Skip to main content

Federal · Statewide General Election

United States Representative, District 42

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 Robert Garcia took 56.5% of the June 2 vote and Republican Brian Burley took 20.6% to claim the second slot. The district covers Long Beach and part of the South Bay.

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. Seniority governs committee standing, so a longer-serving member carries influence a newcomer cannot.

The incumbent raised $2.6 million with three-quarters of it from individuals, an unusually individual-funded profile at that scale. His challenger is largely self-financed. The practical question is what this district gets from a seat held comfortably.

Robert Garcia

Democrat, the sitting Representative for this district since 2023. He has sponsored 21 bills in the 119th Congress, and 1 of his career bills has become law. He raised $2,615,120, of which $1,958,612 came from individuals and $625,683 from PACs and committees.

Strengths

Three-quarters of a $2.6 million campaign came from named individuals rather than committees, an unusual composition at that scale.

Trade-offs

One career law is a thin enacted return, though typical for a second-term member.

Keep in mind

A 56.5% primary is on the lower end for a member in a district of this registration.

Brian Burley

Republican, who advanced with 20.6% of the June vote. He raised $231,371, of which $186,000 is his own money. He has not served in the California Legislature or U.S. Congress.

Strengths

A funded challenge in a district his party rarely contests seriously.

Trade-offs

Roughly eight of every ten dollars are his own, and he has no record in office to be judged on.

Keep in mind

Coverage surfaced little detail about his platform. That gap is what was available to us on 2026-08-10, not a comment on his candidacy.

Record in office

Robert Garcia (Democratic) has served in the U.S. House since 2023 and has sponsored 21 bills in the 119th Congress; 1 of their career bills have become law. Brian Burley 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

Garcia — Committees: Oversight and Government Reform; Transportation and Infrastructure Garcia — HR 5301 (2024): Eliminate Useless Reports Act of 2024 Committee assignments and the most recently signed-into-law bills each record-holder lead-authored, from the official legislative record.

Financial info

Brian Burley

$231,371raised
  • Individuals$44,85719%
  • Self-funding$186,00081%

Robert Garcia

$2,615,120raised
  • Individuals$1,958,61276%
  • PACs & committees$625,68324%

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

Robert Garcia (Democratic)56.5% · 114,942 votes
Brian Burley (Republican)20.6% · 41,919 votes
Noah Von Blom (Republican)16.8% · 34,124 votes
Long Pham (Republican)4.9% · 10,036 votes
Larisa Vermeulen (No Party Preference)1.2% · 2,518 votes
Source review: Very strong (95/100) · 5 cited sources

Official records anchor this contest, with multiple sources checked.

Last updated August 11, 2026.