Ritesh Tandon

Advanced from the June 2 top-two primary with 14.8% of the vote

Ritesh Tandon is an engineer and business executive who has run for California's 17th District twice before as the Republican top-two finisher. He was the plaintiff in Tandon v. Newsom, a 2021 U.S. Supreme Court case on religious-liberty restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

On the record — official actions

legalWas the named plaintiff in Tandon v. Newsom (2021), in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that California's COVID-19 restrictions on at-home religious gatherings likely violated the First Amendment.[3][5]

Positions on the issues

SupportsExpand immigration enforcement and deportations
Supports securing the border with technology and enforcement and ending 'catch-and-release.'[4]
“Secure the border with modern technology, anti-cartel ops, and rapid processing. End catch-and-release.”
OpposesRaise taxes on high earners or corporations
Opposes California's proposed wealth tax and a mileage tax, and calls for cutting taxes generally.[4]
“Stop tax-and-fee overload — oppose CA's wealth tax and mileage tax.”
SupportsPublic funding for school choice (vouchers / charters)
Says education funding should follow the child regardless of whether the school is public, charter, or a parent's choice.[4]
“Fund the child, not the bureaucracy — public, charter, or parents' choice.”
SupportsLoosen zoning rules to build more housing
Calls for federal incentives for new housing supply and first-time homebuyer support to address affordability.[4]

In their words — priorities

Lists affordability as a top priority, saying CA-17 families are 'squeezed by rent, gas, groceries, and healthcare,' and calls for lowering housing, healthcare, and prescription-drug costs and opposing a state wealth tax and mileage tax.[4]
Says he wants to 'bring jobs back to California' by simplifying small-business taxes, easing regulation, and fast-tracking permits for data centers, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing.[4]
Calls for 8-year congressional term limits, a ban on congressional stock trading, securing the border, and enforcing voter ID.[4]

Background

Earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering from L.D. College of Engineering in India, an M.S. in computer engineering from Santa Clara University, and an M.B.A. from Santa Clara University.[3]
Worked as CEO of Kricel Corporation and as a research fellow at UC Berkeley; has served as chief liaison officer for the Smart Village Movement and vice-chairman of UPMA.[3]
Worked as an engineer at Cisco for 11 years, where he helped design IP phones.[4]

Campaign money