CQ Voting Studies are an annual analysis of a member's support or opposition to a given position. Interest Group Ratings are based on rankings from groups chosen to represent liberal, conservative, business and labor viewpoints.Voting Participation scores are based on the number of times a member voted "yea" or "nay" on roll call votes (not including quorum calls in the House). CQ Vote Studies Year Presidential Support Party Unity   S* O* S O 1998 84% 15% 94% 3% 1997 72 23 93 5 1996 77 13 90 2 1995 86 8 92 4 1994 79 21 98 2 1993 77 23 96 4 S=Support; O=Oppose
Voting Participation Year % 1998 98 1997 97 1996 91 1995 96 1994 100 1993 100	Interest Groups Year ADA AFL-CIO CCUS ACU 1998 100% n/a 22% 4 % 1997 95 100 30 8 1996 90 91 29 0 1995 80 100 17 9 1994 100 78 50 0 1993 100 100 9 8
Note on Interest Groups: ADA=Americans for Democratic Action; AFL-CIO=American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations; CCUS=Chamber of Commerce of the United States; ACU=American Conservative Union

CALIFORNIA 50 : Central and south San Diego; Chula Vista; National City

Known as the most ethnically diverse of the San Diego area districts, the 50th is drastically different from the districts that surround it. It is 40 percent Hispanic and is one of six California districts where no single ethnic group has a majority. While the large minority population and the large number of working-class and low-income residents put the 50th in the Democratic camp, a sizable military and veteran population has produced a more even party split in the booming residential suburb of Chula Vista.

The northern part of the district, just south of San Diego's downtown, houses the worst of the city's urban problems. It is built up with rows of two-story apartment complexes, and while certain parts are being gentrified by "urban pioneers," much of the area is downtrodden.

The 50th has been largely left out of the rapid growth around it, and small businesses have been hit hard by NAFTA. In an area where unemployment is high and most jobs are located outside the district, the loss of General Dynamics in the neighboring 49th District devastated the economy.

While much of the district is either stagnant or built out, there is some room for expansion in the industrial Otay Mesa area south of Chula Vista. Economic development activities are underway in San Diego's Mid City area and parts of National City.

Major Industry
Retail, manufacturing, service

Population
573,244 (1990)

Cities
San Diego (pt.), 360,331 (1990); Chula Vista, 162,047; National City, 54,400 (1998)

People
99% urban; 8% age 65+ (ranks 42 of 52 in state; bottom third nationally); 54% married couples, 30% married couples with children; 14% college educated (ranks 42 of 52 in state; bottom third nationally); 52% white collar (ranks 41 of 52 in state; bottom third nationally), 27% blue collar (ranks 15 of 52 in state; middle third nationally) (1990)

Race
47% white, 14% black, 15% Asian; 40% Hispanic origin (1990)

Median Household Income
$27,655 (ranks 46 of 52 in state; middle third nationally) (1990)

Unusual Features
San Diego-Tijuana border crossing at San Ysidro is the world's busiest; Otay Mesa known as the television capital of the world for its consumer electronics manufacturing.

© 2002 The Washington Post Company