# California's 45th congressional district

California's 45th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California currently represented by Democrat Derek Tran.
The 45th district was created as a result of the redistricting cycle after the 1980 census.
The district is based in Orange and Los Angeles counties and includes all of Garden Grove, Westminster, Cerritos, Buena Park, Placentia, Hawaiian Gardens, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Artesia, Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, and La Palma, as well as parts of Brea, Lakewood, and Fullerton.
In 2018, incumbent Representative Mimi Walters competed against a field of four Democrats and an independent candidate in the primary election for the 2018 midterm elections. On February 25, 2018, UC Irvine (UCI) assistant law professor Dave Min received the endorsement of the California Democratic Party.
Min, former White House senior technology advisor Brian Forde, former legislative assistant to Sherrod Brown (D-OH) Kia Hamadanchy, UCI law professor Katie Porter, and UCI business professor John Graham ran in the "top two" primary in June 2018. Walters and Porter placed first and second and advanced to the general election in November.
On November 14, 2018, eight days after polls closed, Dave Wasserman, then the House Editor for The Cook Political Report, projected that Porter had won the general election.
In 2024, the election in this district was one of the state's most competitive. In its current form after the 2020 redistricting, the district has a significant presence of Asian-American voters.

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 52% - 48% |
| 2010 | Governor | Whitman 54% - 40% |
| 2010 | Lt. Governor | Maldonado 47% - 38% |
| 2010 | Secretary of State | Dunn 50% - 41% |
| 2010 | Attorney General | Cooley 59% - 32% |
| 2010 | Treasurer | Walters 48% - 44% |
| 2010 | Controller | Strickland 50% - 41% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 49.1% - 48.7% |
| 2014 | Governor | Kashkari 53% - 47% |
| 2016 | President | Clinton 54% - 41% |
| 2018 | Governor | Newsom 50.4% - 49.6% |
| 2018 | Attorney General | Becerra 52% - 48% |
| 2020 | President | Biden 52% - 46% |
| 2022 | Senate (Reg.) | Meuser 51% - 49% |
| 2022 | Governor | Dahle 51% - 49% |
| 2022 | Lt. Governor | Underwood Jacobs 51% - 49% |
| 2022 | Secretary of State | Bernosky 51% - 49% |
| 2022 | Attorney General | Hochman 52% - 48% |
| 2022 | Treasurer | Guerrero 53% - 47% |
| 2022 | Controller | Chen 54% - 46% |
| 2024 | President | Harris 49% - 48% |
| 2024 | Senate (Reg.) | Garvey 50.5% - 49.5% |

## Composition

| FIPS County Code | County | Seat | Population |
| 37 | Los Angeles | Los Angeles | 9,663,345 |
| 59 | Orange | Santa Ana | 3,135,755 |
Under the 2020 redistricting, California's 45th congressional district is located in Southern California, taking up western Orange County and east Los Angeles County. The area in Orange County includes the cities of Cypress, Brea, Placentia, Westminster, Garden Grove, Buena Park, Fountain Valley, Los Alamitos, La Palma, and northern Fullerton, part of Yorba Linda; and the census-designated places Rossmoor and Midway City. The area in Los Angeles County includes the cities of Cerritos, Artesia, Hawaiian Gardens, and part of Lakewood.
Orange County is split between this district, the 40th district, the 46th district, and the 47th district. The 45th and 40th are partitioned by Orange Freeway, E Lambert Rd, Sunrise Rd, Foothill Ln, Wandering Ln, N Associated Rd, E Birch St, S Valencia Ave, La Plaza Dr, La Floresta Dr, La Crescenta Dr, Highway 90, 1053 E Imperial Highway-343 Tolbert St, Vesuvius Dr, Rose Dr, Wabash Ave, 6th St, Golden Ave, Carbon Canyon Creek, E Yorba Linda Blvd, Jefferson St, 1401 Zion Ave-N Van Buren St, Buena Vista Ave, 17225 Orange Blossom Ln-1480 E Howard Pl, 17511 Pine Cir-Orchard Dr, Mariposa Ave, Lakeview Ave, E Miraloma Ave, Fee-Ana St, Sierra Madre Cir, E Orangethorpe Ave, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, Kensington Ave, N Kraemer Blvd, Carbon Creek, and E La Jolla St.
The 45th and 46th are partitioned by Santa Ana River, W Lehnhardt Ave, Gloxinia Ave, Lilac Way, Edinger Ave, Pebble Ct, 10744 W Lehnhardt Ave-10726 Kedge Ave, 724 S Sail St-5641 W Barbette Ave-407 S Starboard St, Starboard St/S Cooper St, Taft St, Hazard Ave, N Euclid St, Westminster Ave, Clinton St, 14300 Clinton St-1001 Mar Les Dr, Mar Les Dr, 2729 Huckleberry Rd, N Fairview St, Fairview St, 13462 Garden Grove Blvd-13252 Marty Ln, Townley St/Siemon Ave, W Garden Grove Blvd, S Lewis St, W Chapman Ave, E Simmons Ave, S Haster St, Ascot Dr, W Orangewood Ave, S 9th St, 2209 S Waverly Dr-11751 S Waverly Dr, Euclid St, Haven Ln, W Dudley Ave, S Euclid St, Katella Ave, Dale St, Rancho Alamitos High School, Orangewood Ave, Barber City Channel, Arrowhead St, Del Rey Dr, Westcliff Dr, Lampson Ave, Fern St, Garden Glove Blvd, Union Pacific Railroad, 7772 W Chapman Ave-Bently Ave, Highway 39, Western Ave, Stanton Storm Channel, Knott Ave, 6970 Via Kannela-6555 Katella Ave, Cerritos Ave, 10490 Carlotta Ave-Ball Rd, John Beat Park, S Knott Ave, Solano Dr, Monterra Way, Campesina Dr, Holder Elementary School, W Orange Ave, 6698 Via Riverside Way-Orangeview Junior High School, W Lincoln Ave, 195 N Western Ave-298 N Western Ave, 3181 W Coolidge Ave-405 N Dale St, W Crescent Ave, N La Reina St, W La Palma Ave, Boisseranc Park, I-5 HOV Lane, Orangethorpe Ave, Fullerton Creek, Whitaker St, Commonwealth Ave, Los Angeles County Metro, W Malvern Ave, W Chapman Ave, E Chapman Ave, S Placentia Ave, Kimberly Ave, E Orangethorpe Ave, and 2500 E Terrace St-Highway 57.
The 45th and 47th 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, and the Santa Ana River.
Los Angeles County is split between this district, the 38th district, and the 42nd district. The 45th and 42nd are partitioned by San Gabriel River, Palo Verde Ave, South St, Del Amo Blvd, Pioneer Blvd, Coyote Creek, Centralia Creek, Hawaiian Ave, Verne Ave, Bloomfield Park, Highway 605, 226th St, Dorado Cir, Cortner Ave, E Woodson St, Bloomfield Ave, Lilly Ave, Marna Ave, and Los Alamos Channel.
The 45th and 38th are partitioned by Valley View Ave, Southern Pacific Railroad, Alondra Blvd, 15917 Canyon Creek Rd-12371 Hermosura St, Norwalk Blvd, 166th St, and Cerritos College Child Development-Alondra Blvd.

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

* Garden Grove – 171,949
* Fullerton – 143,617
* Westminster – 90,911
* Buena Park – 84,034
* Lakewood – 82,496
* Yorba Linda – 68,336
* Fountain Valley – 57,047
* Placentia – 51,824
* Cypress – 50,151
* Cerritos – 49,578
* Brea – 47,325
* Artesia – 16,395
* La Palma – 15,581
* Hawaiian Gardens – 13,593
* Los Alamitos – 11,780
* Rossmoor – 10,625

### 2,500 – 10,000 people

* Midway City – 8,825

## List of members representing the district

| Member | Party | Dates | Cong ress(es) | Electoral history | Counties |
| District created January 3, 1983 ||||||
| Duncan Hunter (Coronado) | Republican | January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1993 | 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd | Redistricted from the 42nd district and re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Redistricted to the 52nd district. | 1983–1993 Imperial, San Diego |
| Dana Rohrabacher (Huntington Beach) | Republican | January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2003 | 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th | Redistricted from the 42nd 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 46th district. | 1993–2003 Orange |
| Mary Bono (Palm Springs) | Republican | January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2013 | 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th | Redistricted from the 44th 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 36th district and lost re-election. | 2003–2013 Riverside |
| John Campbell (Irvine) | Republican | January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015 | 113th | Redistricted from the 48th district and re-elected in 2012. Retired. | 2013–2023 Orange |
| Mimi Walters (Irvine) | Republican | January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2019 | 114th 115th | Elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Lost re-election. | 2013–2023 Orange |
| Katie Porter (Irvine) | Democratic | January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023 | 116th 117th | Elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Redistricted to the 47th district. | 2013–2023 Orange |
| Michelle Steel (Fountain Valley) | Republican | January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025 | 118th | Redistricted from the 48th district and re-elected in 2022. Lost re-election. | 2023–present: Orange, Los Angeles |
| Derek Tran (Orange) | Democratic | January 3, 2025– present | 119th | Elected in 2024. | 2023–present: Orange, Los Angeles |

## Election results
### 1982

1982 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Duncan Hunter (Incumbent) | 117,771 | 68.6 |
| | Democratic | Richard Hill | 50,148 | 29.2 |
| | Libertarian | Jack R. Sanders | 3,839 | 2.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 171,758 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1984

1984 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Duncan Hunter (Incumbent) | 149,011 | 75.1 |
| | Democratic | David W. Guthrie | 45,325 | 22.9 |
| | Libertarian | Patrick "Pat" Wright | 3,971 | 2.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 198,307 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1986

1986 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Duncan Hunter (Incumbent) | 118,900 | 58.1 |
| | Democratic | Hewitt Fitts Ryan | 82,800 | 40.5 |
| | Libertarian | Lee Schwartz | 2,975 | 1.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 204,675 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1988

1988 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Duncan Hunter (Incumbent) | 166,451 | 74.0 |
| | Democratic | Pete Lepiscopo | 54,012 | 24.0 |
| | Libertarian | Perry Willis | 4,440 | 2.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 224,903 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1990

1990 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Duncan Hunter (Incumbent) | 123,591 | 72.8 |
| | Libertarian | Joe Shea | 46,068 | 27.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 169,659 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1992

1992 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dana Rohrabacher (Incumbent) | 123,731 | 54.5 |
| | Democratic | Patricia "Pat" McCabe | 88,508 | 39.0 |
| | Libertarian | Gary David Copeland | 14,777 | 6.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 227,016 | 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 | Dana Rohrabacher (Incumbent) | 124,875 | 69.1 |
| | Democratic | Brett Williamson | 55,849 | 30.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 180,724 | 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 | Dana Rohrabacher (Incumbent) | 125,326 | 61.0 |
| | Democratic | Sally Alexander | 68,312 | 33.2 |
| | Libertarian | Mark Murphy | 8,813 | 4.3 |
| | Natural Law | Rand McDevitt | 3,071 | 1.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 205,522 | 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 | Dana Rohrabacher (Incumbent) | 94,296 | 58.7 |
| | Democratic | Patricia W. Neal | 60,022 | 37.3 |
| | Libertarian | Don Hull | 4,337 | 2.7 |
| | Natural Law | William "Bill" Verkamp Jr. | 2,115 | 1.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 160,770 | 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 | Dana Rohrabacher (Incumbent) | 136,275 | 62.2 |
| | Democratic | Ted Crisell | 71,066 | 32.4 |
| | Libertarian | Don Hull | 8,409 | 3.8 |
| | Natural Law | Constance Betton | 3,635 | 1.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 219,385 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2002

2002 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mary Bono (Incumbent) | 87,101 | 65.3 |
| | Democratic | Elle K. Kurplewski | 43,692 | 32.7 |
| | Libertarian | Rod Miller-Boyer | 2,740 | 2.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 133,533 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2004

2004 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mary Bono (Incumbent) | 153,523 | 66.7 |
| | Democratic | Richard J. Meyer | 76,967 | 33.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 230,490 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2006

2006 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mary Bono (Incumbent) | 99,638 | 60.7 |
| | Democratic | David Roth | 64,613 | 39.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 164,251 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2008

2008 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mary Bono (Incumbent) | 155,166 | 58.3 |
| | Democratic | Julie Bornstein | 111,026 | 41.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 266,192 | 100.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 74.4 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2010

2010 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mary Bono (Incumbent) | 106,472 | 51.5 |
| | Democratic | Steve Pougnet | 87,141 | 42.1 |
| | American Independent | Bill Lussenheide | 13,188 | 6.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 206,801 | 100.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 60.5 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2012

2012 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Campbell (Incumbent) | 171,417 | 58.5 |
| | Democratic | Sukhee Kang | 121,814 | 41.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 293,231 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2014

2014 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mimi Walters | 106,083 | 65.1 |
| | Democratic | Drew E. Leavens | 56,819 | 34.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 162,902 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2016

2016 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mimi Walters (Incumbent) | 182,408 | 58.6 |
| | Democratic | Ron Varasteh | 128,996 | 41.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 311,404 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2018

2018 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Katie Porter | 158,906 | 52.1 |
| | Republican | Mimi Walters (Incumbent) | 146,383 | 47.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 305,289 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### 2020

2020 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Katie Porter (Incumbent) | 221,843 | 53.5 |
| | Republican | Greg Raths | 193,096 | 46.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 414,939 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2022

2022 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Michelle Steel (Incumbent) | 113,960 | 52.4 |
| | Democratic | Jay Chen | 103,466 | 47.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 217,426 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2024

2024 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Derek Tran | 158,104 | 50.1 |
| | Republican | Michelle Steel (Incumbent) | 157,508 | 49.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 315,612 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

## Historical district boundaries
### 2003-13

From 2003 to 2013, this district was based in Riverside County. The district included the communities of Palm Springs, Moreno Valley, Palm Desert, Hemet, Cathedral City, Temecula, Blythe, Rancho Mirage, Murrieta, Indio, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Cabazon, Anza, Thermal, Idyllwild, Coachella, and other unincorporated areas of Riverside County.