For much of the 20th century prior to the early 1990s, the district had encompassed areas to the south and much of Los Angeles County, California. Gradually it was redefined to take in central and northern counties instead.
As of the 2020 redistricting, California's 19th congressional district is located on the Central Coast. It encompasses most of Santa Cruz County, the interior of Santa Clara County, the north of San Luis Obispo County, and the coast of Monterey County.
Santa Clara County is split between this county, the 16th district, and the 18th district. The 19th and 16th are partitioned by Old Santa Cruz Highway, Aldercroft Hts Rd, Weaver Rd, Soda Springs Rd, Love Harris Rd, Pheasant Creek, Guadalupe Creek, Guadalupe Mines Rd, Oak Canyon Dr, Coleman Rd, Meridian Ave, Highway G8, Guadalupe River, W Capitol Expressway, Senter Rd, Sylvandale Ave, Yerba Buena Rd, Silver Creek Rd, and E Capitol Expressway. The 19th and 18th are partitioned by Pajaro River, Highway 129, W Beach St, Lee Rd, Highway 1, Harkins Slough Rd, Harkins Slough, Old Adobe Rd, Corralitos Creek, Varin Rd, Pioneer Rd, Green Valley Rd, Casserly Rd, Mt Madonna Rd. The 19th district takes in the south west section of the city of San Jose.
Monterey County is split between this district and the 18th district. They are partitioned by Union Pacific, Highway G12, Elkhorn Rd, Echo Valley Rd, Maher Rd, Maher Ct, La Encina Dr, Crazy Horse Canyon Rd, San Juan Grade Rd, Highway 101, Espinosa Rd, Castroville Blvd, Highway 156, Highway 1, Tembladero Slough, Highway 183, Cooper Rd, Blanco Rd, Salinas River, Davis Rd, Hitchcock Rd, Highway 68, E Blanco Rd, Nutting St, Abbott St, Highway G17, Limekiln Creek, Likekiln Rd, Rana Creek, Tularcitos Creek, Highway G16, Tassajara Rd, Camp Creek, Lost Valley Creek, Lost Valley Conn, N Coast Rdg, 2 Central Coa, Cone Peak Rd, Nacimiento Fergusson Rd, Los Bueyes Creek, and the Monterey County Southern border. The 19th district takes in most of the census-designated place of Prunedale, part of the census-designated place of Castroville, the cities of Monterey, Seaside, Pacific Grove, Marina, Sand City, Del Rey Oaks, the town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, and the census-designated places Moss Landing, Elkhorn, Del Monte Forest, Carmel Valley Village, and Spreckels.
San Luis Obispo County is split between this district and the 24th district. They are partitioned by Highway 1, Cayucos Creek Rd, Thunder Canyon Rd, Old Creek Rd, Santa Rita Rd, Tara Creek, Fuentes Rd, Highway 41, San Miguel Rd, Palo Verde Rd, Old Morro Rd, Los Osos Rd, San Rafael Rd, Atascadero Ave, San Antonio Rd, N Santa Margarita Rd, Santa Clara Rd, Rocky Canyon Truck Trail, Highway 229, Lion Ridge Rd, O'Donovan Rd, Highway 58, Calf Canyon Highway, La Panza Rd, Upton Canyon Rd, Camatta Creek Rd, San Juan Creek, and Bitterwater Rd. The 19th district takes in the cities of Atascadero and Paso Robles and the census-designated places San Simeon, Cambria, Oak Shores, Lake Nacimiento, San Miguel, Templeton, Creston, Whitley Gardens, and Shandon