California's 78th State Assembly district

California's 78th State Assembly district
Current assemblymember
  Chris Ward
D–San Diego
Population (2010)
 • Voting age
 • Citizen voting age		461,885[1]
399,987[1]
352,199[1]
Demographics
Registered voters291,918[2]
Registration47.46% Democratic
20.41% Republican
26.33% No party preference

California's 78th State Assembly district is one of 80 California State Assembly districts. It is currently represented by Democrat Chris Ward of San Diego.

District profile

The district takes in a stretch of north-central San Diego County from the San Diego Zoo and Banker's Hill, with the southerly border just north of downtown San Diego, and running north to the Clairemont Mesa and Mira Mesa neighborhoods, and east past Mission Trails Regional Park through San Carlos and Fletcher Hills to the western edges of El Cajon. Over 93% of the district population is in the City of San Diego, with the remainder almost entirely in El Cajon, as of February 2026.[3] Previously, the district was more coastal, from Solana Beach to the Mexican border, including downtown San Diego, beachfront neighborhoods, and the UC San Diego.

Election results from statewide races

Year Office Results
2021 Recall No 70.2 – 29.8%
2020 President[4] Biden 71.8 – 25.6%
2018 Governor Newsom 69.4 – 30.6%
Senator Feinstein 56.4 – 43.6%
2016 President Clinton 67.5 – 25.9%
Senator Harris 68.0 – 32.0%
2014 Governor Brown 62.7 – 37.3%
2012 President Obama 63.1 – 34.1%
Senator Feinstein 65.2 – 34.8%

List of assembly members representing the district

Due to redistricting, the 78th district has been moved around different parts of the state. The current iteration resulted from the 2021 redistricting by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission.

Member Party Dates Electoral history Counties represented

E. E. Edwards
(Los Angeles) 		Republican January 5, 1885 –
January 3, 1887 		Elected in 1884.
[data missing] 		Los Angeles

William H. Spurgeon
(Santa Ana) 		Democratic January 3, 1887 –
January 7, 1889 		Elected in 1886.
[data missing]

E. E. Edwards
(Los Angeles) 		Republican January 7, 1889 –
January 5, 1891 		Elected in 1888.
[data missing]

A. Guy Smith
(Anaheim) 		Republican January 5, 1891 –
January 2, 1893 		Elected in 1890.
[data missing] 		Los Angeles, Orange

John C. Lynch
(San Bernardino) 		Republican January 2, 1893 –
January 4, 1897 		Redistricted from the 79th district and re-elected in 1892.
Re-elected in 1894.
[data missing] 		San Bernadrino

T. H. Goff
(San Bernardino) 		Republican January 4, 1897 –
January 2, 1899 		Elected in 1896.
Lost re-election.

Frank P. Meserve
(Redlands) 		Independent January 2, 1899 –
January 1, 1901 		Elected in 1898.
Retired to run for State Senate.

C. G. H. Bennink
(Ontario) 		Republican January 1, 1901 –
January 5, 1903 		Elected in 1900.
Re-elected in 1902.
[data missing]

Frank D. Lewis
(Riverside) 		Republican January 5, 1903 –
January 2, 1905 		Elected in 1902.
[data missing] 		Riverside

Miguel Estudillo
(Riverside) 		Republican January 2, 1905 –
January 4, 1909 		Elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
Retired to run for California State Senate.

Emerson B. Collier
(Corona) 		Republican January 4, 1909 –
January 2, 1911 		Elected in 1908.
[data missing]

George R. Freeman
(Corona) 		Republican January 2, 1911 –
January 6, 1913 		Elected in 1910.
[data missing]

H. W. Moorhouse
(Herber) 		Republican January 6, 1913 –
January 4, 1915 		Elected in 1912.
[data missing] 		Imperial

Robert E. Wills
(Brawley) 		Democratic January 4, 1915 –
January 6, 1919 		Elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
[data missing]
Republican

J. Stanley Brown
(El Centro) 		Republican January 6, 1919 –
January 3, 1921 		Elected in 1918.
[data missing]

W. F. Beal
(Brawley) 		Republican January 3, 1921 –
January 8, 1923 		Elected in 1920.
[data missing]

George H. Davis
(El Centro) 		Republican January 8, 1923 –
January 5, 1925 		Elected in 1922.
[data missing]

Albert C. Finney
(El Centro) 		Republican January 5, 1925 –
January 3, 1927 		Elected in 1924.
[data missing]

Myron D. Witter
(El Centro) 		Republican January 3, 1927 –
February 19, 1931 		Elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Redistricted to the 77th district.

George B. Bowers
(San Diego) 		Republican January 5, 1931 –
January 7, 1935 		Elected in 1930.
Re-elected in 1932.
[data missing] 		San Diego

Ralph W. Wallace
(San Diego) 		Republican January 7, 1935 –
January 4, 1937 		Elected in 1934.
Lost re-election.

Jeanette E. Daley
(San Diego) 		Democratic January 4, 1937 –
January 4, 1943 		Elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Lost re-election.

Fred H. Kraft
(San Diego) 		Republican January 4, 1943 –
January 6, 1947 		Elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Retired to become a State Senator.

Frank Luckel
(San Diego) 		Republican January 6, 1947 –
January 7, 1963 		Elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Retired.

E. Richard Barnes
(El Cajon) 		Republican January 7, 1963 –
January 8, 1973 		Elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Lost re-election.

Lawrence Kapiloff
(San Diego) 		Democratic January 8, 1973 –
September 3, 1982 		Elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Re-elected in 1980.
Resigned to become a superior court judge.
Vacant September 3, 1982 –
December 6, 1982

Lucy Killea
(San Diego) 		Democratic December 6, 1982 –
December 21, 1989 		Elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Resigned to become a State Senator.
Vacant December 21, 1989 –
June 7, 1990

Jeff Marston
(San Diego) 		Republican June 7, 1990 –
November 30, 1990 		Elected to finish Killea's term.
Lost re-election.

Mike Gotch
(San Diego) 		Democratic December 3, 1990 –
November 30, 1992 		Elected in 1990.
Redistricted to the 76th district.

Dede Alpert
(San Diego) 		Democratic December 7, 1992 –
November 30, 1996 		Redistricted from the 75th district and re-elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Retired to become a State Senator.

Howard Wayne
(San Diego) 		Democratic December 2, 1996 –
November 30, 2002 		Elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Retired to run for San Diego City Attorney.

Shirley Horton
(Chula Vista) 		Republican December 2, 2002 –
November 30, 2008 		Elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Term-limited and retired.

Marty Block
(San Diego) 		Democratic December 1, 2008 –
November 30, 2012 		Elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Retired to become a State Senator.

Toni G. Atkins
(San Diego) 		Democratic December 3, 2012 –
November 30, 2016 		Redistricted from the 76th district and re-elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Term-limited and retired.

Todd Gloria
(San Diego) 		Democratic December 5, 2016 –
November 30, 2020 		Elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Retired to run for mayor of San Diego.

Chris Ward
(San Diego) 		Democratic December 7, 2020 –
present 		Elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022.
Re-elected in 2024.

Election results (1990-present)

2024

2024 California State Assembly 78th district election[5][6]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Chris Ward (incumbent) 79,090 100.0
Total votes 79,090 100.0
General election
Democratic Chris Ward (incumbent) 175,178 100.0
Total votes 175,178 100.0
Democratic hold

2022

2022 California State Assembly 78th district election[7][8]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Chris Ward (incumbent) 76,917 68.2
Republican Eric E. Gonzales 35,857 31.8
Total votes 112,774 100.0
General election
Democratic Chris Ward (incumbent) 118,215 68.6
Republican Eric E. Gonzales 54,234 31.4
Total votes 172,449 100.0
Democratic hold

2020

2020 California State Assembly 78th district election[9][10]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Chris Ward 69,125 55.6
Democratic Sarah Davis 34,410 27.7
Democratic Micah Perlin 20,741 16.7
Total votes 124,276 100.0
General election
Democratic Chris Ward 123,755 56.2
Democratic Sarah Davis 96,486 43.8
Total votes 220,241 100.0
Democratic hold

2018

2018 California State Assembly 78th district election[11][12]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Todd Gloria (incumbent) 79,738 71.2
Republican Maggie J. Campbell 32,250 28.8
Total votes 111,988 100.0
General election
Democratic Todd Gloria (incumbent) 140,598 71.1
Republican Maggie J. Campbell 57,217 28.9
Total votes 197,815 100.0
Democratic hold

2016

2016 California State Assembly 78th district election[13][14]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Todd Gloria 91,602 71.8
Republican Kevin D. Melton 36,013 28.2
Total votes 127,615 100.0
General election
Democratic Todd Gloria 145,850 69.1
Republican Kevin D. Melton 65,134 30.9
Total votes 178,242 100.0
Democratic hold

2014

2014 California State Assembly 78th district election[15][16]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Toni Atkins (incumbent) 45,922 60.2
Republican Barbara Decker 21,545 28.2
Republican Kevin D. Melton 8,855 11.6
Total votes 76,322 100.0
General election
Democratic Toni Atkins (incumbent) 72,224 61.6
Republican Barbara Decker 45,088 38.4
Total votes 117,312 100.0
Democratic hold

2012

2012 California State Assembly 78th district election[17][18]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Toni Atkins (incumbent) 54,175 59.8
Republican Ralph Denney 25,291 27.9
Republican Robert E. Williams 11,121 12.3
Total votes 90,587 100.0
General election
Democratic Toni Atkins (incumbent) 116,987 62.4
Republican Ralph Denney 70,526 37.6
Total votes 187,513 100.0
Democratic hold

2010

2010 California State Assembly 78th district election[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marty Block (incumbent) 72,036 59.3
Republican Rick L. Powell 49,455 40.7
Total votes 121,491 100.0
Democratic hold

2008

2008 California State Assembly 78th district election[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marty Block 93,938 55.5
Republican John McCann 75,350 44.5
Total votes 169,288 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

2006

2006 California State Assembly 78th district election[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Shirley Horton (incumbent) 51,983 50.9
Democratic Maxine Sherard 46,846 45.9
Libertarian Geof Gibson 3,324 3.3
Total votes 102,153 100.0
Republican hold

2004

2004 California State Assembly 78th district election[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Shirley Horton (incumbent) 76,886 49.1
Democratic Patty Davis 74,888 47.8
Libertarian Josh Hale 4,969 3.2
Total votes 156,743 100.0
Republican hold

2002

2002 California State Assembly 78th district election[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Shirley Horton 45,826 49.4
Democratic Vincent Hall 44,247 47.6
Libertarian Mark Menanno 2,819 3.0
Total votes 92,892 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

2000

2000 California State Assembly 78th district election[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Howard Wayne (incumbent) 79,764 56.1
Republican John Steel 54,700 38.4
Libertarian Dennis Triglia 5,978 4.2
Natural Law Raymond C. Wingfield 1,840 1.3
Total votes 142,282 100.0
Democratic hold

1998

1998 California State Assembly 78th district election[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Howard Wayne (incumbent) 65,566 56.6
Republican Jean Roesch 44,484 38.4
Libertarian John Murphy 3,551 3.1
Natural Law Stuart Knoles 2,228 1.9
Total votes 115,829 100.0
Democratic hold

1996

1996 California State Assembly 78th district election[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Howard Wayne 69,587 48.7
Republican Tricia Hunter 65,440 45.8
American Independent Nathan E. Johnson 7,475 5.2
No party Elizabeth Lenardi (write-in) 453 0.3
Total votes 142,955 100.0
Democratic hold

1994

1994 California State Assembly 78th district election[27]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Deirdre "Dede" Alpert (incumbent) 63,557 52.5
Republican Bruce Henderson 53,980 44.6
Peace and Freedom James Fife 3,437 2.8
Total votes 120,974 100.0
Democratic hold

1992

1992 California State Assembly 78th district election[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Deirdre "Dede" Alpert (incumbent) 81,819 53.4
Republican Jeff Marston 63,293 41.3
Peace and Freedom Sally Sherry O'Brien 7,792 5.1
No party Dan van Tieghem (write-in) 353 0.2
Total votes 153,257 100.0
Democratic hold

1990

1990 California State Assembly 78th district election[29]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Gotch 41,178 44.7
Republican Jeff Marston (incumbent) 40,561 44.0
Libertarian Ed McWilliams 5,571 6.0
Peace and Freedom Bob Bardell 4,228 4.6
No party Alacia Edwards (write-in) 592 0.6
Total votes 92,131 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

1990 (special)

1990 California State Assembly 78th district special election
Vacancy resulting from the resignation of Lucy Killea[30]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jeff Marston 30,423 48.4
Democratic Mike Gotch 27,718 44.1
Peace and Freedom Jane Rocio Evans 4,707 7.5
Total votes 62,848 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Citizens Redistricting Commission Final Report, 2011" (PDF).
  2. ^ "Report of Registration as of July 3, 2020" (PDF).
  3. ^ "District Map". Christopher M. Ward, Assemblyman, 78th District. California State Assembly. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  4. ^ "2020 Presidential by Legislative District & Most Recent Election Result". CNalysis. April 16, 2021. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  5. ^ "March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election - State Assemblymember" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  6. ^ "November 5, 2024, General Election - State Assemblymember" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  7. ^ "June 7, 2022, Primary Election - State Assemblymember" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  8. ^ "November 8, 2022, General Election - State Assemblymember" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  9. ^ "March 3, 2020, Presidential Primary Election - State Assemblymember" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  10. ^ "November 3, 2020, General Election - State Assemblymember" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  11. ^ "June 5, 2018, Statewide Direct Primary Election - State Assemblymember" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  12. ^ "November 6, 2018, General Election - State Assemblymember" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  13. ^ "June 7, 2016, Presidential Primary Election - State Assemblymember" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  14. ^ "November 8, 2016, General Election - State Assemblymember" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  15. ^ "June 3, 2014, Statewide Direct Primary Election - State Assemblymember" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  16. ^ "November 4, 2014, General Election - Member of the State Assembly" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  17. ^ "June 5, 2012, Presidential Primary Election - State Assemblymember" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  18. ^ "November 6, 2012, General Election - State Assemblymember" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  19. ^ "November 2, 2010, General Election - State Assemblymember" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  20. ^ "November 4, 2008, Presidential General Election - State Assemblymember" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  21. ^ "November 7, 2006, General Election - Member of the State Assembly" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  22. ^ "November 2, 2004, Presidential General Election - Member of the State Assembly" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  23. ^ "November 5, 2002, General Election - Member of the State Assembly" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  24. ^ "November 7, 2000, General Election - Member of the State Assembly" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  25. ^ "November 3, 1998, General Election - Member of the State Assembly" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  26. ^ "November 5, 1996, General Election - Member of the State Assembly" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  27. ^ "November 8, 1994, General Election - Member of the State Assembly" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  28. ^ "November 3, 1992, General Election - Member of the State Assembly" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  29. ^ "November 6, 1990, General Election - Member of the State Assembly" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  30. ^ "Statement of Vote - June 5, 1990" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
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