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Federal · Statewide General Election

United States Representative, District 16

Draft candidate list — early preview until the state’s official list publishes on August 27, 2026.

This is one contest. Enter your address to see every race on your November ballot, and keep track of your picks.

On the ballot

This person holds your district's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives (2-year term).

Representative Sam Liccardo took 75.6% of the June 2 vote and Republican Peter Sundin Soulé took 10.8% to claim the second slot. The district covers the Peninsula and part of Santa Clara County.

The winner holds one of 435 seats in the U.S. House for a two-year term. A member introduces bills, sits on committees that shape federal legislation, votes on the federal budget and on war powers, and handles casework between constituents and federal agencies. A first-term member is at the bottom of the seniority ladder that governs committee assignments.

The gap in resources here is close to total: $3.49 million against $400. That shapes how much either candidate has been able to say publicly, and therefore how much there is for a voter to weigh. The practical question is what this district gets from a safe seat.

Sam Liccardo

Democrat, the sitting Representative for this district since 2025, in his first term. He raised $3,489,298, of which $1,505,070 came from individuals and $662,750 from PACs and committees. He took more than three-quarters of the June vote.

Strengths

A large, broadly funded campaign with a majority of identified money from individuals, and a commanding primary result.

Trade-offs

One term is a short federal record to judge, and a substantial share of his money came from PACs and committees.

Keep in mind

More than $3.4 million raised against an opponent with $400 is worth noticing, whatever conclusion you draw from it.

Peter Sundin Soulé

Republican, who advanced with 10.8% of the June vote. He raised $400. He has not served in the California Legislature or U.S. Congress.

Strengths

He gave this district a contested November ballot rather than an uncontested one.

Trade-offs

A $400 campaign and no record in office leaves very little for a voter to evaluate beyond party.

Keep in mind

Coverage surfaced almost no biographical or platform detail about him. That gap is what was available to us on 2026-08-10, not a comment on his candidacy.

Record in office

Sam Liccardo (Democratic) has served in the U.S. House since 2025 and has sponsored 17 bills in the 119th Congress; none of their bills have become law so far. Peter Sundin Soulé has not served in the California Legislature or U.S. Congress; these records cover only those offices. Per Congress.gov and the public-domain congress-legislators roster, retrieved 2026-08-10.

Record details

Liccardo — Committees: Financial Services Committee assignments and the most recently signed-into-law bills each record-holder lead-authored, from the official legislative record.

Financial info

Sam Liccardo

$3,489,298raised
  • Individuals$1,505,07069%
  • PACs & committees$662,75031%

Peter Sundin Soulé

$400raised
  • Individuals$30075%
  • Self-funding$10025%

Total raised is all receipts for the 2026 cycle; the breakdown lists direct contributions, so the pieces can sum below the total. Figures are FEC filings through June 30, 2026, per the FEC bulk campaign-finance summaries, retrieved 2026-08-22.

June 2 primary — how they advanced

Sam Liccardo (Democratic)75.6% · 139,399 votes
Peter Sundin Soulé (Republican)10.8% · 19,841 votes
Kevin Johnson (Republican)10.2% · 18,807 votes
Jotham Stein (No Party Preference)3.4% · 6,319 votes
Source review: Very strong (95/100) · 5 cited sources

Official records anchor this contest, with multiple sources checked.

Last updated August 11, 2026.