Answers by state
California Citizenship Test Answers (2026)
The answers to the civics questions that depend on where you live in California: your U.S. senators, your U.S. representative, your governor and your capital. Checked against official government lists on September 27, 2026.
Quick answers
- Who is one of your state’s U.S. senators now?
- Name one: Alex Padilla or Adam Schiff
- Name your U.S. representative.
- It depends on where you live. California has 52 representatives, one for each congressional district (see the list below).
- Who is the governor of your state now?
- Gavin Newsom
- What is the capital of your state?
- Sacramento
California’s U.S. senators
Like every state, California has two U.S. senators. The officer asks for one name, so pick the one that is easier for you to say and remember.
- Alex Padilla (Democrat)
- Adam Schiff (Democrat)
California’s U.S. representatives
California has 52 members of the House of Representatives. Each one represents a congressional district, so your answer depends on your home address. The fastest way to find yours is to enter your ZIP code on house.gov.
Find your representative by ZIP code
| District | Representative | Party |
|---|---|---|
| District 1 | James Gallagher | Republican |
| District 2 | Jared Huffman | Democrat |
| District 3 | Kevin Kiley | Independent |
| District 4 | Mike Thompson | Democrat |
| District 5 | Tom McClintock | Republican |
| District 6 | Ami Bera | Democrat |
| District 7 | Doris O. Matsui | Democrat |
| District 8 | John Garamendi | Democrat |
| District 9 | Josh Harder | Democrat |
| District 10 | Mark DeSaulnier | Democrat |
| District 11 | Nancy Pelosi | Democrat |
| District 12 | Lateefah Simon | Democrat |
| District 13 | Adam Gray | Democrat |
| District 14 | Aisha Wahab | Democrat |
| District 15 | Kevin Mullin | Democrat |
| District 16 | Sam T. Liccardo | Democrat |
| District 17 | Ro Khanna | Democrat |
| District 18 | Zoe Lofgren | Democrat |
| District 19 | Jimmy Panetta | Democrat |
| District 20 | Vince Fong | Republican |
| District 21 | Jim Costa | Democrat |
| District 22 | David G. Valadao | Republican |
| District 23 | Jay Obernolte | Republican |
| District 24 | Salud O. Carbajal | Democrat |
| District 25 | Raul Ruiz | Democrat |
| District 26 | Julia Brownley | Democrat |
| District 27 | George Whitesides | Democrat |
| District 28 | Judy Chu | Democrat |
| District 29 | Luz M. Rivas | Democrat |
| District 30 | Laura Friedman | Democrat |
| District 31 | Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. | Democrat |
| District 32 | Brad Sherman | Democrat |
| District 33 | Pete Aguilar | Democrat |
| District 34 | Jimmy Gomez | Democrat |
| District 35 | Norma J. Torres | Democrat |
| District 36 | Ted Lieu | Democrat |
| District 37 | Sydney Kamlager-Dove | Democrat |
| District 38 | Linda T. Sánchez | Democrat |
| District 39 | Mark Takano | Democrat |
| District 40 | Young Kim | Republican |
| District 41 | Ken Calvert | Republican |
| District 42 | Robert Garcia | Democrat |
| District 43 | Maxine Waters | Democrat |
| District 44 | Nanette Diaz Barragán | Democrat |
| District 45 | Derek Tran | Democrat |
| District 46 | J. Luis Correa | Democrat |
| District 47 | Dave Min | Democrat |
| District 48 | Darrell Issa | Republican |
| District 49 | Mike Levin | Democrat |
| District 50 | Scott H. Peters | Democrat |
| District 51 | Sara Jacobs | Democrat |
| District 52 | Juan Vargas | Democrat |
All House seats are on the ballot on November 3, 2026, and the new terms start on January 3, 2027. You only need the name, not the district number or party.
Governor of California
The governor of California is Gavin Newsom. California elects a governor on November 3, 2026. If the office changes hands, the new governor takes office in the following weeks, and the answer changes on that day. Until then, give the current governor’s name.
On the 2025 test this is one of the 20 questions for applicants who qualify for the 65/20 exception, so older applicants should know it well.
Capital of California
The capital of California is Sacramento.
Common mistake: Los Angeles is the largest city, but it is not the capital. The answer is Sacramento.
If an answer changes before your interview
Officers expect the name of the person in office on the day of your interview. Elected officials can change after elections, resignations and appointments, so check the answers again the week of your interview. USCIS also posts changes at uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates.
Last checked September 27, 2026. Sources: senate.gov, the Clerk of the U.S. House (clerk.house.gov) and the National Governors Association (nga.org).
Practice the rest of the test
These four questions are only a small part of the civics test. Practice the others with the free mock test, which follows the real pass rules.
Common questions
Do I need to know both senators from California?
No. The question asks for one of your state’s senators, so one correct name is enough.
Do I need to know my representative’s party or district number?
No. The name is enough. The party and district are listed here only to help you find the right person.
I just moved to California. Which answers do I give?
Give the answers for the place where you live on the day of your interview. You must live in the state or USCIS district for at least 3 months before you file, so your new address should match your application.
Are these questions on the 65/20 test?
On the 2025 test, only the governor question is part of the 20 questions for 65/20 applicants. On the 2008 test, the senator and capital questions are on the 65/20 list.