# California's 48th congressional district

California's 48th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California that covers East County, San Diego as well as the Temecula Valley. Major cities in the district include Temecula, Murrieta, and portions of Escondido. It is currently represented by Republican Darrell Issa.
From 2013 to 2023, the district included Costa Mesa, Emerald Bay, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Newport Beach, Seal Beach, Sunset Beach and parts of Garden Grove, Midway City, Aliso Viejo, Santa Ana and Westminster. It was very competitive and had recently been won by each of the two main parties. In the 2018 House elections, Democrat Harley Rouda became the district's representative, defeating incumbent Republican Dana Rohrabacher. Rouda was then defeated by Republican Michelle Steel in the 2020 elections.
From 2003 to 2013, the district included the cities of Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest (formerly known as El Toro), Tustin, parts of Irvine and parts of Newport Beach and San Juan Capistrano.

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 61% - 39% |
| 2010 | Governor | Whitman 63% - 31% |
| 2010 | Lt. Governor | Maldonado 58% - 29% |
| 2010 | Secretary of State | Dunn 61% - 31% |
| 2010 | Attorney General | Cooley 66% - 25% |
| 2010 | Treasurer | Walters 58% - 35% |
| 2010 | Controller | Strickland 57% - 35% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 63% - 37% |
| 2014 | Governor | Kashkari 65% - 35% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 57% - 37% |
| 2018 | Governor | Cox 62% - 38% |
| 2018 | Attorney General | Bailey 60% - 40% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 55% - 43% |
| 2022 | Senate (Reg.) | Meuser 60% - 40% |
| 2022 | Governor | Dahle 62% - 38% |
| 2022 | Lt. Governor | Underwood Jacobs 61% - 39% |
| 2022 | Secretary of State | Bernosky 61% - 39% |
| 2022 | Attorney General | Hochman 61% - 39% |
| 2022 | Treasurer | Guerrero 62% - 38% |
| 2022 | Controller | Chen 63% - 37% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 56% - 41% |
| 2024 | Senate (Reg.) | Garvey 60% - 40% |

## Composition

| FIPS County Code | County | Seat | Population |
| 65 | Riverside | Riverside | 2,492,442 |
| 73 | San Diego | San Diego | 3,269,973 |
Under the 2020 redistricting, California's 48th congressional district is located in Southern California. The district encompasses some of the East County and all of the Mountain Empire areas of San Diego County; and part of southwestern Riverside County. The area in San Diego County includes the cities of Santee, Poway, and northern Escondido; and the census-designated places Ramona, Rancho San Diego, Winter Gardens, Bostonia, Alpine, Campo, Hidden Meadows, Fallbrook, Valley Center, Bonsall, Rainbow, Pala, Borrego Springs, Julian, San Diego Country Estates, Eucalyptus Hills, Lakside, Granite Hills, Jamul, Casa de Oro-Mount Helix, Crest, Harbison Canyon, Descanso, Pine Valley, Mount Laguna, Portero, Boulevard, and Jacumba. The area in Riverside County includes the cities of Temecula and Murrieta; and the census-designated places Aguanga and Lake Riverside.
San Diego County is split between this district, the 49th district, the 50th district, the 51st district, and the 52nd district. The 48th and 49th are partitioned by Gavilan Mountain Rd, Sandia Creek Dr, De Luz Rd, Marine Corps Base Pendleton, Sleeping Indian Rd, Tumbleweed Ln, Del Valle Dr, Highland Oak St, Olive Hill Rd, Via Puerta del Sol, N River Rd, Highway 76, Old River Rd, and Little Gopher Canyon Rd.
The 48th and 50th are partitioned by Gopher Canyon Rd, Escondido Freeway, Mountain Meadow Rd, Hidden Meadows, Reidy Cyn, N Broadway, Cougar Pass Rd, Adagio Way, Calle Ricardo, Tatas Place, Rue Montreux, Jesmond Dene Rd, Ivy Dell Ln, N Centre City Parkway, Highway 15, Richland Rd, Vista Canal, Woodland Parkway, W El Norte Parkway, Bennett Ave, Elser Ln, Nordahl Rd, Calavo Dr, Deodar Rd, Highway 78, Barham Dr, 2315-2339 Meyers Ave, Hill Valley Dr, County Club Dr, Auto Park Way, Highway 56, N Centre City Parkway, W Valley Parkway, N Juniper St, Highway 78, N Hickory St, E Mission Ave, Martin Dr, E Lincoln Ave, N Ash St, E Grand Ave, Bear Valley Parkway, Old Guerjito Rd, San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park, San Pasqual Trails Openspace, San Dieguito River Park, Bandy Canyon Rd, Santa Maria Creek, Highland Valley Rd, West Ridge Trail, Palmer Dr/Summerfield Ln, Pomerado Rd, and Carmel Mountain Ranch Openspace.
The 48th and 51st are partitioned by Sabre Springs Openspace, Scripps Miramar Openspace, Beeler Canyon Rd, Sycamore Canyon Openspace, Weston Rd, Boulder Vis, Mast Blvd, West Hills Parkway, San Diego River, Highway 52, Simeon Dr, Mission Trails Openspace, Fanita Dr, Farmington Dr, Lund St, Nielsen St, Paseo de Los Castillos, Gillespie Air Field, Kenney St, San Vicente Freeway, Airport Dr, Wing Ave, W Bradley Ave, Vernon Way, Hart Dr, Greenfield Dr, E Bradley Ave, 830 Adele St-1789 N Mollison Ave, Peppervilla Dr/N Mollison Ave, Pepper Dr, Greta St/Cajon Greens Dr, N Mollison Ave/Buckey Dr, Denver Ln, Broadway Channel, N 2nd St, Flamingo Ave/Greenfield Dr, Dawnridge Ave/Cresthill Rd, Groveland Ter/Camillo Way, Sterling Dr, Kumeyaay Highway, E Madison Ave, Granite Hills Dr, E Lexington Ave, Dehesa Rd, Vista del Valle Blvd, Merritt Ter, E Washington Ave, Merritt Dr, Dewitt Ct, Emerald Heights Rd, Foote Path Way, Highway 8, Lemon Ave, Lake Helix Dr, La Cruz Dr, Carmichael Dr, Bancroft Dr, Campo Rd, and Sweetwater River.
The 48th and 52nd are partitioned by San Miguel Rd, Proctor Valley Rd, Camino Mojave/Jonel Way, Highway 125, Upper Otay Reservoir, Otay Lakes Rd, Otay Valley Regional Park, Alta Rd, and Otay Mountain Truck Trail.
Riverside County is split between this district and the 41st district. They are partitioned by Ortega Highway, Tenaja Truck Trail, NF-7506, Tenaja, San Mateo Creek, Los Alamos Rd, Und 233, S Main Dv, Wildomar, Grand Ave, Rancho Mirlo Dr, Copper Canyon Park, 42174 Kimberly Way-35817 Darcy Pl, Escondido Expressway, Scott Rd, 33477 Little Reb Pl-33516 Pittman Ln, Keller Rd, Menifee Rd, Clinton Keith Rd, Max Gilliss Blvd, Highway 79, Borel Rd, Lake Skinner, Warren Rd, Summitville St, Indian Knoll Rd, E Benton Rd, Rancho California Rd, Overhill Rd, Green Meadow Rd, Crossover Rd, Exa-Ely Rd, Denise Rd, Wiley Rd, Powerline Rd, Wilson Valley Rd, Wilson Creek, Reed Valley Rd, Centennial St, Beaver Ave, and Lake Vista Dr.

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

* Escondido – 151,038
* Murrieta – 113,783
* Temecula – 111,752
* Santee – 60,037
* Poway – 48,841
* Fallbrook – 32,267
* Winter Gardens – 22,380
* Rancho San Diego – 21,858
* Ramona – 21,468
* Lakeside – 21,152
* Casa de Oro-Mount Helix – 19,576
* Bostonia – 16,882
* Alpine – 14,696
* San Diego Country Estates – 10,395
* Valley Center – 10,087

### 2,500 – 10,000 people

* Jamul – 6,179
* Eucalyptus Hills – 5,517
* Bonsall – 4,546
* Hidden Meadows – 4,484
* Harbison Canyon – 4,048
* Granite Hills – 3,267
* Borrego Springs – 3,073
* Campo – 2,955
* Crest – 2,828

## List of members representing the district

| Member | Party | Dates | Cong ress | Electoral history | Counties |
| District created January 3, 1993 ||||||
| Ron Packard (Oceanside) | Republican | January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2001 | 103rd 104th 105th 106th | Redistricted from the 43rd district and re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Retired. | 1993–2003 Southern Orange, Riverside (Temecula), Northwestern San Diego |
| Darrell Issa (Vista) | Republican | January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2003 | 107th | Elected in 2000. Redistricted to the 49th district. | 1993–2003 Southern Orange, Riverside (Temecula), Northwestern San Diego |
| Christopher Cox (Newport Beach) | Republican | January 3, 2003 – August 2, 2005 | 108th 109th | Redistricted from the 47th district and re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Resigned to become Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. | 2003–2013 South-central Orange County |
| Vacant | Vacant | August 2, 2005 – December 7, 2005 | 109th | | 2003–2013 South-central Orange County |
| John Campbell (Irvine) | Republican | December 7, 2005 – January 3, 2013 | 109th 110th 111th 112th | Elected to finish Cox's term. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Redistricted to the 45th district. | 2003–2013 South-central Orange County |
| Dana Rohrabacher (Costa Mesa) | Republican | January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2019 | 113th 114th 115th | Redistricted from the 46th district and re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Lost re-election. | 2013–2023 Coastal Orange County (Huntington Beach) |
| Harley Rouda (Newport Beach) | Democratic | January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2021 | 116th | Elected in 2018. Lost re-election. | 2013–2023 Coastal Orange County (Huntington Beach) |
| Michelle Steel (Surfside) | Republican | January 3, 2021 – January 3, 2023 | 117th | Elected in 2020. Redistricted to the 45th district. | 2013–2023 Coastal Orange County (Huntington Beach) |
| Darrell Issa (San Diego) | Republican | January 3, 2023 – present | 118th 119th | Redistricted from the 50th district and re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2023–present: Central and eastern portions of San Diego county |

## Election results

District created January 3, 1993.

### 1992

1992 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ron Packard (Incumbent) | 140,935 | 61.1 |
| | Democratic | Michael P. "Mike" Farber | 67,415 | 29.3 |
| | Peace and Freedom | Donna White | 13,396 | 5.8 |
| | Libertarian | Ted Lowe | 8,749 | 3.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 230,495 | 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 | Ron Packard (Incumbent) | 143,570 | 73.4 |
| | Democratic | Andrei Leschick | 43,523 | 22.2 |
| | Reform | Donna White | 8,543 | 4.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 195,636 | 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 | Ron Packard (Incumbent) | 145,814 | 65.9 |
| | Democratic | Dan Farrell | 59,558 | 26.9 |
| | Reform | William Dreu | 8,013 | 3.6 |
| | Natural Law | Sharon Miles | 8,006 | 3.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 221,391 | 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 | Ron Packard (Incumbent) | 138,948 | 76.9 |
| | Natural Law | Sharon K. Miles | 23,262 | 12.9 |
| | Libertarian | Daniel L. Muhe | 18,509 | 10.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 180,719 | 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 | Darrell Issa | 160,627 | 61.5 |
| | Democratic | Peter Kouvelis | 74,073 | 28.4 |
| | Reform | Eddie Rose | 11,240 | 4.3 |
| | Natural Law | Sharon K. Miles | 8,269 | 3.1 |
| | Libertarian | Joe Michael Cobb | 7,269 | 2.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 261,478 | 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 | Christopher Cox (Incumbent) | 122,884 | 68.5 |
| | Democratic | John Graham | 51,058 | 28.4 |
| | Libertarian | Joe Michael Cobb | 5,607 | 3.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 179,549 | 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 | Christopher Cox (Incumbent) | 189,004 | 65.0 |
| | Democratic | John Graham | 93,525 | 32.2 |
| | Libertarian | Bruce Cohen | 8,343 | 2.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 290,872 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2005

2005 California 48th congressional district special election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Campbell | 46,184 | 44.4 |
| | Democratic | Steve Young | 28,853 | 27.8 |
| | American Independent | Jim Gilchrist | 26,507 | 25.5 |
| | Green | Bea Tiritilli | 1,430 | 1.4 |
| | Libertarian | Bruce Cohen | 974 | 0.9 |
| Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | 457 | 0.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 104,405 | 100.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 25.7 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2006

2006 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Campbell (Incumbent) | 120,130 | 59.9 |
| | Democratic | Steve Young | 74,647 | 37.2 |
| | Libertarian | Bruce Cohen | 5,750 | 2.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 200,527 | 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 | John Campbell (Incumbent) | 171,658 | 55.7 |
| | Democratic | Steve Young | 125,537 | 40.6 |
| | Libertarian | Don Patterson | 11,507 | 3.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 308,702 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2010

2010 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Campbell (Incumbent) | 145,481 | 60.0 |
| | Democratic | Beth Krom | 88,465 | 36.4 |
| | Libertarian | Mike Binkley | 8,773 | 3.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 242,719 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2012

2012 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dana Rohrabacher (Incumbent) | 177,144 | 61.0 |
| | Democratic | Ron Varasteh | 113,358 | 39.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 290,502 | 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 | Dana Rohrabacher (Incumbent) | 112,082 | 64.1 |
| | Democratic | Suzanne Joyce Savary | 62,713 | 35.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 174,795 | 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 | Dana Rohrabacher (Incumbent) | 178,701 | 58.3 |
| | Democratic | Suzanne Joyce Savary | 127,715 | 41.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 306,416 | 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 | Harley Rouda | 157,837 | 53.6 |
| | Republican | Dana Rohrabacher (Incumbent) | 136,899 | 46.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 294,736 | 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 | % |
| | Republican | Michelle Steel | 201,738 | 51.1 |
| | Democratic | Harley Rouda (Incumbent) | 193,362 | 48.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 395,100 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### 2022

2022 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Darrell Issa (Incumbent) | 151,171 | 60.4 |
| | Democratic | Stephen Houlahan | 101,900 | 39.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 253,071 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Historical district boundaries
### 2003-13

From 2003 through 2013, the district consisted of many of Orange's south-central suburbs, including Irvine, and Newport Beach.

### 2013-23

Due to redistricting after the 2010 United States census, the district has moved south east along the coast of Orange and then included Laguna Beach and Huntington Beach.
After the 2020 United States census, the district was moved to the inland portion of San Diego County, including Fallbrook, Murrieta, Temecula, Pauma Valley, Warner Springs, Borrego Springs, Santa Ysabel, Julian, Ramona, Poway, Santee, Lakeside, Descanso, Jamul, Dulzura, Alpine, Pine Valley, Campo, Jacumba Hot Springs, all of San Diego's Mountain Empire, San Diego's Indian reservations and portions of northern Escondido, and eastern La Mesa.