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Ballot Explained

U.S. House · November 3, 2026

Who's running in California's 41st 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
Open seat
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 · open 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.

  • Nothing documented in the sources reviewed.

What they’ve actually done

Documented record from official sources.

  • Owner of a plumbing company since 2002.
  • Studied aerospace engineering technology at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; formerly a warehouse manager.
  • Candidate for California's 30th State Senate district in 2022; lost 61% to 39%.
  • 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 Clemmons by name could be found, from his opponent, from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee or from news coverage. Because no case against him exists on the record, none is presented for him either, rather than showing his own campaign's case unanswered.
  • His policy positions beyond his candidate statement could not be established; no campaign issues page was retrievable.
  • His fundraising totals were not reported in material available.
Sources:news.ballotpedia.orgnews.ballotpedia.orgnews.ballotpedia.orgcookpolitical.comlocalcandidates.org

What they say they stand for

Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.

  • Labour and employment policy, the field she practised in before Congress.
  • Tax and health policy through the Ways and Means Committee.
  • Immigration policy.

What they’ve actually done

Documented record from official sources.

  • U.S. Representative since January 2003; re-elected in the 38th District in 2024 with 59.8%.
  • Member of the House Ways and Means Committee.
  • Labour and employment attorney; bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley and law degree from UCLA.
  • Is not the incumbent for this district as previously drawn; the old 41st was represented by Ken Calvert, who is running in the new 40th.
  • Advanced from the June 2, 2026 top-two primary.

Arguments in favor

  • "Republicans in Congress have done nothing to address rising costs. I'm fighting to lower prices and stand up for the hardworking people who keep our communities running."

    — Linda Sánchez's campaign, in a 2026 campaign advertisement

  • Twenty-three years of seniority and a seat on Ways and Means — the committee that writes tax and health law — is influence a first-term member could not replace.

    — Linda Sánchez's campaign

Arguments against

  • After more than two decades in office she is part of the problem: "The bills being passed are taking away parents' rights, harming the safety of our communities... I decided to stand up to represent the people, since our current elected officials are not." Washington, he argues, needs more people and fewer insiders.

    — Mitch Clemmons, her opponent, in his candidate statement

What we couldn’t verify

  • Only one line of published criticism of Sánchez by name in this cycle could be found. Searches against the National Republican Congressional Committee returned only a 2009 item about a House Ethics review of her payroll arrangements, which is not part of this campaign and is not presented here as one.
  • Her 2026 campaign priorities beyond cost of living were not set out in the material available.
  • Her fundraising position relative to her opponent's was not reported in material available.
Sources:news.ballotpedia.orgnews.ballotpedia.orglindasanchez.house.govcookpolitical.comvoteforlinda.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.

Proposition 50 redrew this seat: the old 41st was Ken Calvert's Riverside County district, and the new 41st is a Democratic-leaning seat in eastern Los Angeles County that Inside Elections described as a near-automatic Democratic pickup. Rep. Linda Sánchez, who has represented the neighbouring 38th since 2003, chose to run here rather than in her old district. California's June 2, 2026 top-two primary sent Sánchez and Republican Mitch Clemmons to the November ballot. Arguments are shown for Sánchez, who has a long voting record and a named critic. Clemmons, a first-time federal candidate, has drawn no published criticism by name, so no case against him exists to set beside his own; his positions and record are in his profile.

This is one contest on a longer ballot

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