California’s 3rd Congressional District is a sprawling eastern California seat that runs along most of the state’s border with Nevada, from the Sierra Nevada down through the desert country around Death Valley, and it is currently represented by Kevin Kiley. It is one of 52 districts in the state’s congressional delegation and ranks among the largest in California by land area.
Counties and Terrain
CA-03 takes in seven entire counties: Alpine, Inyo, Mono, Nevada, Plumas, Sierra, and Placer. Portions of El Dorado, Sacramento, and Yuba counties fill out the western edge.1Congressman Kevin Kiley. Our District The current boundaries were drawn by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission after the 2020 Census.2California Citizens Redistricting Commission. About Us
The land itself is strikingly varied. The eastern half is dominated by the Sierra Nevada, including Lake Tahoe, the High Sierra crest, and the ski towns of Truckee and Mammoth Lakes. Farther south, Inyo County shifts into the arid basin-and-range country that holds Death Valley National Park. On the western side, Roseville, Rocklin, and Folsom anchor the population, with Placer County holding the bulk of the district’s residents.
That split defines CA-03. The western suburbs function as part of Sacramento’s metropolitan economy, while much of the eastern territory is federally managed land with very small populations.
Who Represents the District
Kevin Kiley has represented CA-03 since January 3, 2023.3GovTrack.us. Rep. Kevin Kiley He won the seat in 2022 when it was first drawn in its current configuration, defeating Democrat Kermit Jones roughly 53.6% to 46.4%. In 2024, he widened his margin against Democrat Jessica Morse, taking about 55.5% to her 44.5%.
In March 2026, Kiley announced he was changing his party registration from Republican to Independent, though he continues to caucus with House Republicans. He framed the move as reflecting his independent approach and signaled plans to run in a different district in the next election cycle, citing redistricting changes he said made CA-03 less favorable for his candidacy. As of mid-2026, he still serves as the sitting representative.
The Cook Partisan Voting Index rates CA-03 at R+4, meaning it votes about four points more Republican than the national average in presidential elections.4Cook Political Report. California CA-03 House 2024 That lean is real but not overwhelming, and the seat has drawn serious Democratic challengers in both cycles since the new map took effect.
Who Lives and Votes Here
The district’s population is roughly 778,000 based on 2024 American Community Survey estimates. The demographic mix differs from California as a whole: non-Hispanic White residents account for about 68% of the population, compared to roughly 35% statewide. Hispanic residents make up around 15%, and Asian residents about 8%. Median household income sits near $107,000, well above both state and national medians, pulled up by the affluent Sacramento-area suburbs.
Voter registration data from the California Secretary of State, as of February 2025, shows Republicans with a clear edge. Of roughly 545,000 registered voters, about 212,500 (39.0%) are Republican and 178,300 (32.7%) are Democratic. Another 104,000 (19.1%) are registered with no party preference.5California Secretary of State. Report of Registration as of February 10, 2025 The six-point Republican registration advantage gives GOP candidates a structural head start, while the large no-party-preference bloc keeps the seat in reach for Democrats in strong cycles.
What Drives the Economy
The district’s economy splits along the same lines as its geography. The western suburbs around Roseville, Rocklin, and Folsom serve as bedroom communities for the Sacramento metropolitan area, with jobs concentrated in professional services, healthcare, and technology tied to the state capital region.
East of the Sierra crest, tourism carries much of the economy. The North Lake Tahoe region alone generated an estimated $1.32 billion in direct travel spending in 2023, supporting more than 9,000 jobs. Mammoth Lakes, Truckee, and the communities around Death Valley depend on similar seasonal patterns at smaller scale. Federal and county government employment adds a stabilizing layer, especially in the rural eastern counties, where the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service all maintain operations.
Wildfire and Federal Land Management
No issue shapes life in CA-03’s rural and mountain communities more directly than wildfire. The district contains vast stretches of national forest and federally managed land, and fire seasons have grown longer and more destructive. California manages only about 3% of its forestland directly; roughly 57% falls under federal jurisdiction, which makes Forest Service staffing and budgets a matter of immediate local concern.
In 2025, the U.S. Forest Service lost about 3,400 employees, roughly 10% of its workforce, including ecologists, recreation managers, wildfire mitigation specialists, and field technicians.6Sierra Nevada Ally. The Federal Purge Thats Gutting Our Public Lands The agency oversees forests that surround mountain communities and protect watersheds supplying drinking water to millions of Californians downstream, so vegetation management, controlled burns, and fuel reduction work are tied directly to those staffing levels. For the suburban western portion of the district, wildfire smoke and evacuation routes remain relevant even when the fires burn farther east.
What’s Changing
CA-03 in its current form dates to the 2020 redistricting cycle, when the California Citizens Redistricting Commission drew new boundaries. The commission operates independently from the state legislature, a structure California voters established through the Voters FIRST Act.7California Citizens Redistricting Commission. About the California Citizens Redistricting Commission
New maps are expected ahead of the next cycle, and the district’s boundaries are likely to shift. Kiley’s March 2026 announcement that he intends to run in a different district is itself a signal that the political geography of this part of California is already moving. Population growth in Placer County and the Sacramento suburbs, together with demographic changes in the mountain and desert counties, will shape whatever lines emerge next.