# California's 47th congressional district

California's 47th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California.
Following the 2020 redistricting cycle, the district shifted to Orange County to contain Irvine, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, and Seal Beach. It is currently represented by Democrat Dave Min.

## Competitiveness

The district, a Democratic-leaning swing district with a Cook Partisan Voting Index of D+3, includes the heavily Democratic city of Irvine, and Republican-leaning coastal cities such as Huntington Beach and Newport Beach.

### Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | Obama 51% - 49% |
| 2010 | Governor | Whitman 58% - 37% |
| 2010 | Lt. Governor | Maldonado 49% - 39% |
| 2010 | Secretary of State | Dunn 55% - 38% |
| 2010 | Attorney General | Cooley 61% - 31% |
| 2010 | Treasurer | Walters 52% - 40% |
| 2010 | Controller | Strickland 54% - 37% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 54% - 46% |
| 2014 | Governor | Kashkari 56% - 44% |
| 2016 | President | Clinton 51% - 43% |
| 2018 | Governor | Newsom 52% - 48% |
| 2018 | Attorney General | Becerra 53% - 47% |
| 2020 | President | Biden 54% - 43% |
| 2022 | Senate (Reg.) | Padilla 51% - 49% |
| 2022 | Governor | Dahle 50.3% - 49.7% |
| 2022 | Lt. Governor | Kounalakis 50.3% - 49.7% |
| 2022 | Secretary of State | Bernosky 50.05% - 49.95% |
| 2022 | Attorney General | Hochman 51% - 49% |
| 2022 | Treasurer | Guerrero 52% - 48% |
| 2022 | Controller | Chen 55% - 45% |
| 2024 | President | Harris 50% - 46% |
| 2024 | Senate (Reg.) | Garvey 50.2% - 49.8% |

## Composition

| FIPS County Code | County | Seat | Population |
| 59 | Orange | Santa Ana | 3,135,755 |
Under the 2020 redistricting, California's 38th congressional district is located in Southern California, covering the South Coast Metro area of Orange County. It includes the cities of Costa Mesa, Irvine, Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach; and parts of Laguna Hills and Laguna Woods.
Orange County is split between this district, the 45th district, the 46th district, the 40th district, and the 49th district. The 47th, 45th and 46th are partitioned by Highway 405, Old Ranch Parkway, Seal Beach Blvd, St Cloud Dr, Montecito Rd, Rossmoor Center Way, 12240 Seal Beach Blvd-Los Alamitos Army Airfield, Bolsa Chica Channel, Rancho Rd, Harold Pl, Springdale St, 6021 Anacapa Dr-Willow Ln, Edward St, Bolsa Ave, Goldenwest St, McFadden Ave, Union Pacific Railroad, 15241 Cascade Ln-15241 Cedarwood Ave, Highway 39, Edinger Ave, Newland St, Heil Ave, Magnolia St, Warner Ave, Garfield Ave, the Santa Ana River, MacArthur Blvd, Harbor Blvd, Sunflower Ave, Costa Mesa Freeway, E Alton Parkway, and Red Hill Ave.
The 47th, 40th and 49th are partitioned by Barranca Parkway, Jamboree Rd, Warner Ave, Harvard Ave, Myford Rd, Highway 5, Loma Ridge Nature Preserve, Bee Canyon Access Rd, Portola Parkway, Highway 133, Highway 241, Bake Parkway, San Diego Freeway, Ridge Route Dr, Moulton Parkway, Santa Maria Ave, Via Vista, Alta Vis, Santa Vittoria Dr, Avenida del Sol, Punta Alta, Galle Azul, Bahia Blanca W, Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Highway S18, Aliso & Wood Canyons, Vista del Sol, Highway 1, Stonington Rd, Virginia Way, 7th Ave, and Laguna Beach.

### Cities and CDPs with 10,000 or more people

* Irvine - 307,670
* Huntington Beach - 198,711
* Costa Mesa - 111,918
* Newport Beach - 85,239
* Laguna Hills – 31,374
* Seal Beach - 25,242
* Laguna Beach - 23,032
* Laguna Woods – 17,192

## List of members representing the district

| Member | Party | Dates | Cong ress(es) | Electoral history | Counties |
| District created January 3, 1993 ||||||
| Christopher Cox (Newport Beach) | Republican | January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2003 | 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th | Redistricted from the 40th district and re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Redistricted to the 48th district. | 1993–2003 South-Central Orange |
| Loretta Sanchez (Anaheim) | Democratic | January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2013 | 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th | Redistricted from the 46th district and re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Redistricted to the 46th district. | 2003–2013 Central Orange (Anaheim, Garden Grove, Santa Ana) |
| Alan Lowenthal (Long Beach) | Democratic | January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2023 | 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th | Elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Redistricted to the 42nd district and retired. | 2013–2023 Orange and Los Angeles (Long Beach) |
| Katie Porter (Irvine) | Democratic | January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025 | 118th | Redistricted from the 45th district and re-elected in 2022. Retired to run for U.S. senator. | 2023–present: Coastal Orange (Irvine, Laguna Beach, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, and Seal Beach) |
| Dave Min (Irvine) | Democratic | January 3, 2025 – present | 119th | Elected in 2024. | 2023–present: Coastal Orange (Irvine, Laguna Beach, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, and Seal Beach) |

## Election results
### 1992

1992 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Chris Cox (Incumbent) | 165,004 | 64.9 |
| | Democratic | John F. Anwiler | 76,924 | 30.3 |
| | Peace and Freedom | Maxine Bell Quirk | 12,297 | 4.8 |
| | Independent | Barry Charles (write-in) | 32 | 0.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 244,257 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1994

1994 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Chris Cox (Incumbent) | 154,071 | 71.7 |
| | Democratic | Gary Kingsbury | 53,669 | 25.0 |
| | Libertarian | Victor A. Wagner, Jr. | 7,257 | 3.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 214,997 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1996

1996 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Chris Cox (Incumbent) | 160,078 | 65.7 |
| | Democratic | Tina Laine | 70,362 | 28.9 |
| | Natural Law | Iris Adam | 6,573 | 2.8 |
| | Libertarian | Victor Wagner | 6,530 | 2.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 243,777 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1998

1998 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Chris Cox (Incumbent) | 132,711 | 67.6 |
| | Democratic | Christina Avalos | 57,938 | 29.5 |
| | Libertarian | Victor A. Wagner, Jr. | 2,991 | 1.5 |
| | Reform | Raymond O. Mills | 1,369 | 0.7 |
| | Natural Law | Paul Fisher | 1,307 | 0.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 196,316 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2000

2000 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Chris Cox (Incumbent) | 181,365 | 65.7 |
| | Democratic | John Graham | 83,186 | 30.1 |
| | Libertarian | David F. Nolan | 8,081 | 2.9 |
| | Natural Law | Iris Adam | 3,769 | 1.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 276,401 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2002

2002 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Loretta Sanchez (Incumbent) | 42,501 | 60.6 |
| | Republican | Jeff Chavez | 24,346 | 34.7 |
| | Libertarian | Paul Marsden | 2,944 | 4.2 |
| | Independent | Kenneth M. Valenzuela-Fisher (write-in) | 382 | 0.5 |
| | Independent | Michael J. Monge (write-in) | 5 | 0.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 70,178 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2004

2004 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Loretta Sanchez (Incumbent) | 65,684 | 60.4 |
| | Republican | Alexandria A. "Alex" Coronado | 43,099 | 39.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 108,783 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2006

2006 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Loretta Sanchez (Incumbent) | 47,134 | 62.4 |
| | Republican | Tan D. Nguyen | 28,485 | 37.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 75,619 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2008

2008 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Loretta Sanchez (Incumbent) | 85,878 | 69.5 |
| | Republican | Rosemarie "Rosie" Avila | 31,432 | 25.4 |
| | American Independent | Robert Lauten | 6,274 | 5.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 123,584 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2010

2010 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Loretta Sanchez (Incumbent) | 50,832 | 53.0 |
| | Republican | Van Tran | 37,679 | 39.3 |
| | Independent | Cecilia Igleseis | 7,443 | 7.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 95,954 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2012

2012 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Alan Lowenthal | 130,093 | 56.6 |
| | Republican | Gary DeLong | 99,919 | 43.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 230,012 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2014

2014 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Alan Lowenthal (Incumbent) | 69,061 | 56.0 |
| | Republican | Andy Whallon | 54,309 | 44.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 123,370 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2016

2016 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Alan Lowenthal (Incumbent) | 154,759 | 63.7 |
| | Republican | Andy Whallon | 88,109 | 36.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 242,868 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2018

2018 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Alan Lowenthal (Incumbent) | 143,354 | 64.9 |
| | Republican | John Briscoe | 77,682 | 35.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 221,036 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2020

2020 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Alan Lowenthal (incumbent) | 197,028 | 63.3 |
| | Republican | John Briscoe | 114,371 | 36.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 311,399 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2022

2022 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Katie Porter (Incumbent) | 137,374 | 51.7 |
| | Republican | Scott Baugh | 128,261 | 48.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 265,635 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2024

2024 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Dave Min | 181,721 | 51.4 |
| | Republican | Scott Baugh | 171,554 | 48.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 353,275 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Historical district boundaries
### 2003-13

From 2003 through 2013, the district included many of Orange County's central suburbs, including Anaheim, Garden Grove and Santa Ana.

### 2013-23

Due to redistricting after the 2010 United States census, the district moved west to parts of Los Angeles County and included Catalina and San Clemente islands. The district also retained parts of Orange County such as Garden Grove.

## In popular culture

California's 47th congressional district was the scene of a congressional election (won by a deceased Democrat), and later a congressional special election (won by the Republican incumbent), featured in several episodes of the political drama The West Wing. Like the real district, the fictional one from the show is in Orange County.