A GUIDE TO THE CONGRESSIONAL RACES: NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

CALIFORNIA

Population (1994): 31,431,000 (up 5.6% from 1990), 12% of U.S. total

Voting-age population: 23,225,000; 1994 turnout, 34%

Median age: 31.5 years

Median household income: $35,331 ($3,067 above U.S. median)

Unemployment: 7.6% (2.0% above U.S average, March 1996)

Last presidential election: Clinton (D): 46% Bush (R): 33% Perot (I): 21%

Congressional delegation: 29 Democrats, 25 Republicans

California is a monster state, in geography, population--and political influence. If it were a country, it would be the seventh largest in the world. One in eight U.S. residents, and one in eight members of Congress, is a Californian. Though it may have a reputation...