Race · November 3, 2026

U.S. House · California's 23rd District

2 candidates on the ballot.1

How this race is decided: Under California's top-two system, only the two candidates who received the most votes in the June 2, 2026, primary, regardless of party preference, appear on this general-election ballot.1,2

§1Candidates

Why this matters: Every candidate the state lists for this race on the November ballot, in the state's own order.

Tessa Lynn Hodge
Democratic · Challenger
Jay Obernolte
Republican · Incumbent
Currently represents California's 23rd District in the U.S. House.

§2Side by side

Why this matters: The same facts for every candidate, in the same order. Where we found nothing for a candidate, the cell says so — that means we didn't find it in public sources, not that it doesn't exist.

Scroll sideways on small screens. Select a name for the full page.
Tessa Lynn HodgeJay Obernolte
Party on the ballotDemocratic1,3Republican1,3
StatusChallengerIncumbent4
Raised$126,772 through October 14, 20265$1,854,658 through October 14, 20266
Cash on hand$12,4345$1,378,5686
Outside spendingNot found in the public sources we checked$400,130 for · $18,690 against7

Issues only one candidate has addressed

By candidate, in ballot order. We found nothing public from the other candidates in this race on these issues.

Tessa Lynn Hodge — 8 issues
  • US Department of Education
    Keep the department and its programs, or expand it
    Her campaign website says the U.S. Department of Education cannot be eliminated, citing its programs for rural schools such as the Rural and Low-Income School Program and the Small, Rural School Achievement Program.8
  • Air pollution limits
    Strengthen limits, such as tighter standards for soot and for pollution from trucks and factories
    Her campaign website says she will fight for stronger emission standards, pointing to higher asthma rates and poorer air quality it links to industrial expansion and heavy freight traffic in the district.9
  • Conservation and development on federal lands
    Her campaign website says she will stand up for public lands such as Joshua Tree.9
  • Military aid to Israel
    Reduce or end military aid to Israel
    Her campaign website says she will call in Congress for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and for ending U.S. funding to Israel.10
  • Health insurance system
    One government plan for everyone (Medicare for All)
    Her campaign website says she will fight for a single-payer health care system so that everyone gets the care they need.11
  • Immigration enforcement inside the country
    Her campaign website says current deportation efforts target workers, families and long-term residents rather than violent criminals, and that this tears communities apart.12
  • Legal status for immigrants here without permission, including Dreamers
    Her campaign website says she supports creating a clear pathway to legal status for long-term residents, along with protecting workers from exploitation and keeping families together.12
  • VA staffing
    Her campaign website says cuts at the Department of Veterans Affairs that eliminated tens of thousands of jobs will increase wait times and lower the quality of care for veterans.13
Jay Obernolte — 5 issues
  • Child tax credit
    His campaign website says he fought to expand the child tax credit for working families.14
  • Military spending
    His campaign website says he voted to fully fund the military and to give troops a pay raise.14
  • Border wall and barriers
    His campaign website says he wants to finish the border wall and increase the number of Border Patrol agents to stop drug trafficking.14
  • Business tax breaks
    His campaign website says he fought to provide tax relief for small businesses.14
  • Federal spending levels
    His campaign website says he is working to balance the federal budget and stop spending it blames for inflation, and that he wrote legislation to require the federal government to balance its budget and cut wasteful spending.14

Issue statements are drafted by AI from the public sources cited, and only cover what each candidate has said publicly.