California's 23rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California. The district is represented in the 119th United States Congress by Jay Obernolte.

Following the 2020 United States redistricting cycle, the district is anchored in San Bernardino County, and also includes parts of Kern and Los Angeles counties. It is mostly within the Mojave Desert. Cities in the new 23rd district include Victorville, Hesperia, Adelanto, Apple Valley, Barstow, Twentynine Palms, Big Bear Lake, California City, Loma Linda, Yucaipa, southern Redlands, and small portions of Highland and San Bernardino. It also has one of the highest active-duty military populations in the country, containing Fort Irwin National Training Center, Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, and Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms.

History

From 2003 to 2013 the district ran along the Pacific coasts of Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties. Major cities in the district included Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, and Oxnard.2001 district map statewidedatabase.org Before redistricting by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission in 2011, California's 23rd congressional district was one of the narrowest districts in the United States, stretching along the Pacific coast from Oxnard to the Monterey County line. It was often referred to as "the district that disappears at high tide" or the "ribbon of shame". This area is now divided between the 24th and 26th districts, while the current 23rd covers much of the territory that was previously in the 22nd district.

Recent election results from statewide races 2023–2027 boundaries Year Office Results2008 PresidentMcCain 57%–42%2010 GovernorWhitman 55%–36% Lt. GovernorMaldonado 49%–34% Secretary of StateDunn 54%–35% Attorney GeneralCooley 59%–29% TreasurerWalters 50%–41% ControllerStrickland 51%–36%2012 PresidentRomney 58%–42%2014 GovernorKashkari 62%–38%2016 PresidentTrump 55%–40%2018 GovernorCox 60%–40% Attorney GeneralBailey 58%–42%2020 PresidentTrump 54%–44%2022 Senate (Reg.)Meuser 59%–41% GovernorDahle 61%–39% Lt. GovernorUnderwood Jacobs 60%–40% Secretary of StateBernosky 60%–40% Attorney GeneralHochman 60%–40% TreasurerGuerrero 61%–39% ControllerChen 61%–39%2024 PresidentTrump 57%–40% Senate (Reg.)Garvey 59%–41%

Composition County Code County Seat Population29KernBakersfield913,82037Los AngelesLos Angeles9,663,345 71 San Bernardino San Bernardino 2,195,611 Under the 2020 redistricting, California's 23rd congressional district is located in the region of the state covering the Mojave Desert. It encompasses the majority of San Bernardino, and parts of Kern and Los Angeles Counties. The area in San Bernardino County includes parts of the cities of Redlands, Highland, and San Bernardino; the cities of Victorville, Barstow, Twentynine Palms, Adelanto, Yucaipa, Loma Linda, Apple Valley, Hesperia, Colton, and Big Bear Lake; the town of Yucca Valley; and the census-designated places Searles Valley, Fort Irwin, Baker, Yermo, Silver Lakes, Piñon Hills, Phelan, Oak Hills, Mountain View Acres, Spring Valley Lake, Mentone, Oak Glen, Crestline, Lake Arrowhead, Running Springs, Lucerne Valley, Big Bear City, Morongo Valley, Joshua Tree, Homestead Valley. The area in Kern County includes part of the census-designated place of Mojave; the city of California City; and the census-designated places North Edwards, Boron, Randsburg, and Johannesburg. The area in Los Angeles County includes the census-designated place Lake Los Angeles.

San Bernardino County is split between this district, the 25th district, the 28th district, the 33rd district, and the 40th district. The 23rd, 28th and 33rd are partitioned by San Bernardino National Forest, Manzanita Rd, Highway 15, Cajon Blvd, W Kenwood Ave, Highway 215, W Meyers Rd, Ohio Ave, Pine Ave, Bailey act, Highway 206, Devils Canyon Rd, Cloudland Truck Trail, Cloudland Cutoff, Hill Dr, W 54th St, E Hill Dr, Bonita Vista Dr, Sterling Ave, Argyle Ave, E Marshall Blvd, Rockford Ave, Lynwood Dr, La Praix St, Orchid Dr, Denair Ave, Highland Ave, Orchard Rd, Arroyo Vista Dr, Church St, Greensport Rd, Florida St, Garnet St, Nice Ave, Crafton Ave, 5th Ave, Walnut St, 6th Ave, S Wabash Ave, E Citrus Ave, N Church St, Southern California Regional Rail A, Tennessee St, Highway 10, California St, E Washington St, and S Barton Rd. The 23rd and 25th are partitioned by Power Line Rd, Telephone Pole Line Rd, Cadiz Rd, Arizona & California Rail, San Bernardino National Forest, East Mojave Heritage Trail, Sunflower Springs Spur, Sunflower Springs Rd, Needles Freeway, Mountain Springs Rd, Goffs Rd, and Walter Rd.

Kern County is split between this district and the 20th district. They are partitioned by the Mojave-Barstow Highway, Treescape Rd, Oak Creek Rd, Anajanette Ave, 70th St W, Highway 58, Homer Hansen Private Rd, Aerospace Highway, Redrock Randsburgs Rd, Garlock Rd, Iron Canyon, and Union Pacific.

Los Angeles County is split between this district, the 27th district, and the 28th district. They are partitioned by Angeles National Forest, Linda Mesa Rd, San Gabriel Mountains, Fort Tejon Rd, 121st St E, 123rd St E, 126th St E, Highway N6, Highway 138, 136th St E, Longview Rd, E Avenue S, 140th St E, E Avenue H, 120th St E.

Cities and CDPs with 10,000 or more people San Bernardino – 222,101 Victorville – 134,810 Hesperia – 99,818 Apple Valley – 75,791 Redlands – 73,168 Highland – 56,999 Yucaipa – 54,542 Colton – 53,909 Adelanto – 38,046 Twentynine Palms – 28,065 Barstow – 25,415 Loma Linda – 24,791 Yucca Valley – 21,738 California City – 14,973 Phelan – 13,859 Lake Los Angeles – 13,187 Big Bear City – 12,738 Lake Arrowhead – 12,401 Crestline – 11,650

2,500 – 10,000 people

Spring Valley Lake – 9,598 Mentone – 9,557 Oak Hills – 9,450 Fort Irwin – 8,845 Piñon Hills – 7,258 Joshua Tree – 6,589 Silver Lakes – 6,317 Lucerne Valley – 5,331 Running Springs – 5,268 Big Bear Lake – 5,046 Mojave – 4,699 Lenwood – 3,623 Morongo Valley – 3,514 Mountain View Acres – 3,337 Homestead Valley – 2,789

Future composition Beginning with the 2026 election, the 23rd district will consist of the following counties:  

Kern (part) Los Angeles (part) Riverside (part) San Bernardino (part)

List of members representing the district Representative Party Years Congress(es) Electoral history District location District created January 3, 1943 Edouard Izac Democratic January 3, 1943 –January 3, 1947 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1942.Re-elected in 1944.Lost re-election. 1943–1953San Diego Charles K. Fletcher Republican January 3, 1947 –January 3, 1949 Elected in 1946.Lost re-election. Clinton D. McKinnon Democratic January 3, 1949 –January 3, 1953 Elected in 1948.Re-elected in 1950.Retired to run for U.S. senator. Clyde Doyle Democratic January 3, 1953 –March 14, 1963 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1952.Re-elected in 1954.Re-elected in 1956.Re-elected in 1958.Re-elected in 1960.Re-elected in 1962.Died. 1953–1973Los Angeles Vacant March 14, 1963 –June 11, 1963 Del M. Clawson Republican June 11, 1963 –January 3, 1975 Elected to finish Doyle's term.Re-elected in 1964.Re-elected in 1966.Re-elected in 1968.Re-elected in 1970.Re-elected in 1972.Redistricted to the . 1973–1975Los Angeles, Orange Thomas M. Rees Democratic January 3, 1975 –January 3, 1977 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1974.Retired. 1975–1983Los Angeles Anthony Beilenson Democratic January 3, 1977 –January 3, 1993 Elected in 1976.Re-elected in 1978.Re-elected in 1980.Re-elected in 1982.Re-elected in 1984.Re-elected in 1986.Re-elected in 1988.Re-elected in 1990.Redistricted to the . 1983–1993Los Angeles (northern L.A. suburbs) Elton Gallegly Republican January 3, 1993 –January 3, 2003 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1992.Re-elected in 1994.Re-elected in 1996.Re-elected in 1998.Re-elected in 2000.Redistricted to the . 1993–2003Santa Barbara (Carpinteria), Ventura Lois Capps Democratic January 3, 2003 –January 3, 2013 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 2002.Re-elected in 2004.Re-elected in 2006.Re-elected in 2008.Re-elected in 2010.Redistricted to the . 2003–2013Coastal San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura Kevin McCarthy Republican January 3, 2013 –January 3, 2023 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 2012.Re-elected in 2014.Re-elected in 2016.Re-elected in 2018.Re-elected in 2020.Redistricted to the . 2013–2023Southern Central Valley including parts of Bakersfield Jay Obernolte Republican January 3, 2023 –present Redistricted from the and re-elected in 2022.Re-elected in 2024. 2023–presentMost of the area of San Bernardino County and parts of Kern and Los Angeles counties

Election results

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Kevin McCarthy was redistricted to California's 20th congressional district prior to the 2022 election.

2022

2024

Historical district boundaries

See also List of United States congressional districts California's congressional districts

References

External links GovTrack.us: California's 23rd congressional district RAND California Election Returns: District Definitions California Voter Foundation map - CD23