Candidate · November 3, 2026

Sara Jacobs

On the ballot for U.S. House · California's 51st District

DemocraticIncumbent
raised through Oct 14, 2026
$1.9M
cash on hand
$317K

§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 51st District1
Party on the ballotDemocratic1,2
StatusIncumbent — Currently represents California's 51st 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.

Sara Jacobs is a third-generation San Diegan and a graduate of San Diego public schools, and she holds a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in international affairs from Columbia University.5,6 She held policy positions at the U.S. State Department during the Obama administration, at UNICEF and at the United Nations, and was the founding CEO of the education nonprofit Project Connect and the founding chair of San Diego for Every Child, a coalition working to reduce child poverty.6 She was first elected to the U.S. House in 2020, is in her third term, and serves on the Armed Services Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee, where she is the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Africa.6

Why they say they're running

Her campaign website says the moment calls for leaders who listen to each other and get things done, and that Congress must act boldly on climate change, gun violence, affordable housing, health care as a human right and access to reproductive care.5 It says that in Congress she is fighting to make sure every child has access to the same opportunities.5

Service in Congress since 2023

  • 2025–nowU.S. Representative, CA-513
  • 2023–2025U.S. Representative, CA-513

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 Sara Jacobs served, these bills had broad support from both parties but never reached a floor vote. No officeholder ever had to vote on them. Sara Jacobs sponsored or cosponsored 22 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$1,864,955
Spent$1,624,897
Cash on hand$317,430
Debts owed by the campaign$350,000

Where the money came from

Individual donors$525K · 28%
PACs and other political committees$267K · 14%
The candidate's own money (gifts and loans)$934K · 50%
Transfers from the candidate's other committees$133K · 7%
Other receipts (other loans, refunds, interest)$6,178 · 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.