Our District

California's 19th congressional district stretches from south San Jose in Santa Clara County, into the hills of Santa Cruz, down the coastline of Monterey County, and into northern San Luis Obispo County.

South and East San Jose are diverse and dynamic regions home to a number of distinct neighborhoods, including Almaden Valley, Blossom Valley, Edenvale, Evergreen, Santa Teresa, Silver Creek, and the Villages each with its own unique character and charm. These neighborhoods are known for their abundant green spaces, including parks, hiking trails, and golf courses, providing ample opportunities for outdoor recreation. The region is also home to a range of businesses, from small, locally-owned shops and restaurants to large corporations, making it a thriving hub of economic activity. 

Rich in history, New Almaden in South San Jose was founded in 1845 as California’s first mining town before the Gold Rush of 1849 and is designated a National Historic Landmark district. New Almaden was named after the Almaden mercury mines in Spain and quickly became the most prominent quicksilver, otherwise known as mercury, mine (mercury was used to extract gold and silver).

The San Lorenzo Valley is a picturesque region located in the Santa Cruz Mountains, just a few miles north of the city of Santa Cruz. Known for its stunning natural beauty and laid-back vibe, the area offers visitors a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, fishing, and mountain biking. The region is also home to a number of small, charming towns, such as Felton, Ben Lomond, Zayante, Brookdale, Bonny Doon, and Boulder Creek, each with its own unique character and local attractions, but all bringing the same rugged determination to preserving their character and culture. The Santa Cruz Mountains themselves are renowned for their towering redwood trees, which provide a stunning backdrop for the area's scenic drives and hikes.

Santa Cruz is a vibrant and eclectic coastal city known for its stunning beaches, laid-back atmosphere, and rich cultural offerings. The city is home to a diverse population of artists, surfers, students, and professionals, which gives it a unique and lively energy. Locals and visitors alike enjoy a range of outdoor activities, from surfing and sunbathing at the world-famous beaches, to hiking in the nearby redwood forests. Santa Cruz also boasts a thriving arts scene, with numerous galleries, theaters, and music venues, as well as a range of excellent restaurants and shops.

The California coast around Monterey Bay is for many a working definition of paradise. This is where California's government began; where Spanish and then Mexicans governed a land sparsely settled by Native People known as the Esselen, Costanoan, and Ohlone, and where Californians held their Constitutional Convention in Monterey.

The fishing fleet, and 18 now-closed canneries of Monterey, was the world’s largest sardine port.  Now they have generated a new industry: Cannery Row is refurbished with upscale shops and hotels, and the magnificent Monterey Bay Aquarium. Monterey Bay has become the nation's language learning capital, with the Defense Language Institute, the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and Cal State Monterey Bay’s Center for Intensive Language and Culture. Additional attractions on the Monterey Peninsula include the Pebble Beach golf courses, 17 Mile Drive, and Carmel, whose restrictive laws concerning stop lights, and tree-cutting all require city council permission and reflect an effort to maintain the atmosphere of a century ago, when it really was an artists' colony.

California’s 19th Congressional District is home to many critical defense installations for our national security which provide millions of dollars and thousands of jobs for our local economy, including the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). Operated by the United States Navy, NPS is a prestigious graduate school renowned for its focus on applied research and boasting state-of-the-art research facilities, world-class libraries, and faculty at the top of their respective fields.

Our district includes immense natural beauty with the entire coast of Monterey County, coast of Santa Cruz County, iconic Big Sur coastline, beaches in San Simeon, and Big Basin Redwoods State Park which holds the distinction as California’s first state park.  We take our responsibility to protect our environment seriously with the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, multiple state and national forests, and monuments that set aside public land for the enjoyment of the next generation.

The district extends down into Northern San Luis Obispo County includes superior farmland for world class wine and more than 280 wineries, strawberries, other specialty crops, and livestock represented by California’s largest cattlemen's association. Northern San Luis Obispo County is known for its rolling hills, pristine beaches, and scenic beauty seen in the towns of Paso Robles, Atascadero, Templeton area, and Cambria. Visitors can explore the region's more than 280 wineries and vineyards, which produce some of the finest wines in California, or take a scenic drive along the Pacific Coast Highway, enjoying breathtaking views of the coastline. And outdoor enthusiasts can hike or bike through the area's many parks and nature reserves, or go surfing, kayaking, or fishing in the ocean.

This was drawn from National Journal's Almanac of American Politics.

If you are looking for our District Office contact information, you can view our Offices page. If you have any questions, feel free to contact our office.

If you are interested in browsing district-specific population statistics, you can look up Census data for the 19th District.