U.S. House, California - 11th District
San Joaquin Valley; inland East Bay; part of Stockton
Race Forecast: Democrat Favored
2008:
2006:
After ousting a longterm GOP incumbent and capturing a traditionally conservative district, McNerney’s major challenge was to convince his typically Republican-voting consituents to keep him in office. Democrats say McNerney has met expectations and they note he now has the advantage of incumbency as he faces former Republican state Rep. Dean Andal. The district leans Republican but exurban growth from the San Francisco area has contributed to a growing Democratic population.
Race Information
- Incumbent: Rep. Jerry McNerney, D
- First Elected: 2006 (1st term)
- Last Elected: 2006 (53.27%)
- Incumbent Status: Running for re-election
- Race Forecast: Democrat Favored
District Information
Politics in America District Profile
A mix of commuter bedroom communities east of the San Francisco Bay and developing agricultural country inland, the wrench-shaped 11th runs along Interstate 680 and south past San Jose, while the north end surrounds Stockton on three sides (central Stockton is in the 18th District). The diverse city leans Democratic, but the 11th’s portion leans Republican.
The 11th includes more than 40 percent of Stockton’s residents and almost all of surrounding San Joaquin County, where high-end development is overtaking farmland. Gridlock plagued Stockton during the technology boom, as Bay Area commuters were pushed to the city. Traffic remains a concern here as the economy rebounds from the ensuing downturn.
Dairy products and wine grapes are the primary agricultural goods here. Lodi and Woodbridge produce 40 percent of the state’s premium wine grapes, many of which are shipped to the Napa Valley for bottling.
Agricultural exports travel through the trucking centers of Lodi and Tracy on their way out of the 11th. The port of Stockton on the San Joaquin River specializes in bulk cargo, and cement is the main import.
The 11th is conservative, but GOP support is not concrete. In 2004, George W. Bush took 54 percent of the 11th’s presidential vote, but Rep. Pombo lost to a Democrat in 2006.
Major Industry
Agriculture, technology, service
Military Bases
Defense Distribution Depot San Joaquin, 27 military, 2,677 civilian (2007)
Cities
Stockton (pt.), 104,409; Pleasanton (pt.), 58,432; Lodi, 56,999; Tracy, 56,929
notable
George W. Bush Elementary School, in Stockton, is named for the sitting president.
- Demographics (2000 census)
- Population: 639,088
- Under 18: 29%
- Over 65: 10%
- Married: 61.2%
- Non-Hispanic White: 64%
- Black: 3%
- Hispanic: 20%
- Asian: 9%
- Foreign Born: 14.7%
- Language other than English: 23.2%
- Median Household Income: 61,996
- Owner Occupied Housing: 69%
- Income above $200k: 5.7
- Workforce/Education (2000 census)
- White Collar: 67.6%
- Blue Collar: 21.0%
- Services: 11.4%
- Bachelor's Degree: 29%
- Graduate Education: 9.3%
- Civilian Veterans: 54,555
| Year | Election | Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | general | Jerry McNerney (D) | 130,078 | 55.2% |
| Dean Andal (R) | 105,426 | 44.8% | ||
| 2006 | general | Jerry McNerney (D) | 109,868 | 53.3% |
| Richard Pombo (R) | 96,396 | 46.7% | ||
| 2004 | general | Richard Pombo (R) | 163,582 | 61.2% |
| Jerry McNerney (D) | 103,587 | 38.8% | ||
| 2002 | general | Richard Pombo (R) | 104,921 | 60.3% |
| Elaine Shaw (D) | 69,035 | 39.7% | ||
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Independent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | John Kerry: 45% | George W. Bush: 54% | |
| 2000 | Al Gore: 44% | George W. Bush: 52% |
Campaign Finance Details for the 2008 Race
| Filers | Through | Total Receipts | Total Disbursements | Total From PACs | Total From Individuals | Ending Cash | Debts Owed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANDAL, DEAN F (R) | November 24, 2008 | $1,422,713.00 | $1,403,490.00 | $131,050.00 | $924,180.00 | $17,949.00 | |
| POMBO, RICHARD (R) | September 30, 2008 | $66,191.00 | $84,889.00 | $2,000.00 | $706.00 | $25,000.00 | |
| MCNERNEY, JERRY (D) | November 24, 2008 | $3,044,052.00 | $2,865,842.00 | $163,800.00 | $1,978,062.00 | $220,279.00 | $8,084.00 |
| THOMAS, STEVAN ELDRED (D) | December 31, 2006 | ||||||
| MCCLOSKEY, PAUL N JR MR (R) | August 27, 2007 | $51,826.00 | $56,378.00 | $51,447.00 | |||
