Christy Smith (D) and Mike Garcia (R) are running in a special general election on May 12, 2020, for California’s 25th Congressional District. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order providing for all-mail ballots for special election voters. The election will fill the vacancy left by Katie Hill (D), who resigned the seat on November 1, 2019. Smith received 35.8% of the vote to Garcia’s 25.1% in the March 3 top-two primary.

In the 2018 general election, Hill defeated incumbent Steve Knight (R) 54% to 46%. In 2016, Knight defeated Bryan Caforio (D) 53% to 47%. The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was even, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district’s results were within one percentage point of the national average.

As of April 7, 2020, nine special elections have been called during the 116th Congress. Seven of those were called for seats in the U.S. House, and two were called for seats in the U.S. Senate. From the 113th Congress to the 115th Congress, 40 special elections were held.