An ongoing House ethics investigation over alleged sexual misconduct, an open seat due to one sitting congressmember’s retirement and the impacts of mid-cycle redistricting – which California voters approved last year – are the story lines we’re monitoring in Los Angeles County congressional races as we near Election Day.
After the elections, there will be at least two new faces joining L.A. County’s congressional delegation. A newcomer will replace Rep. Julia Brownley, who is retiring, in the 26th District. The district includes Westlake Village, Agoura Hills and Calabasas.
There’s also an open seat for the 38th District, where, as a result of redistricting, no incumbent is running. This district represents residents in Montebello, Baldwin Park and Diamond Bar.
Read on for a summary of this year’s House races in L.A. County.
If you’re wondering why a race where one candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the primary election is back on the ballot, it’s because the top two vote-getters in the primary, regardless of party affiliation, move on to the general election. That’s the case even if one candidate got the majority of the vote in the previous election.
23rd Congressional District
Rep. Jay Obernolte, a Republican seeking a fourth term, is running against Democrat Tessa Lynn Hodge, a social worker and business owner.
Although the district is mostly in the Inland Empire, it does represent a portion of northern L.A. County.
26th Congressional District
Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, a Democrat, is facing off against Republican Sam Gallucci, a business executive, to see who will replace Brownley, who is wrapping up her 14th year in Congress.
Irwin, who is endorsed by Brownley, and Gallucci advanced to the runoff election from a nine-person primary race in June.
The 26th Congressional District currently covers most of Ventura County and a small portion of northwestern L.A. County, including Westlake Village, Calabasas and Agoura Hills. And because of redistricting, the district will extend east to Quartz Hill in L.A. County’s Antelope Valley starting with the new congressional session that begins in January.
27th Congressional District
Rep. George Whitesides, a Democrat, is going toe-to-toe with Santa Clarita Councilmember Jason Gibbs, a Republican, after the two advanced from a four-person primary election.
Gibbs captured 41% of the vote in the primary while Whitesides received 40.6%. The candidates who made up the other 18.4% are Democrats.
This district represents Lancaster, Palmdale and Santa Clarita in the Antelope and Santa Clarita valleys. As a result of redistricting, it lost Acton and Quartz Hill while dropping further south into the San Fernando Valley, picking up neighborhoods such as Reseda and Lake Balboa.
Voters in the 27th District have had a history of going back and forth between electing a Democrat or a Republican.
Whitesides flipped the district blue two years ago when he defeated then-Rep. Mike Garcia in what was one of the most competitive House races in the nation.
Because of the redistricting, Democrats in this northern L.A. County district have a 15 percentage-point voter registration advantage over Republicans, and the nonpartisan Cook Political Report now considers CA-27 a solidly Democratic district.
28th Congressional District
Democratic Rep. Judy Chu, who was first elected to Congress in 2009, is running against former Arcadia Mayor April Verlato, a Republican and attorney.
Although CA-28, which spans Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, retained core constituencies on its western portion – including Pasadena, Monterey Park and Arcadia in the San Gabriel Valley, as well as communities such as Wrightwood further east – the district lost other areas to the east, including Claremont.
29th Congressional District
Democratic Rep. Luz Rivas, who is seeking a second term, is being challenged by Angélica Dueñas, a Democratic community organizer and human resources specialist.
This San Fernando Valley district includes Panorama City, Arleta, Van Nuys, Valley Village, Sylmar and San Fernando.
As a result of redistricting, this district lost portions of the Kagel and Lopez Canyon areas but extended east along the Foothill 210 freeway toward the border with Sunland.
30th Congressional District
Democratic Rep. Laura Friedman, in a quest for a second term, is facing off against Republican Scott Meyers, an attorney and small business owner, after the two advanced out of a seven-person primary contest.
This district includes Burbank, Glendale and West Hollywood. It picked up an area north of the San Fernando Valley, including Acton and Agua Dulce, as a result of the mid-cycle redistricting.
31st Congressional District
Rep. Gil Cisneros, a Democrat, is running against former Walnut Mayor Eric Ching, a Republican.
This district currently represents just northeastern L.A. County but, because of redistricting, will also represent a part of western San Bernardino County after this year’s midterm elections.
CA-31 includes the San Gabriel Valley cities of Azusa, West Covina, Covina, El Monte and La Verne. It lost part of its northwest corner because of redistricting, though it kept Monrovia, and gained some ground above Glendora and a significant portion of Pomona, Chino and Montclair.
32nd Congressional District
Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman, who’s completing his 30th year in office, is going toe-to-toe with Republican Larry Thompson, an attorney and talent manager, after the two survived a nine-person primary race.
This district includes neighborhoods in western San Fernando Valley, such as Woodland Hills, Winnetka and Tarzana, as well as Pacific Palisades, Malibu and other coastal communities. CA-32 also expanded into Ventura County’s Simi Valley as a result of redistricting.
34th Congressional District
Rep. Jimmy Gomez is being challenged by Angela Gonzales-Torres, a self-described justice advocate who previously worked as an academic counselor at Pasadena City College, helping former inmates transition from prison to higher education.
Both candidates are Democrats.
The winner will represent a district that includes parts of central, eastern and northeastern Los Angeles, such as downtown L.A., Koreatown, Pico-Union, Boyle Heights, East L.A., El Sereno, Highland Park and Eagle Rock.
Gomez is seeking a sixth term amid a House ethics investigation into alleged sexual misconduct – a claim which the congressmember denies. He’s admitted to making “personal mistakes” outside of his marriage but said those actions were consensual and did not violate any law or House Ethics rule.
35th Congressional District
Democratic Rep. Norma Torres, a member of Congress since 2015, is running against Republican businessman Mike Cargile.
This district represents portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including North Pomona, Claremont, Ontario, Fontana, Chino Hills, Eastvale, Norco and Corona.
36th Congressional District
Rep. Ted Lieu, a Democrat seeking a seventh term, is up against Republican Houston Brignano, a technology executive, after the two advanced out of a seven-person primary race.
This coastal district stretches from Santa Monica south, past Redondo Beach and Torrance and on to Rancho Palos Verdes. It also includes Beverly Hills.
37th Congressional District
Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, in office since 2023, is running against Samantha Mota, a community advocate, after the two advanced from a nine-person primary race.
Both candidates are Democrats.
This district includes south and southwest L.A., South Vermont and Culver City. The district’s geographic shape didn’t change much because of redistricting.
38th Congressional District
L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis, a Democrat, is running against Republican Pedro Antonio Casis, a forensic psychologist, for this open seat, after the two advanced out of a four-person primary race.
This district includes Commerce, El Monte, La Habra Heights and Montebello in L.A. County, and sweeps down to pick up Yorba Linda in Orange County.
CA-38 is a bit of a new district after redistricting and was considered an open seat since Rep. Linda Sánchez opted to run for reelection in a new nearby area where her home is located.
41st Congressional District
Democratic Rep. Linda Sánchez is facing off against Republican Mitch Clemmons, a plumbing contractor who lives in Santa Monica, following a four-person primary race.
A member of Congress since 2003, Sánchez currently represents the 38th District. But her home in Whittier was redrawn into the 41st District during redistricting, so she decided to run for reelection in this district this year.
CA-41 spans several communities in L.A. County — Downey, La Mirada, Lakewood, Santa Fe Springs and Whittier — and covers Brea, La Habra and Los Alamitos in Orange County.
42nd Congressional District
Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia, in a quest for a third term, is facing off against Brian Burley, a Republican who serves on the Huntington Beach City School District governing board and is also running for the Huntington Beach City Council this year.
The two beat out three other candidates in the primary to advance to the general election.
The 42nd District includes L.A. County’s Long Beach. And because of redistricting, Orange County’s more conservative coastal communities of Huntington Beach and part of Newport Beach were redrawn into the district.
43rd Congressional District
Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters, one of the longest-serving members in the House, having first been elected to Congress in 1990, is running against Republican Cristian Torres, following a four-person primary race.
California’s 43rd Congressional District represents portions of South Los Angeles and the South Bay region of L.A. County, including all or parts of Inglewood, Hawthorne, Gardena, Watts, Compton and Torrance.
44th Congressional District
Democratic Rep. Nanette Barragán, who is seeking a sixth term, is facing off again against healthcare executive Genevieve Angel, a Republican.
The two automatically advanced to the general election following a two-person primary race.
This district runs through parts of South Los Angeles, southeastern L.A. County and the Harbor Area. It includes communities such as Vernon, Huntington Park, Florence-Graham, South Gate, Lynwood, Paramount, Carson, Wilmington and San Pedro.
45th Congressional District
Democratic Rep. Derek Tran, who’s seeking a second term, is up against former Cerritos Mayor Chuong Vo, a Republican.
Tran and Vo were the top two vote-getters to emerge from a six-person primary race.
This district includes Buena Park, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove and Westminster in Orange County, as well as Artesia and Cerritos in L.A. County.