United States Representative, District 24

Salud Carbajal has represented the Central Coast in Congress since 2017. He came to the United States from Mexico at age five. He worked summers in the fields with his father and was the first in his family to finish college. Before Congress he spent twelve years on the county board of supervisors. He also served eight years in the Marine Corps Reserve, including duty in the 1992 Gulf War.

Carbajal says the Central Coast is his home. It is the place that gave his family a chance to succeed, and that is why he keeps running. In July 2026 he voted for a House move to cut 3.3 billion dollars in military aid to Israel. He said Congress could not keep giving the prime minister a blank check. The House voted the move down.

Carbajal promises to keep fighting for the middle class. He says he will protect Social Security and Medicare. His campaign lists affordable health care, a cleaner environment, gun safety, and support for veterans and students as top goals. He says his approach is to bring both parties together to get results.

Bob Smith is a retired Navy commander. He served more than twenty-six years, including combat duty, and worked on radar and weapons systems. The Navy named him Engineer of the Year in 2023. He holds two engineering degrees and has lived in Carpinteria for more than ten years with his wife and children.

Smith says Central Coast families deserve a leader who solves problems, not one who chases headlines. In September 2026 he switched his voter registration to No Party Preference. He said the switch was not about President Trump. He said it was about putting the district first. He calls Carbajal a nice guy but says he has not fixed the district's problems.

Smith promises to focus on the cost of living, schools, energy, water, and the border. He calls himself a problem solver, not a politician. He says his only agenda in Congress would be what is best for the district.