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Ballot Explained

U.S. House · November 3, 2026

Who's running in California's 27th congressional district

2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.

Candidates
2
Incumbent
George Whitesides
Parties
Republican · Democratic
State primary
Jun 2

Candidates appear in ballot order. We do not rank them, score them, or recommend one — here is how this is put together, and here is what the office actually does.

2 candidates · ballot order · George Whitesides currently holds this seat

Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.

What they say they stand for

Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.

  • Federal investment in the Interstate 5 and Highway 14 corridors.
  • Encouraging business relocation to the district and creating high-quality jobs.
  • Border security, removal of dangerous criminals and reducing visa backlogs; he calls the immigration system broken.
  • The administration's tax reductions and economic approach; he acknowledges tariffs have short-term costs but argues they address long-term outsourcing.
  • Support for the administration's action on Iran.

What they’ve actually done

Documented record from official sources.

  • Santa Clarita city councilmember since 2020; mayor in 2023.
  • Mechanical engineer; bachelor's and master's degrees from Cal Poly; worked in the aerospace industry.
  • Has served on the boards of the Boys and Girls Club, the Valley Industry Association and the Salvation Army.
  • In July 2026 the Los Angeles County city selection committee declined to confirm him to the Metro board, an unusual outcome; he received roughly 70 of the 250 to 300 weighted votes present.
  • Finished first in the June 2, 2026 primary with about 43%.

Arguments in favor

  • He would push for federal money for the Interstate 5 and Highway 14 corridors and work to bring employers and higher-paying jobs into the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys.

    — Jason Gibbs's campaign

  • He backs the administration's tax cuts and border enforcement and argues tariffs, whatever their short-term cost, address decades of industry moving offshore.

    — Jason Gibbs, in a candidate questionnaire

Arguments against

  • "A vote for Gibbs is a vote for Trump and ICE."

    — Jacob Wasserman, a Los Angeles transportation advocate, speaking against his Metro board nomination

  • The county selection committee declined to seat him on the Metro board in July 2026 — a rejection with almost no precedent in twenty years — after more than a dozen speakers objected that he emphasises freeways while downplaying transit, walking and cycling.

    — Streetsblog Los Angeles, reporting the committee vote

What we couldn’t verify

  • His positions on health care and on the federal Medicaid changes were not stated in material available.
  • His fundraising relative to the incumbent's was not reported in material available.
Their campaign site ↗Sources:jasongibbsforcongress.comaol.comla.streetsblog.orgsignalscv.comballotpedia.org

What they say they stand for

Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.

  • Federal funding for community colleges, job training, transportation and the district's aerospace employers.
  • Road improvements and rail modernisation in the Antelope and Santa Clarita valleys.
  • Immigration reform that secures the border while creating legal pathways to citizenship, particularly for people brought to the country as children.
  • Opposition to federal policies he says raise costs, remove people from health coverage and let poorly trained immigration agents violate rights.
  • Congressional authorisation before military action against Iran.
  • Wildfire policy, the subject of the non-profit he co-founded.

What they’ve actually done

Documented record from official sources.

  • U.S. Representative since January 2025; won the seat in 2024 with 51.3%.
  • Chief of staff at NASA during the Obama administration; served on the 2008 presidential transition team.
  • First chief executive of Virgin Galactic.
  • Co-founder of Megafire Action, a wildfire policy non-profit.
  • Board member of the Antelope Valley economic development organisation.
  • Named a target by the National Republican Congressional Committee.
  • Finished second in the June 2, 2026 primary with about 41%.

Arguments in favor

  • In one term he has brought federal money into the district for community colleges, job training, transportation and aerospace, in a region whose economy runs on those things.

    — George Whitesides's campaign

  • He wants immigration changes that secure the border while creating legal pathways, particularly for people brought here as children, rather than enforcement he says is being carried out by poorly trained agents.

    — George Whitesides, in a candidate questionnaire

Arguments against

  • He has let down middle-class families in a district where costs have risen, and Republican polling finds him out of touch with it.

    — National Republican Congressional Committee

  • He is pursuing a national agenda his opponents call "Project 2026" rather than the district's priorities.

    — National Republican Congressional Committee, in paid advertising

What we couldn’t verify

  • A campaign website could not be confirmed; the positions above come from a candidate questionnaire and reporting.
  • His fundraising position for the general election was not reported in material available.
  • His response to the NRCC's specific claims.
Sources:aol.comnrcc.orgnrcc.orgballotpedia.orgballotpedia.org

Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.

California's June 2, 2026 top-two primary sent Republican Santa Clarita councilmember Jason Gibbs, with about 43%, and Democratic incumbent George Whitesides, with about 41%, to the November ballot; two other Democrats were eliminated. The district covers Santa Clarita, Lancaster and Palmdale. Whitesides won the seat in 2024 by beating Republican Mike Garcia, and the National Republican Congressional Committee lists it as a target. Roster confirmed against Ballotpedia's primary results.

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