United States Representative, 42nd District in Congressional District 42, California

2026 Primary Election

• Gwendolyn Molina — Mother and Freelancer in Downey, California

  Gwendolyn Molina, also known as "Gwen The Dem," is a mother of four with a degree in Graphic Design. She has a background working in customer service, running an Etsy shop, and freelancing. Molina emphasizes her lived experiences, including facing layoffs, homelessness, and relying on public assistance programs like SNAP and Medi-Cal, as core to her qualifications and understanding of the struggles of working-class families. She is running on a platform that she is not a typical politician and has direct experience with the issues many constituents face.

• Shonique Williams — Civil Rights Leader in Downey, California

  Shonique Williams is a civil rights leader, community advocate, and a first-generation college graduate raised in Southern California. Her career has included roles as an organizer, advocate, small business owner, and in the legal field. She has served as a statewide organizer for criminal justice reform for the Women's Foundation California and has been involved with initiatives like the Women's Dignity Campaign and "Ban the Box" legislation. Williams has a history of advocating for systemic change, assisting formerly incarcerated individuals, supporting survivors of violence, and pushing for affordable housing and higher education pathways. Her political motivation is also shaped by personal experiences with the justice system, including a wrongful incarceration.

• Hector De La Torre — Executive Director of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments in South Gate, California

  Hector de la Torre is a politician from Los Angeles County. He earned a bachelor's degree in Diplomacy and World Affairs from Occidental College and attended graduate school at George Washington University. His career in public service includes serving on the South Gate City Council from 1997 to 2004, including two years as mayor. He is known for leading a successful grassroots campaign to recall corrupt officials in South Gate. From 2004 to 2010, he represented the 50th District in the California State Assembly. His professional experience also includes roles as a judicial administrator for the Los Angeles County Superior Court, a staffer for multiple congressmen, and Executive Director of the Transamerica Center for Health Studies. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments and is a member of the California Air Resources Board.

• Robert Garcia — Incumbent U.S. Representative for California's 42nd congressional district in Long Beach, California

  Robert Garcia, born in Lima, Peru, immigrated to the United States at the age of five. He became a U.S. citizen in his early 20s. Garcia holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications from California State University, Long Beach, a Master's degree from the University of Southern California, and a Doctorate in Education from California State University, Long Beach. Before his election to Congress in 2022, he served as the 28th Mayor of Long Beach from 2014 to 2022. He was also a member of the Long Beach City Council from 2009 to 2014. Garcia is the first Peruvian American and first openly LGBTQ+ immigrant elected to Congress.

• Larisa Vermeulen — Teacher in Long Beach, California

  Larisa Vermeulen is a trilingual French, Spanish, and Futures teacher. She was born in Santa Ana and grew up in North Long Beach. She earned a B.A. in French Language and Literature in 1990 and an M.A. in the same field in 1992, both from California State University, Long Beach.

• Mitch Clemmons — Business Owner in Whittier, California

  Mitch Clemmons is a local plumbing contractor and business owner with 30 years of experience in his community. He previously ran for California State Senate to represent District 30, losing in the general election on November 8, 2022. He also had a brief campaign for the U.S. House to represent California's 38th Congressional District but did not appear on the primary ballot in June 2022.

• Linda Sánchez — Incumbent U.S. Representative for California's 38th Congressional District in Whittier, California

  Linda Teresa Sánchez, born January 28, 1969, is an American politician and former labor lawyer. She is the daughter of Mexican immigrants and grew up in Orange County. Sánchez earned a Bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Juris Doctor degree from the UCLA School of Law. Before her career in Congress, she specialized in labor law, working for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and as the executive secretary-treasurer of the Orange County branch of the AFL-CIO. First elected to Congress in 2002, she currently represents California's 38th district and is a senior member of the House Committee on Ways and Means. She is the first woman of color to be elected to a leadership position in the U.S. Congress.

• Brian Burley — Trustee, Huntington Beach City School District Board in Huntington Beach, CA

  Brian Burley is a Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives for California's 42nd Congressional District in 2026. He currently serves as a Trustee on the Huntington Beach City School District Board, a position he was elected to in 2024. Burley earned a bachelor's degree in political economy and multiple master's degrees from the University of Southern California. Professionally, he has worked in higher education as an IT analyst and owned an IT consulting small business.

• Long Pham — Candidate for United States Representative in Fountain Valley, CA

  Long Pham is a businessman and nuclear engineer running as a Republican for the U.S. House of Representatives in California's 42nd Congressional District in the 2026 election. A veteran of the United States Army National Guard with over 30 years of service, he has a professional background in nuclear engineering and previously worked for Southern California Edison.

• Noah Von Blom — Newport Beach City Council Member in Newport Beach, CA

  Noah Von Blom is a chef, small business owner, and local official who has served on the Newport Beach City Council since 2020, including a term as the city's mayor. A native of Newport Beach, California, Von Blom and his wife own and operate multiple restaurants in Orange County. He is running as a Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in California's 42nd Congressional District for the 2026 primary election.