem)

Pomona, Norwalk, East Los Angeles county suburbs

Grace Napolitano (Dem) - Incumbent
Ed Chau (Dem) - Montebello School Board Member and Attorney
Edward Chavez (Dem)

39th District - Linda Sanchez (Dem)

South Gate, part of Long Beach, Southern Los Angeles county

Linda Sanchez (Dem) - Incumbent

40th District - Ed Royce (Rep)

Orange county

Ed Royce (Rep) - Incumbent
Christina Avalos (Dem) - Mental Health Consultant, Latino Community Activist and frequent candidate
Florice Hoffman (Dem) - Attorney, Former Labor Union Organizer, Democratic Activist and 2006 Nominee

41st District - Jerry Lewis (Rep)

Southeastern border, San Bernardino and part of Riverside county

15-term Congressman Jerry Lewis decided in September that he would seek another term in the House, ending some speculation that he was considering retirement. Lewis is at the center of some ethics controversy as a federal grand jury was investigating his relationship with retired Republican Representative Bill Lowery. Lewis' presence on the ballot could help Democrats if more about this possible scandal arises, but the long-term incumbent is a heavy favorite at this point. Attorney Tom Prince has shown some interest in running for the seat for the Democrats should the circumstances be right.

Jerry Lewis (Rep) - Incumbent
Tim Prince (Dem) - Attorney and Democratic Activist

42nd District - Gary Miller (Rep)

South central, parts of Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties

Gary Miller (Rep) - Incumbent
Edwin Chau (Dem)
Mark Hull-Richter (Dem) - Democratic Activist and 2006 Candidate
Ron Shepston (Dem) - Avionics Engineer and Veteran

43rd District - Joe Baca (Dem)

San Bernardino, Part of San Bernardino county

Joe Baca (Dem) - Incumbent
Scott Folkens (Rep) - Teacher and 2006 Nominee

44th District - Ken Calvert (Rep)

Midway between Los Angeles and San Diego, parts of Riverside and Orange counties

Ken Calvert (Rep) - Incumbent
Bill Hedrick (Dem) - Corono-Norco School Board President and Teacher
Louis Vandenberg (Dem)

45th District - Mary Bono (Rep)

South and southeast, part of Riverside county, Palm Springs

Mary Bono (Rep) - Incumbent
David Roth (Dem) - College Official and State Student Aid Commission Member

46th District - Dana Rohrabacher (Rep)

South of Los Angeles, Rancho Palos Verdes, coastal Orange county, parts of Los Angeles county

Dana Rohrabacher (Rep) - Incumbent
Jim Brandt (Dem)

47th District - Loretta Sanchez (Dem)

South of Los Angeles, part of Orange county

Loretta Sanchez (Dem) - Incumbent
Dina Biedermann (Rep)

48th District - John Campbell (Rep)

South of Los Angeles, part of Orange county, Irvine

John Campbell (Rep) - Incumbent
Steven Ray Young (Dem)

49th District - Darrell Issa (Rep)

North of San Diego, Riverside and San Diego counties

Darrell Issa (Rep) - Incumbent

50th District - Brian Bilbray (Rep)

Carlsbad, Escondido, Northern San Diego county

Brian Bilbray (Rep) - Incumbent
Nick Leibham (Dem) - Attorney
Steve Schecter (Dem)
Michael Wray (Dem) - Rocket Scientist and Democratic Activist

51st District - Bob Filner (Dem)

Part of Southern San Diego county, Imperial county

Bob Filner (Dem) - Incumbent

52nd District - Duncan Hunter (Rep)

El Cajon, Inland San Diego county

Long time Republican incumbent Duncan Hunter has vacated his seat to run for President, creating an open seat contest in this Republican leaning district. Speculation suggested that the seat would easily pass to Hunter's son Marine Capt. Duncan D. Hunter, but several other Republicans have surfaced to challenge him for the nomination. Democrats landed a solid candidate for the seat when retired Navy SEAL commander Mike Lumpkin announced his candidacy. Military background is of major importance in this district, which contains a large military population. Any Democrat faces an uphill in this district; President Bush received 61 percent of the vote in this district in 2004, but if the political environment favors Democrats this could become an interesting race.

Duncan L Hunter (Rep) - Candidate for President in 2008, Not Seeking Re-Election.
Joel Anderson (Rep) - State Assemblyman and Businessman
Steve Baldwin (Rep) - State Assemblyman
Jan Goldsmith (Rep) - San Diego Superior Court Judge, Former State Assemblyman and 1998 State Treasurer Candidate
Duncan D Hunter (Rep) - Businessman, Iraq War Veteran and Son of Congressman Hunter
Brian Jones (Rep) - Santee City Councilman, Realtor and Minister
Kenneth King (Rep)
Mark Larson (Rep) - Radio Talk Show Host
Mark Price (Rep) - Alpine Union School Board Member
Jim Hester (Dem) - Attorney, Army Veteran and Community Activist
Mike Lumpkin (Dem) - Retired Navy SEAL commander

53rd District - Susan Davis (Dem)

Coastal San Diego

Susan Davis (Dem) - Incumbent
Delecia Ann Holt (Rep)