California's 51st congressional district
From 2023 to 2027, starting with the2022 elections From 2027, starting with the2026 elections Interactive map of district boundaries
Representative	Sara Jacobs D–San Diego
Area	4,896 mi2 (12,680 km2)
Population (2024)	766,304[1]
Median household income	$113,978[2]
Ethnicity	45.7%White 25.0%Hispanic 16.1%Asian 6.1%Two or more races 5.8%Black 1.3% other
Cook PVI	D+13[3]

California's 51st congressional district is acongressional district in the U.S. state ofCalifornia. The district is currently represented byDemocrat Sara Jacobs.The district currently includes central and eastern portions ofSan Diego, much ofMission Valley, as well as eastern suburbs such asEl Cajon,La Mesa,Spring Valley, andLemon Grove.

Under the 2020 redistricting, California's 51st congressional district is located inSouthern California, in an area entirely within the San Diego Metropolitan Area ofSan Diego County. It includes theSan Diego neighborhoods ofParadise Hills,Mira Mesa,Miramar,San Carlos,Sorrento,Clairemont,Normal Heights,Allied Gardens,Grantville,Balboa Park,Linda Vista, andSerra Mesa; the cities ofEl Cajon,Lemon Grove, andLa Mesa; and the census-designated placesLa Presa andSpring Valley.

San Diego County is split between this district, the50th district, the48th district, and the52nd district. The 51st and 48th 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 51st and 50th are partitioned by Camino del Norte, Highway 15, Carmel Mountain Rd, Ted Williams Parkway, Del Mar Mesa Openspace, Los Penasquitos Creek, Inland Freeway, Governor Dr, Pavlov Ave, Stetson Ave, Millikin Ave, Regents Rd, Ducommun Ave, Bunch Ave, Branting St, Streseman St, Pennant Way, Highway 52, San Diego Freeway, Sea World Dr, Friars Rd, Kumeyaay Highway, and Highway 805.

The 51st and 52nd are partitioned by El Cajon Blvd, 58th St, Streamview Dr, College Ave, Meridian Ave, Lemarand Ave, Highway 94, Charlene Ave, 69th St, Imperial Ave, Larwood Rd, Taft St, Lincoln Pl, Glencoe Dr, Braddock St, Carlisle Dr, Carlsbad Ct/Osage Dr, Potrero St, Carlsbad St, Innsdale Ave, Worthington St/Innsdale Ln, Brady Ct/Innsdale Ln, Parkbrook Way/Alene St, Tinaja Ln/Bluffview Rd, Highway 54, Sweetwater Rd, and Bonita Rd.

• San Diego – 1,388,320
• El Cajon – 106,215
• La Mesa – 61,121
• La Presa – 35,033
• Spring Valley – 30,998
• Lemon Grove – 27,413

Member	Party	Dates	Cong ress(es)	Electoral history	Counties
District created January 3, 1993
Duke Cunningham (Del Mar)[9]	Republican	January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2003	103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th	Redistricted from the44th district andre-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Redistricted to the50th district.	1993–2003 NorthernSan Diego
Bob Filner (San Diego)[9]	Democratic	January 3, 2003 – December 3, 2012	108th 109th 110th 111th 112th	Redistricted from the50th district andre-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Resigned to becomemayor of San Diego.	2003–2013 Imperial EasternSan Diego
Vacant		December 3, 2012 – January 3, 2013	112th
Juan Vargas (San Diego)[10]	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 the52nd district.	2013–2023 Imperial SouthernSan Diego
Sara Jacobs (San Diego)[11]	Democratic	January 3, 2023 – present	118th 119th	Redistricted from the53rd district andre-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024.	2023–present: Central and eastern portions ofSan Diego, as well as eastern suburbs such asEl Cajon,La Mesa,Spring Valley, andLemon Grove

In the 1980s,California's 44th congressional district was one of four that dividedSan Diego. The district had been held for eight years byDemocratJim Bates, and was considered the most Democratic district in the San Diego area.Randy "Duke" Cunningham won the Republican nomination and won the general election by just a point, meaning that the San Diego area was represented entirely by Republicans for only the second time since the city was split into three districts after the1960 United States census.

After the1990 United States census, the district was renumbered the 51st congressional district and much of its share of San Diego was moved to the new50th congressional district.

• List of United States congressional districts
• California's congressional districts

• District information at GovTrack.us

32°48′N116°00′W / 32.8°N 116°W /32.8; -116

• Congressional districts of California
• Government of Imperial County, California
• Government of San Diego County, California
• Government of San Diego
• Imperial Valley
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• Constituencies established in 1993
• 1993 establishments in California

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