Richard Pan
Advanced from the June 2, 2026 top-two primary
Richard Pan is a physician and former California State Senator who authored the state's childhood vaccination requirements. His campaign describes him as running to counter Trump administration and RFK Jr. policies on healthcare and science.[3]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
On the record — official actions
- actionChaired the California Senate Health Committee during the 2019-2020 and 2021-2022 sessions.[4]
- billAs a state senator, authored California's law tightening childhood vaccination exemption requirements, according to his campaign.[3]
- vote2019-09-10 · Voted yes on AB 1482 (the Tenant Protection Act of 2019, capping annual rent increases statewide), which passed the California Senate 25-10 on 2019-09-10.[7]
- vote2017-06-01 · Voted yes on SB 35 (streamlining local approval of affordable housing developments that meet zoning and labor standards), which passed the California Senate 25-12 on 2017-06-01.[8]
Positions on the issues
- SupportsExpand public health coverage
Campaign frames his candidacy around defending public health policy and science-based healthcare against administration rollbacks.[3]
- SupportsStronger rent regulation and tenant protectionsFrom recorded votes
Voted yes on AB 1482 (the Tenant Protection Act, capping annual rent increases statewide), which passed the California Senate 25-10 on 2019-09-10.[7]
- SupportsLoosen zoning rules to build more housingFrom recorded votes
Voted yes on SB 35 (streamlining local approval of affordable housing developments that meet zoning and labor standards), which passed the California Senate 25-12 on 2017-06-01.[8]
In their words — priorities
- Campaign describes him as a public health advocate running to oppose Trump administration and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. policies on healthcare and science.[3]
Background
- Earned a B.S. from Johns Hopkins University, an M.A. in public health from Harvard University, and an M.D. from the University of Pittsburgh.[4]
- Worked as a physician at UC Davis Children's Hospital and as an associate professor of pediatrics at UC Davis.[4]
- Served in the California State Senate representing District 6 from 2014 to 2022, including as Chair of the Senate Health Committee, after earlier service in the State Assembly.[4]
Campaign money
Raised $1.1M · spent $739K · $359K cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗