Candidate · November 3, 2026

Bob Smith

On the ballot for U.S. House · California's 24th District

RepublicanChallenger
raised through Oct 14, 2026
$347K
cash on hand
$57K
issues with public statements
8

§1On the ballot

Why this matters: This is exactly how the candidate appears on your ballot, from the state's official candidate list.

OfficeU.S. House · California's 24th District1
Party on the ballotRepublican1,2
StatusChallenger
How it's decidedUnder 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.1,3
Also on the ballot

§2Who they are

Why this matters: Background and experience help you judge how someone might do the job. These come from public records and the candidate's own materials.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

Bob Smith enlisted in the U.S. Navy and rose to the rank of commander over more than 26 years of service, including combat deployments and assignments on advanced weapons systems.4 The Navy named him its Engineer of the Year in 2023.4 He holds a bachelor's degree in engineering technology and a master's degree in systems engineering.4 He lives in Carpinteria with his wife, Adriana, and their children, and hosts Santa Barbara Forum, a public affairs program.4,5

Why they say they're running

His campaign website says he is running because the Central Coast needs more than another predictable vote in Washington, and that families on the coast deserve a representative who measures success by problems solved.4,6

Websites and accounts

§3What they've said on the issues

Why this matters: These are positions the candidate has stated publicly — on their campaign website or in public statements — summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Issues they haven't spoken about publicly are left out.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

Each issue has its own range of views. A position is marked on that range only when the candidate's own statement clearly matches one option; there is no overall left–right score.

Taxes and Budget

Federal spending levels

His campaign website says he would audit and cut wasteful federal spending that it says fuels inflation, and would vote against spending that adds to inflation without a plan to pay for it.7,8

Elections and Government Reform

Stock trading by members of Congress

His campaign website says he supports a standalone ban on stock trading by members of Congress.6

Energy and Climate

Nuclear power

His campaign website says the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant should be kept open, with reliable baseload power put first.9

Offshore wind power

His campaign website says the federal offshore wind leases off Morro Bay should be cancelled, arguing that the area is the wrong place for the project and that the turbines would interfere with military, aviation and weather radar.9

Environment and Public Lands

Wildfire prevention and forest management

His campaign website says he backs a proposed Los Padres National Forest project to reduce wildfire risk through mechanical thinning and prescribed fire, with environmental review left in place.10

  1. Focus mainly on making homes and towns near forests harder to burn
  2. Fund more thinning and controlled burns under current review rules
  3. Speed up thinning and logging by shortening reviews and limiting lawsuits
Marked: the option their statement matches.

Immigration

Legal status for immigrants here without permission, including Dreamers

His campaign website calls for legal clarity for long-term residents who work and pay taxes in the country.7

Immigration enforcement inside the country

His campaign website says violent offenders should be removed and that enforcement against violent crime and fentanyl trafficking should be handled competently and without cruelty.5,7

Agriculture and Rural Life

Visas for farmworkers

His campaign website says agricultural and seasonal visa programs should be modernized.7

§4Money

Why this matters: Campaigns report where their money comes from and how much they have left. Outside groups that spend on their own, without coordinating with the campaign, report that too.

Reported to the Federal Election Commission for the 2025–2026 election cycle, through October 14, 2026.11

Raised$346,742
Spent$289,534
Cash on hand$57,208
Debts owed by the campaign$32,640

Where the money came from

Individual donors$304K · 88%
PACs and other political committees$2,500 · 1%
Political party committees$6,286 · 2%
The candidate's own money (gifts and loans)$24K · 7%
Other receipts (other loans, refunds, interest)$10K · 3%

§5Financial disclosures

Why this matters: Federal candidates and members of Congress must report their assets, income, debts and outside jobs, and members must report stock trades. These filings show possible conflicts of interest.