U.S. House · California's 42nd District

Long Beach and surrounding Los Angeles County communities, redrawn under Proposition 50 (approved November 2025).

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

✓ Fact-checked 2026-09-25: 24 claims re-checked against their sources

A second, independent research pass re-opened every cited source for this race and corrected or removed anything the source didn’t support.

On the ballot · 2 candidates

Where they stand — side by side

Only positions documented in a cited source are shown. Where an officeholder’s recorded votes speak to an issue, the votes set the position (marked “votes”). A dash means we found no clear public position — not that the candidate has none.

ISSUERobert Garcia
D
Brian Burley
R
Expand immigration enforcement and deportationsOpposes[6][7][8][9][10]votesSupports[5]
Raise taxes on high earners or corporationsSupports[7][8][9]votes—
Expand public health coverageSupports[7][8][9][11]votes—
Faster transition away from fossil fuelsSupports[7][8][9]votes—
Raise the minimum wageSupports[2]—
Broad tariffs on imported goodsOpposes[12]votes—
Universal, publicly funded child careSupports[2]—

The candidates, in full

Robert Garcia

DINCUMBENTU.S. Representative for California's 42nd District (since 2023)

Won the June 2, 2026 top-two primary with 56.5% of the vote.

Robert Garcia is the Democratic incumbent seeking re-election in the 42nd District. He previously served as mayor of Long Beach from 2014 to 2022 and on the Long Beach City Council from 2009 to 2014.[1]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Key votes in Congress

  • YesWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · H. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · 2026-06-03 roll call ↗The resolution directs the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran that Congress has not authorized, invoking the War Powers Resolution. It passed the House with support from Democrats and a number of Republicans.
  • YesResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · H.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · 2026-02-11 roll call ↗The resolution terminates the national emergency the President declared in February 2025 to justify a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada, ending that tariff if it becomes law. It passed with a bipartisan majority, including several Republicans who broke with the administration on trade policy.
  • NoConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government funding · H.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · 2026-02-03 roll call ↗The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026.
  • YesBreaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · H.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · 2026-01-08 roll call ↗The bill extends for additional years the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that were expanded in 2021 and had lapsed at the end of 2025, lowering health-insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on ACA marketplaces. It passed with support from nearly all Democrats and a small group of Republicans.
  • YesWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela · H. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · 2025-12-17 roll call ↗The resolution would have directed the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized. It failed after U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela had raised questions in Congress about the administration's legal authority for military action in the region.
  • NoNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passage · S. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · 2025-12-10 roll call ↗The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. It also sets policy on military personnel, procurement, and other Defense Department programs for the year.
  • YesEpstein Files Transparency Act · H.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · 2025-11-18 roll call ↗The bill directs the Department of Justice to publicly release its investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, while allowing redactions to protect victim identities, ongoing investigations, and law enforcement techniques. It passed with near-unanimous support.
  • NoContinuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending vote · H.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · 2025-11-12 roll call ↗The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. It also reversed shutdown-related federal layoffs and funded SNAP benefits retroactively.
  • NoCLARITY Act — digital asset market structure · H.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The CLARITY Act creates a regulatory framework dividing oversight of digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It sets registration and disclosure requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges and other digital-asset intermediaries.
  • YesGENIUS Act — stablecoin regulation · S. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and to comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation enacted into federal law.
  • NoOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · 2025-07-03 roll call ↗H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and raises the cap on state and local tax deductions. It increases border security and defense spending while cutting projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adding new work requirements; President Trump signed it into law on July 4, 2025.
  • NoRescissions Act of 2025 · H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · 2025-06-12 roll call ↗The Rescissions Act canceled about $9 billion in previously approved federal spending, mostly for foreign aid programs and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was the first rescissions package Congress had approved in decades.
  • NoOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · 2025-05-22 roll call ↗H.R. 1 extends and modifies the 2017 individual and business tax cuts, creates new deductions for tips and overtime pay, and increases spending on border security and defense. It also reduces projected spending on Medicaid and food-assistance programs and adds new work requirements for some recipients.
  • NoSAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · H.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · 2025-04-10 roll call ↗The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person when registering to vote in federal elections. It also directs states to establish procedures to remove noncitizens identified on voter rolls.
  • NoFull-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 · H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · 2025-03-11 roll call ↗The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown ahead of a March 14 deadline. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations.
  • NoLaken Riley Act — final passage · S. 5 · Passed 263–156 · 2025-01-22 roll call ↗The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions.
  • NoSecure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · H.R. 2 · Passed 219–213 · 2023-05-11 roll call ↗Would have resumed border-wall construction, restricted asylum eligibility, expanded detention, and mandated E-Verify for employers.

On the record — official actions

  • actionAssigned to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the Committee on Homeland Security, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for the 2025-2026 term.[1]

Positions on the issues

  • SupportsRaise the minimum wage

    Says he will fight for a nationwide $15 minimum wage, citing his push to raise Long Beach's minimum wage to $15 an hour in 2016.[2]

  • SupportsExpand public health coverageFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements. Voted yes on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08).[7][8][9][11]

    What they say: Says he supports Medicare for All and co-chairs Mayors 4 Medicare, and will fight to protect and expand Medicaid, Social Security and Medicare in Congress.[2]

    “I believe the best approach to fixing our healthcare system is passing Medicare for All.”
  • SupportsFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits.[7][8][9]

    What they say: Says he strongly supports the Green New Deal and will fight to transition away from fossil fuels, citing Long Beach's fleet electrification and green-jobs programs under his mayoralty.[2]

  • OpposesExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22). Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations. Voted no on Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2, 2023-05-11).[6][7][8][9][10]

    What they say: Says he will fight to expand pathways to citizenship for undocumented residents and end legal discrimination against them, citing his work establishing a legal defense fund and sanctuary-city protections in Long Beach.[2]

  • SupportsUniversal, publicly funded child care

    Says every parent should be able to afford child care and that he will fight for universal child care and pre-K in Congress.[2]

  • SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent.[7][8][9]

  • OpposesBroad tariffs on imported goodsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11).[12]

In their words — priorities

  • Defending democracy, citing support for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act.[2]
  • Raising the minimum wage and expanding the social safety net, including Medicaid, Social Security, Medicare and universal child care.[2]
  • Expanding pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.[2]

Background

  • Born in Lima, Peru, in 1977; earned a bachelor's degree in communication studies from California State University, Long Beach (2002), a master's degree from the University of Southern California (2005), and an Ed.D. in higher education from CSU Long Beach (2010).[1]
  • Worked as a professor of public policy and communications at USC, CSU Long Beach and Long Beach City College before entering elected office.[1]
  • Served on the Long Beach City Council from 2009 to 2014 (vice-mayor from 2012 to 2014), then as mayor of Long Beach from 2014 to 2022.[1]

Campaign money

Raised $2.6M · spent $1.6M · $1.4M cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗

Brian Burley

RMember, Huntington Beach City School District board (since 2024)

Advanced from the June 2, 2026 top-two primary with 20.6% of the vote.

Brian Burley is the Republican candidate in the 42nd District. He owns an information-technology consulting company and was elected to the Huntington Beach City School District board in 2024.[3]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Positions on the issues

  • SupportsExpand immigration enforcement and deportations

    Says he will take a stand against illegal immigration.[5]

    “Take a Stand Against Illegal Immigration”

In their words — priorities

  • Says he will advocate for tax relief for families and business owners, take a stand against illegal immigration, fully support law enforcement and the military, and work to restore what he calls American family values.[5]
  • Says his approach as a school board member — protecting parents' voices and stewarding taxpayer dollars responsibly — is the servant-leadership style he would bring to Congress, focused on safe neighborhoods, quality education and a strong economy.[5]

Background

  • Raised in a small town in Michigan, where his father was a forklift operator and his mother worked as a waitress and an accountant.[4]
  • Earned a bachelor's degree in political economy and a master's degree in public policy from the University of Southern California.[3]
  • Owns an information-technology consulting and social-media marketing company based in Huntington Beach, and has worked as an IT analyst at the University of Southern California.[3]
  • Has been affiliated with the Orange County Central Committee of the Republican Party in California; elected to the Huntington Beach City School District board in 2024.[3]

Campaign money

Raised $231K · spent $232K · $5,509 cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗

Research notes & limits

Basic-tier research from Ballotpedia and campaign-site material; federal key votes and FEC totals for the incumbent are added separately.

Sources · 12

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.Robert Garcia (California) · Ballotpedia Reference
  2. 2.Robert Garcia campaign website, quoted on Ballotpedia · Robert Garcia for Congress (via Ballotpedia) Candidate's own words
  3. 3.Brian Burley · Ballotpedia Reference
  4. 4.Brian Burley — Candidate Connection survey (2019) · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2019-01-01 Candidate's own words
  5. 5.Home / Why I Am Running · Brian Burley for Congress campaign website · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
  6. 6.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  7. 7.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  8. 8.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  9. 9.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  10. 10.Roll call: Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2023-05-11 Official record
  11. 11.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  12. 12.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record