# California's 56th State Assembly district

California's 56th State Assembly district is one of 80 California State Assembly districts. It is currently represented by Democrat Lisa Calderon of Whittier.

## District profile

The district encompasses portions of southeastern Los Angeles County and the San Gabriel Valley. The district is primarily suburban, socioeconomically diverse and majority Latino with a growing Asian population.

## Election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2020 | President | Biden 62.2 – 35.9% |
| 2018 | Governor | Newsom 61.5 – 38.5% |
| 2018 | Senator | de Leon 53.8 – 46.2% |
| 2016 | President | Clinton 64.2 – 31.2% |
| 2016 | Senator | Sanchez 59.2 – 40.8% |
| 2014 | Governor | Brown 62.9 – 37.1% |
| 2012 | President | Obama 62.1 – 36.3% |
| 2012 | Senator | Feinstein 64.0 – 36.0% |

## List of members representing the district

| Member | Party | Years served | Electoral history | Counties represented |
| District established January 5, 1885 |||||
| George W. Watson (Oakland) | Republican | January 5, 1885 – January 3, 1887 | Elected in 1884. [data missing] | Alameda |
| Charles O. Alexander (Oakland) | Republican | January 3, 1887 – January 5, 1891 | Elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. [data missing] | Alameda |
| Almon Ames (Berkeley) | Republican | January 5, 1891 – January 2, 1893 | Elected in 1890. [data missing] | Alameda |
| Massey Thomas (Gilroy) | Democratic | January 2, 1893 – January 7, 1895 | Elected in 1892. [data missing] | Santa Clara |
| Walter A. Meads (San Jose) | Democratic | January 7, 1895 – January 4, 1897 | Elected in 1894. [data missing] | Santa Clara |
| M. E. Arnerich (San Jose) | Republican | January 4, 1897 – January 1, 1901 | Elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. [data missing] | Santa Clara |
| George S. Walker (San Jose) | Republican | January 1, 1901 – January 5, 1903 | Elected in 1900. Redistricted to the 55th district. | Santa Clara |
| Eli Wright (San Jose) | Republican | January 5, 1903 – January 2, 1905 | Elected in 1902. Retired to run for California State Senate. | Santa Clara |
| Ward Jarvis (Santa Clara) | Republican | January 2, 1905 – January 7, 1907 | Elected in 1904. [data missing] | Santa Clara |
| Guy W. Smith (San Jose) | Republican | January 7, 1907 – January 4, 1909 | Elected in 1906. [data missing] | Santa Clara |
| L. D. Bohnett (San Jose) | Republican | January 4, 1909 – January 6, 1913 | Elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Retired to run for U.S. House of Representatives. | Santa Clara |
| William E. Simpson (Bakersfield) | Democratic | January 6, 1913 – January 4, 1915 | Elected in 1912. [data missing] | Kern |
| Witten W. Harris (Bakersfield) | Nonpartisan | January 4, 1915 – November 4, 1916 | Elected in 1915 as a Socialist but expelled by party. Re-elected as a Democrat in 1916. Retired to run for U.S. House of Representatives. | Kern |
| Witten W. Harris (Bakersfield) | Democratic | November 4, 1916 – January 6, 1919 | Elected in 1915 as a Socialist but expelled by party. Re-elected as a Democrat in 1916. Retired to run for U.S. House of Representatives. | Kern |
| Grace S. Dorris (Bakersfield) | Republican | January 6, 1919 – January 3, 1921 | Elected in 1918. Lost renomination. | Kern |
| Franklin Heck (Bakersfield) | Democratic | January 3, 1921 – January 8, 1923 | Elected in 1920. [data missing] | Kern |
| Grace S. Dorris (Bakersfield) | Republican | January 8, 1923 – January 3, 1927 | Elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Lost renomination. | Kern |
| Robert L. Patterson (Bakersfield) | Republican | January 3, 1927 – January 5, 1931 | Elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Redistricted to the 48th district and lost re-election. | Kern |
| Walter J. Little (Los Angeles) | Republican | January 5, 1931 – January 2, 1933 | Redistricted from the 62nd district and re-elected in 1930. Redistricted to the 60th district. | Los Angeles |
| Bert V. Callahan (Los Angeles) | Democratic | January 2, 1933 – January 7, 1935 | Elected in 1932. [data missing] | Los Angeles |
| Thomas J. Cunningham (Los Angeles) | Republican | January 7, 1935 – January 2, 1939 | Elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. [data missing] | Los Angeles |
| Norris Poulson (Los Angeles) | Republican | January 2, 1939 – January 3, 1943 | Elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Retired to run for U.S. House of Representatives. | Los Angeles |
| Ernest E. Debs (Los Angeles) | Democratic | January 4, 1943 – June 30, 1947 | Elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Resigned after election to the Los Angeles City Council. | Los Angeles |
| Vacant | Vacant | June 30, 1947 – November 25, 1947 | | Los Angeles |
| Glenard P. Lipscomb (Los Angeles) | Republican | November 25, 1947 – November 10, 1953 | Elected to finish Debs's term. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Resigned after election to the U.S. House of Representatives. | Los Angeles |
| Vacant | Vacant | November 10, 1953 – January 3, 1955 | | Los Angeles |
| Seth J. Johnson (Los Angeles) | Republican | January 3, 1955 – July 16, 1959 | Elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Died. | Los Angeles |
| Vacant | Vacant | July 16, 1959 – December 2, 1959 | | Los Angeles |
| Chet Wolfrum (Los Angeles) | Republican | December 2, 1959 – January 7, 1963 | Elected to finish Johnson's term. Re-elected in 1960. Lost re-election. | Los Angeles |
| Charles Warren (Los Angeles) | Democratic | January 7, 1963 – November 30, 1974 | Elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Redistricted to the 46th district. | Los Angeles |
| Art Torres (Los Angeles) | Democratic | December 2, 1974 – November 30, 1982 | Elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Retired to run for California State Senate. | Los Angeles |
| Gloria Molina (Los Angeles) | Democratic | December 6, 1982 – February 27, 1987 | Elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Resigned after election to the Los Angeles City Council. | Los Angeles |
| Vacant | Vacant | February 27, 1987 – May 18, 1987 | | Los Angeles |
| Lucille Roybal-Allard (Los Angeles) | Democratic | May 18, 1987 – November 30, 1992 | Elected to finish Molina's term. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Retired to run for U.S. House of Representatives. | Los Angeles |
| Bob Epple (Cerritos) | Democratic | December 7, 1992 – November 30, 1994 | Redistricted from the 63rd district and re-elected in 1992. Lost re-election. | Los Angeles |
| Phillip D. Hawkins (Bellflower) | Republican | December 5, 1994 – November 30, 1996 | Elected in 1994. Lost re-election. | Los Angeles |
| Sally M. Havice (Los Angeles) | Democratic | December 2, 1996 – November 30, 2002 | Elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Retired to run for U.S. House of Representatives. | Los Angeles |
| Rudy Bermudez (Norwalk) | Democratic | December 2, 2002 – November 30, 2006 | Elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Retired to run for California State Senate. | Los Angeles, Orange |
| Tony Mendoza (Artesia) | Democratic | December 4, 2006 – November 30, 2012 | Elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Retired. | Los Angeles, Orange |
| V. Manuel Perez (Coachella) | Democratic | December 3, 2012 – November 30, 2014 | Redistricted from the 80th district and Re-elected in 2012. Term-limited and ran for Riverside Board of Supervisors. | Imperial, Riverside |
| Eduardo Garcia (Coachella) | Democratic | December 1, 2014 – December 5, 2022 | Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Redistricted to the 36th district. | Imperial, Riverside |
| Lisa Calderon (Whittier) | Democratic | December 5, 2022 – present | Redistricted from the 57th district and Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | Los Angeles |

## Contents

* 1992
* 1994
* 1996
* 1998
* 2000
* 2002
* 2004
* 2006
* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020

### 2020

2020 California State Assembly election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Eduardo Garcia (incumbent) | 44,530 | 64.0% |
| | Republican | America Figueroa | 25,074 | 36.0% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 69,604 | 100.0% |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Eduardo Garcia (incumbent) | 97,497 | 63.6% |
| | Republican | America Figueroa | 55,702 | 36.4% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 153,196 | 100.0% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2018

California State Assembly election, 2018 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Eduardo Garcia (incumbent) | 31,747 | 60.3 |
| | Republican | Jeff Gonzalez | 13,331 | 25.3 |
| | Republican | Jonathan Reiss | 7,527 | 14.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 52,605 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Eduardo Garcia (incumbent) | 62,622 | 64.8 |
| | Republican | Jeff Gonzalez | 34,088 | 35.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 96,710 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2016

California State Assembly election, 2016 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Eduardo Garcia (incumbent) | 45,122 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 45,122 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Eduardo Garcia (incumbent) | 93,090 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 93,090 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2014

California State Assembly election, 2014 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Eduardo Garcia | 23,104 | 56.9 |
| | Republican | Charles Bennet, Jr. | 17,471 | 43.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 40,575 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Eduardo Garcia | 35,671 | 58.5 |
| | Republican | Charles Bennet, Jr. | 25,347 | 41.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 61,018 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2012

California State Assembly election, 2012 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | V. Manuel Perez (incumbent) | 23,661 | 57.1 |
| | Republican | Corky Reynaga-Emett | 17,763 | 42.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 41,424 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | V. Manuel Perez (incumbent) | 66,353 | 66.1 |
| | Republican | Corky Reynaga-Emett | 34,038 | 33.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 100,391 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2010

2010 California State Assembly election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Tony Mendoza (incumbent) | 56,943 | 65.5 |
| | Republican | Henry J. Bestwick | 30,111 | 34.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 87,054 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2008

2008 California State Assembly election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Tony Mendoza (incumbent) | 78,652 | 65.17 |
| | Republican | Roger Garrett | 42,040 | 34.83 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 120,692 | 100.00 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 64.14 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2006

2006 California State Assembly election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Tony Mendoza | 43,666 | 57.72 |
| | Republican | Grace Hu | 31,991 | 42.28 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 75,657 | 100.00 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 44.42 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2004

2004 California State Assembly election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Rudy Bermudez (incumbent) | 67,294 | 60.16 |
| | Republican | John Brantuk | 44,559 | 39.84 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 111,853 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2002

2002 California State Assembly election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Rudy Bermudez (incumbent) | 39,032 | 61.49 |
| | Republican | John Brantuk | 24,440 | 38.51 |
| Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | 3,991 | 5.92 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 67,463 | 100.00 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2000

2000 California State Assembly election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Sally Havice (incumbent) | 73,536 | 60.59 |
| | Republican | Grace Hu | 47,836 | 39.41 |
| Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | 8,970 | 6.88 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 130,342 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 1998

1998 California State Assembly election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Sally Havice (incumbent) | 48,913 | 53.00 |
| | Republican | Phil Hawkins | 40,972 | 44.39 |
| | Libertarian | Bruce J. McKenzie | 2,409 | 2.61 |
| Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | 6,210 | 6.30 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 98,504 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 1996

1996 California State Assembly election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Sally M. Havice | 54,455 | 49.37 |
| | Republican | Richard Lambros | 52,376 | 47.48 |
| | Libertarian | Arthur M. Hays | 3,478 | 3.15 |
| Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | 11,691 | 9.59 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 122,000 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### 1994

1994 California State Assembly election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Phil Hawkins | 53,535 | 53.52 |
| | Democratic | Bob Epple (incumbent) | 43,178 | 43.17 |
| | Libertarian | Arthur M. Hays | 3,308 | 3.31 |
| Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | 6,894 | 6.45 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 106,915 | 100.00 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### 1992

1992 California State Assembly election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bob Epple (incumbent) | 61,330 | 47.81 |
| | Republican | Phil Hawkins | 60,788 | 47.39 |
| | Libertarian | Richard Gard | 6,151 | 4.80 |
| Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | 9,421 | 6.84 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 137,690 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |