Race · November 3, 2026

U.S. House · California's 42nd 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.

Robert Garcia
Democratic · Incumbent
Currently represents California's 42nd District in the U.S. House.
Brian Burley
Republican · Challenger

§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.
Robert GarciaBrian Burley
Party on the ballotDemocratic1Republican1,3
StatusIncumbent4Challenger
Raised$3,394,175 through October 14, 20265$251,137 through October 14, 20266
Cash on hand$1,572,9805$1,9396
Outside spending$266,422 for · $0 against7Not found in the public sources we checked
Health insurance system
One government plan for everyone (Medicare for All)
His campaign website says the best way to fix the health care system is to pass Medicare for All, and that health coverage should not depend on a person's job.8		A platform document on his campaign website calls for market-friendly and consumer-friendly health care policies that lower costs, and says people should be able to add anyone to their health plans regardless of age or relation.9

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.

Robert Garcia — 14 issues
  • Federal minimum wage
    Raise to $15 or more
    His campaign website says he fights for a nationwide $15 minimum wage.8
  • Union organizing rules
    Make it easier to form a union (for example, the PRO Act)
    His campaign website says he will fight to make it easier to join and form a union and is working to pass the PRO Act.8
  • Student loan forgiveness
    Broad cancellation of student debt
    His campaign website says he is fighting to cancel student debt across the country.8
  • Tuition-free college
    Free tuition at public colleges and universities
    His campaign website says every young adult should be able to attend a tuition-free college or skilled trade program, and that he is fighting for no-cost college for all students.8
  • US Department of Education
    Keep the department and its programs, or expand it
    His campaign website says he has strongly opposed President Trump's cuts to the Department of Education.8
  • Campaign finance rules
    Limit spending by outside groups, including by amending the Constitution to overturn Citizens United
    His campaign website says he supports ending Citizens United and a full lobbying ban for former members of Congress.8
  • Drawing district lines (redistricting)
    His campaign website says he strongly supported California's Proposition 50 to redraw the state's congressional maps, which it presents as a response to President Trump calling on Republican-led states to eliminate Democratic seats.8
  • Child care costs
    His campaign website says every parent should be able to afford child care and that he fights for universal child care and pre-K in Congress.8
  • Food assistance (SNAP)
    His campaign website says he has opposed what it describes as President Trump's targeting of food assistance programs for families and children.8
  • Paid family and medical leave
    His campaign website says he fights to expand paid family leave.8
  • AR-15-style rifles
    Ban the sale of these rifles
    His campaign website says he will work for a ban on AR-15 rifles, and that the national minimum age to own a firearm should be raised to 21.8
  • Background checks for gun sales
    Require checks for all gun sales, including private sales (with exceptions such as gifts between family members)
    His campaign website says he will work to put universal background checks in place, and that he introduced the AMMO Act to require background checks for ammunition purchases and limit how much ammunition can be bought.8
  • Homelessness
    His campaign website says people who are unhoused should have access to shelter, services and permanent supportive housing, and calls for expanding affordable housing and building public housing.8
  • Legal status for immigrants here without permission, including Dreamers
    A path to citizenship for most who meet requirements such as background checks
    His campaign website says every undocumented child and their family should be able to earn citizenship, and that he is fighting to expand pathways to citizenship for undocumented residents.8
Brian Burley — 10 issues
  • Abortion law
    A platform document on his campaign website says he supports defending the right to life, which it calls the country's biggest human rights issue.9
  • Vouchers and education savings accounts
    A platform document on his campaign website says he supports school choice.9
  • Military spending
    A platform document on his campaign website says he will always vote to maintain and support the military budget.9
  • Federal Medicaid funding
    Reduce federal Medicaid spending further, such as by giving states fixed yearly amounts (block grants or per-person limits)
    A platform document on his campaign website says he supports turning Medicaid into block grants to the states.9
  • Work eligibility checks (E-Verify)
    Require all employers to use it
    A platform document on his campaign website proposes requiring every state to put in place and enforce E-Verify for all employers in the state.9
  • Social Security benefit levels
    A platform document on his campaign website proposes laws barring Congress from spending Social Security savings on other expenses and says promises to people who paid into the system must be kept.9
  • Balanced budget amendment
    Add a balanced budget requirement to the Constitution
    Under the heading Balanced Budget Amendment, a platform document on his campaign website proposes requiring Congress to balance the budget by 2030 and a law limiting interest payments to 3% of the federal budget.9
  • Federal spending levels
    A platform document on his campaign website says he favors cutting taxes and cutting wasteful and unnecessary spending.9
  • State and local tax (SALT) deduction
    Keep a higher cap, like the one passed in 2025
    A platform document on his campaign website proposes increasing the state and local tax deduction to $50,000.9
  • Targeted tax breaks for individuals and families
    Add or expand breaks for costs such as education savings, adoption and selling a home
    A platform document on his campaign website proposes a tax credit for paying down student loan principal and investment accounts with a tax credit that parents could use to save for a child's education or trade school or to start a small business, each a 5% credit of up to $200 a year.9

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