Forty-eight seats in Congress or the Legislature...

Forty-eight seats in Congress or the Legislature from Los Angeles County districts are on Tuesday’s general election ballot.

The hottest contests are for a handful of seats in suburban districts that leaders of both major parties have targeted because they believe they have a good chance of winning them.

These so-called target districts are receiving money and other help from party leaders, who see them as important in the battle for control of the lawmaking houses.

Locally, there are three targeted congressional races, five for the Assembly and one for the state Senate.

CONGRESS

* DISTRICT 24 (Targeted Race)

Calabasas, Malibu, Reseda, Thousand Oaks, Woodland Hills

Registration: D 45%; R 38%.

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 6%, black 3%, Asian 3%; white and other 88%.

Candidates:

Erich D. Miller (L)

Ralph Shroyer (P)

Brad Sherman* (D)

Randy Hoffman (R)

Catherine Carter (N)

Outlook: Both major parties have targeted this contest, but the odds seem to favor the Democratic incumbent.

* DISTRICT 25

Canyon Country, Santa Clarita, Lancaster, Palmdale

Registration: R 46%; D 38%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 10%, black 5%, Asian 3%; white and other 82%

Candidates:

Bruce R. Acker (L)

Howard McKeon* (R)

Outlook: Democrats didn’t even bother to field a candidate in this Republican stronghold.

* DISTRICT 26

Pacoima, San Fernando, Van Nuys

Registration: D 59%; R 24%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 30%, black 6%, Asian 3%; white and other 61%

Candidates:

Howard L. Berman* (D)

Maria Armoudian (G)

Juan C. Ros (L)

David L. Cossak (N)

Outlook: Longtime incumbent Berman has only nominal opposition.

* DISTRICT 27 (Targeted Race)

Burbank, Glendale, La Canada Flintridge, Pasadena

Registration: D 44%; R 39%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 11%; black 8%; Asian 4%; white and other 77%

Candidates:

James E. Rogan* (R)

Barry A. Gordon (D)

Bob New (L)

Outlook: This hotly contested district still leans Republican, but it is no longer the GOP bastion it once was.

* DISTRICT 28

Arcadia, Claremont, Covina, Monrovia, Pomona, San Dimas, West Covina

Registration: R 43%; D 41%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 17%; black 6%; Asian 4%; white and other 73%

Candidates:

M.L. Allison (N)

David Dreier* (R)

Janice M. Nelson (D)

Walt C. Sheasby (G)

Jerry R. Douglas (L)

Outlook: Incumbent Dreier earned 60% of the votes cast in the primary and is expected to win handily.

* DISTRICT 29

Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Santa Monica, West Los Angeles

Registration: D 56%; R 25%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 5%; black 4%; Asian 4%; white and other 83%

Candidates:

Henry A. Waxman* (D)

Mike Gottlieb (R)

Mike Binkley (L)

Karen Blasdell-Wilkinson (N)

Outlook: This is one of the Democrats’ surest bets. Clear sailing for Waxman.

* DISTRICT 30

Atwater Village, Echo Park, Los Angeles, Silver Lake, Westlake

Registration: D 62%; R 19%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 41%; Asian 10%; black 4%; white and other 45%

Candidates:

Xavier Becerra* (D)

Patricia Parker (R)

Outlook: Becerra won 80% of votes in primary--a shoo-in Tuesday.

* DISTRICT 31

Alhambra, Azusa, El Monte, Monterey Park

Registration: D 57%; R 24%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 45%; Asian 18%; black 2%; white and other 35%

Candidates:

Krista Lieberg-Wong (G)

Gary Hearne (N)

Matthew G. Martinez* (D)

Frank C. Moreno (R)

Michael B. Everling (L)

Outlook: Another seat the Democrats can safely put in the win column.

* DISTRICT 32

Crenshaw, Culver City, Exposition Park, Mar Vista, Palms

Registration: D 73%; R 12%

Ethnic breakdown: black 40%; Latino 10%; Asian 4%; white and other 46%

Candidates:

Julian C. Dixon* (D)

Velko Milosevich (L)

Laurence Ardito (R)

Outlook: Veteran lawmaker Dixon won 86% of the primary vote in this Democratic stronghold.

* DISTRICT 33

Huntington Park, Los Angeles, Maywood, South Gate

Registration: D 67%; R 16%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 62%; black 5%; Asian 4%; white and other 29%

Candidates:

Lucille Roybal-Allard* (D)

Wayne Miller (R)

Outlook: Popular incumbent, who got 86% of primary vote, is headed to another term on election day.

* DISTRICT 34

La Puente, Montebello, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Whittier

Registration: D 61%; R 16%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 51%; Asian 4%; black 2%; white and other 43%

Candidates:

Jason Heath (L)

Walter Scott (A)

Ed Perez (R)

Grace F. Napolitano (D)

Outlook: Assemblywoman Napolitano, who won a tough primary battle, is heavily favored to succeed retiring Rep. Esteban Torres.

* DISTRICT 35

Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood, South-Central Los Angeles

Registration: D 75%; R 10%

Ethnic breakdown: black 43%; Latino 15%; Asian 4%; white and other 38%

Candidates:

Maxine Waters* (D)

Gordon M. Mego (A)

Outlook: Republicans did not even field a candidate to take on Waters.

* DISTRICT 36 (Targeted Race)

El Segundo, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Marina del Rey, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Redondo Beach, San Pedro, Torrance, Venice, Westchester

Registration: D 41%; R 41%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 8%; Asian 7%; black 3%; white and other 82%

Candidates:

Kerry Welsh (L)

John R. Konopka (M)

Steven T. Kuykendall (R)

Robin Barrett (G)

Janice Hahn (D)

Outlook: Both major parties have a lot riding on the Hahn-Kuykendall matchup to succeed Democrat Jane Harman in this GOP-leaning district.

* DISTRICT 37

Carson, Compton, Long Beach, Watts, Wilmington

Registration: D 72%; R 12%

Ethnic breakdown: black 34%; Latino 22%; Asian 3%; white and other 41%

Candidates:

Saul E. Lankster (R)

Juanita Millender-McDonald* (D)

Outlook: Look for Millender-McDonald to win reelection easily.

* DISTRICT 38

Bellflower, Downey, Lakewood, Long Beach, Paramount, San Pedro

Registration: D 51; R 33%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 16%; black 8%; Asian 3%; white and other 73%

Candidates:

Steve Horn* (R)

David Bowers (L)

Peter Mathews (D)

Outlook: Republicans got a pleasant surprise when moderate Horn first won in 1992; he is considered a strong, but not sure, bet to win again.

* DISTRICT 41

Diamond Bar, Pomona, Fullerton, Yorba Linda, San Bernardino County

Registration: R 45%; D 39%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 20%; black 7%; Asian 6%; white and other 67%

Candidates:

Gary G. Miller (R)

Kenneth E. Valentine (L)

Cynthia Allaire (G)

Eileen R. Ansari (D)

David F. Kramer (N)

Outlook: The contest was virtually decided in the primary, when Republican Miller beat incumbent Jay Kim, who pleaded guilty to fund-raising violations.

CALIFORNIA SENATE

* DISTRICT 20

Pacoima, San Fernando, Van Nuys

Registration: D 58%; R 25%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 24%; black 5%; Asian 2%; white and other 69%

Candidates:

Ollie M. McCaulley (R)

Richard Alarcon (D)

Linda Starr (L)

Outlook: Alarcon beat veteran legislator Richard Katz in the primary with a controversial, racially tinged mail campaign for this safe Democratic seat.

* DISTRICT 22

Downtown Los Angeles, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Koreatown, Silver Lake, Highland Park, Hollywood

Registration: D 64%; R 17%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 42%; Asian 7%; black 5%; white and other 46%

Candidates:

Richard G. Polanco* (D)

Marian Sunde (P)

Outlook: Polanco, one of the Legislature’s Latino stars, drew no Republican opposition.

* DISTRICT 24

Alhambra, Azusa, Baldwin Park, East Los Angeles, El Monte, La Puente, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel

Registration: D 58%; R 24%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 46%; Asian 8%; black 2%; white and other 44%

Candidates:

Kim Goldsworthy (L)

Hilda Solis* (D)

C.A. Taylor (R)

Outlook: Solis is a virtual shoo-in for a second term in Legislature’s upper house.

* DISTRICT 26

Crenshaw, Culver City, Exposition Park

Registration: D 76%; R 10%

Ethnic breakdown: black 43%; Latino 11%; Asian 3%; white and other 43%

Candidates:

Kevin Murray (D)

Bob Weber (L)

Mac L. Key (R)

Outlook: Another safe Democratic seat in which all the action was in the primary. Murray in a landslide.

* DISTRICT 28

Carson, Compton, El Segundo, Hermosa Beach, Long Beach, Manhattan Beach, Marina del Rey, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Venice, Wilmington

Registration: D 51%; R 31%

Ethnic breakdown: black 13%; Latino 13%; Asian 4%; white and other 70%

Candidates:

Debra Bowen (D)

Neal Donner (L)

Asha Knott (R)

Outlook: This is an open seat, as longtime Sen. Ralph Dills is barred by term limits from running again. But Republicans have all but conceded this Democratic stronghold to Bowen.

* DISTRICT 30

Huntington Park, Montebello, Norwalk, Pico Rivera

Registration: D 64; R 21%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 59%; black 2%; Asian 2%; white and other 37%

Candidates:

John P. McCready (L)

Martha M. Escutia (D)

John O. Robertson (R)

Outlook: This solidly Democratic district should provide a slam-dunk victory for Escutia, now an assemblywoman.

* DISTRICT 32 (Targeted Race)

Pomona, San Bernardino County

Registration: D 52%; R 33%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 29%; black 19%; Asian 2%; white and other 50%

Candidates:

Joe Baca (D)

John S. Ballard (L)

Eunice M. Ulloa (R)

Outlook: Both major parties are working hard to win this Democratic-leaning seat and succeed termed-out incumbent Ruben Ayala.

CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY

* DISTRICT 36

Lancaster, Palmdale, Santa Clarita

Registration: R 49%; D 35%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 10%; black 5%; Asian 1%; white and other 84%

Candidates:

George Runner* (R)

Gregory J. Bashem (L)

Paula L. Calderon (D)

Outlook: Runner, part of the Assembly GOP leadership, should be reelected easily in this Republican district.

* DISTRICT 38

Castaic, Chatsworth, Fillmore, Northridge, Saugus, Simi Valley

Registration: R 44%; D 39%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 9%; black 3%; Asian 3%; white and other 85%

Candidates:

Tom McClintock* (R)

Outlook: Veteran lawmaker McClintock is unopposed in this safe GOP district.

* DISTRICT 39

San Fernando, Pacoima

Registration: D 62%; R 22%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 40%; black 7%; Asian 2%; white and other 51%

Candidates:

Christopher Maira (L)

Tony Cardenas* (D)

Outlook: Republicans didn’t field a challenger to Cardenas in this Democratic stronghold.

* DISTRICT 40

North Hollywood, Studio City, Van Nuys

Registration: D 54%; R 28%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 12%; black 4%; Asian 2%; white and other 82%

Candidates:

Bob Hertzberg* (D)

Kelley L. Ross (L)

Eunice Deleuw (R)

Outlook: Look for another shoo-in for the incumbent in a safe Democratic district.

* DISTRICT 41

Calabasas, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Woodland Hills

Registration: D 49%; R 34%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 4%; black 2%; Asian 2%; white and other 92%

Candidates:

John Honigsfeld (P)

Sheila J. Kuehl* (D)

K. P. Jhin (R)

Outlook: Incumbent Kuehl should be able to win reelection in this Democratic district against a conservative Republican.

* DISTRICT 42

Beverly Hills, Hancock Park, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Westwood

Registration: D 57%; R 24%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 4%; black 3%; Asian 3%; white and other 90%

Candidates:

Wally Knox* (D)

Nancy Lawrence (P)

Kevin B. Davis (R)

Outlook: Expect another slam-dunk for Democrats--incumbent Knox pulled 70% of the vote in June’s open primary.

* DISTRICT 43

Burbank, Glendale, Griffith Park, Los Feliz

Registration: D 45%; R 37%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 13%; Asian 3%; black 2%; white and other 82%

Candidates:

Peter R. Repovich (R)

Scott Wildman* (D)

Daniel White (L)

Marie Buren (M)

Outlook: Republicans had hopes of recapturing this swing district, but disclosures of Repovich’s past suspension from the LAPD all but ended them.

* DISTRICT 44 (Targeted Race)

La Canada Flintridge, Pasadena, South Pasadena, Sunland, Tujunga

Registration: D 45%; R 39%

Ethnic breakdown: black 12%; Latino 10%; Asian 4%; white and other 74%

Candidates:

Ken LaCorte (R)

Jack Scott* (D)

Shawn Waddell (G)

Ken Saurenman (L)

Philip Corvalan (M)

Outlook: Both parties targeted this Democratic-leaning district, making this race one of the more interesting ones.

* DISTRICT 45

Downtown Los Angeles, Echo Park, Silver Lake

Registration: D 63%; R 18%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 42%; Asian 5%; black 2%; white and other 51%

Candidates:

Antonio R. Villaraigosa* (D)

Kitty Hedrick (R)

Outlook: Assembly Speaker Villaraigosa’s seat is considered so safe that he has spent most of his time raising money and plotting strategy for other Democrats.

* DISTRICT 46

Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles

Registration: D 65%; R 16%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 42%; black 10%; Asian 9%; white and other 39%

Candidates:

Andrew Kim (R)

Gil Cedillo* (D)

Outlook: Democrat Cedillo, who won a special runoff in January to fill a vacant seat, should win in a cakewalk.

* DISTRICT 47

Crenshaw, Culver City

Registration: D 72%; R 13%

Ethnic breakdown: black 41%; Latino 8%; Asian 3%; white and other 48%

Candidates:

Jonathan Leonard (R)

Herb Wesson (D)

Eric M. Fine (L)

Outlook: In this open seat, the outcome was determined in the primary; a Democratic stronghold.

* DISTRICT 48

Exposition Park, Watts

Registration: D 82%; R 5%

Ethnic breakdown: black 46%; Latino 8%; Asian 2%; white and other 44%

Candidates:

Roderick Wright* (D)

Ernest L. Woods (R)

Outlook: Expect Wright to cruise to reelection.

* DISTRICT 49

Alhambra, Monterey Park, San Gabriel, Rosemead

Registration: D 59%; R 23%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 45%; Asian 11%; black 1%; white and other 43%

Candidates:

Gloria Romero (D)

Rachel Brown (L)

Jay T. Imperial (R)

Outlook: Romero won the crowded primary in this racially diverse but solidly Democratic district.

* DISTRICT 50

Bell Gardens, Huntington Park, Maywood, South Gate

Registration: D 68%; R 15%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 71%; black 2%; Asian 1%; white and other 26%

Candidates:

Marco A. Firebaugh (D)

Gladys O. Miller (R)

Outlook: If registration tells the story, Firebaugh will be the next Assembly member from this district.

* DISTRICT 51

Hawthorne, Inglewood, South-Central Los Angeles

Registration: D 68%; R 16%

Ethnic breakdown: black 37%; Latino 15%; Asian 2%; white and other 46%

Candidates:

Edward Vincent* (D)

Rex Frankel (G)

Robert Acherman (R)

Outlook: Look for Vincent to be reelected in this heavily Democratic district.

* DISTRICT 52

Compton, Gardena, Lynwood, Watts

Registration: D 75%; R 10%

Ethnic breakdown: black 36%; Latino 21%; Asian 5%; white and other 38%

Candidates:

Carl Washington* (D)

Outlook: After winning a bruising campaign when this seat was open two years ago, Washington drew no opposition as an incumbent.

* DISTRICT 53 (Targeted Race)

El Segundo, Hermosa Beach, Lomita, Manhattan Beach, Marina del Rey, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Venice, Westchester

Registration: D 42%; R 39%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 7%; Asian 5%; black 2%; white and other 86%

Candidates:

George Nakano (D)

Bill Eggers (R)

Outlook: This open seat in a Democratic-leaning swing district is a key to control of the Legislature.

* DISTRICT 54 (Targeted Race)

Long Beach, Palos Verdes Peninsula, San Pedro, Signal Hill

Registration: D 45%; R 39%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 10%; black 6%; Asian 3%; white and other 81%

Candidates:

Al Carlan (L)

George P. Drake (A)

Julie Alban (R)

Alan Lowenthal (D)

Outlook: Another open seat, another swing district--both parties seek to win this post being vacated by Republican.

* DISTRICT 55

Carson, Compton, Long Beach, Wilmington

Registration: D 66%; R 17%

Ethnic breakdown: black 25%; Latino 23%; Asian 3%; white and other 49%

Candidates:

Richard E. Floyd* (D)

Ervin Eslinger (R)

Guy Wilson (L)

Outlook: Floyd is poised to cruise to reelection to this safe Democratic seat.

* DISTRICT 56 (Targeted Race)

Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Lakewood, Long Beach

Registration: D 51%; R 34%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 18%; black 7%; Asian 5%; white and other 70%

Candidates:

Sally M. Havice* (D)

Bruce J. McKenzie (L)

Phil Hawkins (R)

Outlook: Pundits are calling this intensely fought contest too close to call.

* DISTRICT 57

Azusa, Baldwin Park, El Monte, La Puente

Registration: D 56%; R 26%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 48%; Asian 5%; black 3%; white and other 44%

Candidates:

Martin Gallegos* (D)

Henry E. Gonzales (R)

Outlook: After a tough primary fight to win the seat in 1994, Gallegos had no serious challenge in 1994; he is expected to win handily this time.

* DISTRICT 58

Montebello, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Whittier

Registration: D 62%; R 24%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 52%; Asian 3%; black 2%; white and other 43%

Candidates:

Thomas M. Calderon (D)

Albert J. Nunez (R)

Outlook: Backed by the Legislature’s Latino leaders, Calderon--younger brother of state Sen. Charles Calderon--is a strong favorite Tuesday.

* DISTRICT 59

Claremont, Covina, Monrovia, Pomona, San Dimas

Registration: R 45%; D 39

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 14%; black 6%; Asian 2%; white and other 78%

Candidates:

Louise M. Allison (N)

Bob Margett* (R)

Jerry Johnson (L)

Christian P. Christiansen (D)

Outlook: This San Gabriel Valley seat is a secure one for Republicans.

* DISTRICT 60

Diamond Bar, La Mirada, West Covina, Whittier

Registration: D 43%; R 40%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 24%; black 6%; Asian 5%; white and other 65%

Candidates:

Robert Pacheco (R)

Ben Wong (D)

Leland T. Faegre (L)

Outlook: Democrats are looking hard at this open, once-safe Republican seat. But the GOP thinks it can hang onto the district with its Latino candidate.

* DISTRICT 61 (Targeted Race)

Pomona, Ontario, San Bernardino County

Registration: D 45%; R 38%

Ethnic breakdown: Latino 28%; black 8%; Asian 2%; white and other 62%

Candidates:

Nell Soto (D)

Bob Demallie (R)

Outlook: Both major parties are pumping resources into this target district, which lies mostly in San Bernardino County.

* Compiled by Cecilia Rasmussen and Jean Merl, Times staff writers.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Key to Election Snapshots

* Party symbols: D, Democratic; R, Republican; A, American Independent; G, Green; L, Libertarian; N, Natural Law; P, Peace and Freedom; R, Reform.

* Ethnic composition: Figures are from California Target Book: The Authoritative Guide to Campaign 1998 by Allan Hoffenblum & Associates. That book uses percentages for blacks from the 1990 Census. The Latino and Asian American figures come from 1997 voter registration lists, which were merged by computer with an “ethnic dictionary of common last names.”

* Voter registration: Figures are as of May 1998.

* An asterisk (*) denotes incumbent

* Sources: Staff reports and California Target Book.