The Winner

If you live in California’s 12th Congressional District, Rep. Lateefah Simon (D-CA) will keep representing you after winning a second term. The Associated Press called the race for Simon at 9:31 p.m. Pacific time on election night, Tuesday, Nov. 3. ​

Simon has 201,788 votes (80.6%) to 48,545 (19.4%) for fellow Democrat Jamie Joyce, a margin of about 61 points, with an estimated 98% of votes counted. Because both finalists were Democrats, the party was certain to keep the seat.

The Race

Joyce, a Berkeley resident who runs the nonprofit Society Library, challenged Simon on artificial intelligence and government surveillance, the Island City Beat reported. In the June 2 top-two primary, where all candidates share one ballot, Simon took 84.2% and Joyce 15.6%, according to Ballotpedia’s race page. Cook Political Report and Inside Elections rated the race Solid Democratic, and Sabato’s Crystal Ball rated it Safe Democratic.

Simon’s margin roughly doubled from 2024, when she won the then-open seat over Democrat Jennifer Tran, 65.4% to 34.6%. The race used the new district lines California voters approved through Proposition 50 in November 2025.

The district lies entirely in Alameda County and takes in Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, Albany, Emeryville and Piedmont, along with most of San Leandro, according to the California Senate Office of Demographics.

About 748,400 people live in the district, and residents are 35% white, 23.7% Hispanic, 20.4% Asian and 15.2% Black. The median household income is $108,600, and the median age is 38. Of adults, 54.1% hold at least a bachelor’s degree, unemployment is 5.9% and 12.5% of residents live below the poverty line.

What’s Next

Simon’s new term begins Sunday, Jan. 3, and she will serve in the new Democratic House majority. She will also become a co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls in the new Congress, filling one of two seats opening as current co-chairs leave the House, according to her office.

---

AllCiv makes it easy to stay politically informed and involved.

---

Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article