Norma J. Torres

In the 2024 House race for CA-35, Norma J. Torres (D) defeated Mike Cargile (R) 58.4% to 41.6%. Norma J. Torres received 136,413 votes compared to 97,142 for Mike Cargile, a comfortable 16.8-point margin indicating a moderately safe district.

As the incumbent, Norma J. Torres benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. The 2024 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket.

In the 2022 House race for CA-35, Norma J. Torres (D) defeated Mike Cargile (R) 57.4% to 42.6%. Norma J. Torres received 75,121 votes compared to 55,832 for Mike Cargile, a comfortable 14.7-point margin indicating a moderately safe district.

As the incumbent, Norma J. Torres benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. As a Democrat, Norma J. Torres won despite the historical midterm penalty against the president's party (Democrat Biden was in office).

In the 2020 House race for CA-35, Norma J. Torres (D) defeated Mike Cargile (R) 69.3% to 30.7%. Norma J. Torres received 169,405 votes compared to 74,941 for Mike Cargile, a dominant 38.7-point margin reflecting a safely partisan district.

As the incumbent, Norma J. Torres benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. The 2020 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket. The wide margin suggests this district is firmly in the Democrat column for the foreseeable future.

In the 2018 House race for CA-35, Norma J. Torres (D) defeated Christian Leonel Valiente (R) 69.4% to 30.6%. Norma J. Torres received 206,840 votes compared to 91,208 for Christian Leonel Valiente, a dominant 38.8-point margin reflecting a safely partisan district.

As the incumbent, Norma J. Torres benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. As a Democrat, Norma J. Torres benefited from the historical midterm penalty against the president's party — with a Republican in the White House, the opposition typically gains seats.

In the 2016 House race for CA-35, Norma J. Torres (D) defeated Tyler Fischella (R) 72.4% to 27.6%. Norma J. Torres received 124,044 votes compared to 47,309 for Tyler Fischella, a dominant 44.8-point margin reflecting a safely partisan district.

As the incumbent, Norma J. Torres benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. The 2016 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket.

In the 2014 House race for CA-35, Norma J. Torres (D) defeated Christina Gagnier (D) 63.5% to 36.5%. Norma J. Torres received 39,502 votes compared to 22,753 for Christina Gagnier, a dominant 26.9-point margin reflecting a safely partisan district.

This was an open-seat race with no incumbent running — Gloria Negrete Mcleod (D) previously held the seat. Open seats typically attract stronger candidates and heavier spending from both parties. As a Democrat, Norma J. Torres won despite the historical midterm penalty against the president's party (Democrat Obama was in office).