Candidate · November 3, 2026

Mark Takano

On the ballot for U.S. House · California's 39th District

DemocraticIncumbent
raised through Oct 14, 2026
$1.1M
cash on hand
$231K

§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 39th District1
Party on the ballotDemocratic1,2
StatusIncumbent — Currently represents California's 39th District in the U.S. House.3
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.1,4
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.

Mark Takano was born and raised in Riverside; his parents and grandparents were sent to Japanese American internment camps during World War II.5 He graduated from Harvard College with a bachelor's degree in government in 1983 and began teaching in the Rialto Unified School District in 1988.5 He was elected to the Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees in 1990 and to Congress in 2012, becoming the first openly gay person of color elected to Congress.5 He serves as ranking member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs and on the Education and the Workforce Committee.5

Service in Congress since 2023

Websites and accounts

§3Popular bills that never got a vote

Why this matters: Many bills with wide support from both parties never reach a vote, so no member of Congress is ever on record for or against them. Signing on as a sponsor or cosponsor is the only public record of support.

While Mark Takano served, these bills had broad support from both parties but never reached a floor vote. No officeholder ever had to vote on them. Mark Takano sponsored or cosponsored 21 of the 52. How bills die without a vote.

See all 52

§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, 2026.60

Raised$1,133,984
Spent$1,171,938
Cash on hand$231,215

Where the money came from

Individual donors$623K · 55%
PACs and other political committees$487K · 43%
Transfers from the candidate's other committees$21K · 2%
Other receipts (other loans, refunds, interest)$2,588 · 0%

§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.