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Ballot Explained

U.S. House · November 3, 2026

Who's running in California's 34th 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
Jimmy Gomez
Parties
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 · Jimmy Gomez 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.

  • Tax policy, the largest share of the legislation he sponsors.
  • Health care and public health.
  • Immigration.
  • Affordable housing.
  • Environmental justice and water conservation.
  • Campaign finance disclosure and civic engagement; LGBTQ+ rights.

What they’ve actually done

Documented record from official sources.

  • U.S. Representative for the 34th District since 2017; re-elected in 2024 with 55.6%.
  • Assistant whip of the House Democratic Caucus and deputy whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
  • Member of the California State Assembly before Congress.
  • Endorsed by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
  • Led the June 2, 2026 primary field of seven candidates.

Arguments in favor

  • He led the all-party June primary 46% to 26% against a challenger backed by Justice Democrats, the group that has unseated other incumbents, in a district Kamala Harris carried with 73%.

    — Primary results reported by The Downballot and Cook Political Report

  • He has represented downtown and East Los Angeles since 2017 and clashed publicly with the Republican Speaker on behalf of his caucus.

    — Washington Examiner

Arguments against

  • He shows a "pattern of bad judgment" and is "unfit to lead", and Angelenos believe he should withdraw his bid for re-election in light of the ethics investigation and the allegations of sexual harassment and assault against him.

    — Angela Gonzales-Torres, his opponent on this ballot

  • He is the subject of a House Ethics Committee investigation, which began after the New York Post reported that the married congressman had been seen kissing another member's staffer at a 2023 party.

    — House Ethics Committee investigation reported by the Washington Examiner and Newsweek

What we couldn’t verify

  • Gomez's response to the allegations and the ethics investigation was not established from the sources found, and the committee had not reported findings.
  • This is a same-party contest: California's top-two primary sent two Democrats to the November ballot.
  • The district's boundaries changed under Proposition 50, approved in November 2025; how that changes the seat was not established from the sources found.
Their campaign site ↗Sources:jimmygomezforcongress.comtheeastsiderla.comgovtrack.usballotpedia.orgwashingtonexaminer.comthe-downballot.comnewsweek.com

What they say they stand for

Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.

  • Housing for All — her campaign's first stated priority.
  • Economic dignity and security for working families.

What they’ve actually done

Documented record from official sources.

  • President and at-large councillor of the Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council, 2023 to 2025.
  • Endorsed by Justice Democrats.
  • Raised $76,335 through the primary period.
  • Has not held elected public office.
  • Advanced from the June 2, 2026 top-two primary.

Arguments in favor

We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.

Arguments against

We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.

What we couldn’t verify

  • No published criticism of Gonzales-Torres by name could be found: not from Jimmy Gomez or his campaign and not from Los Angeles news coverage. Because no case against her exists on the record, none is presented for her either, rather than showing her own campaign's case unanswered.
  • She is a college counsellor backed by Justice Democrats and took 26% in the June primary.
  • Her fundraising totals were not reported in material available.
Sources:theeastsiderla.comballotpedia.orgnbcnews.com

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.

This is a race between two Democrats. California's June 2, 2026 top-two primary drew seven candidates in this heavily Democratic Eastside Los Angeles district and sent incumbent Jimmy Gomez and Angela Gonzales-Torres to the November ballot. Neither candidate is listed with arguments for or against here: no published criticism of either candidate by name from someone opposing them could be found, and setting out a case against one and not the other would tilt the page.

This is one contest on a longer ballot

A California ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.

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