--- title: "Garcia vs. Burley: 2026 California’s 42nd District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-ca-42" updated: "2026-08-01" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 California’s 42nd District race: Robert Garcia (D) vs. Brian Burley (R) Rating: Safe D · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 1, 2026 Incumbent Democratic Representative Robert Garcia faces Republican challenger Brian Burley in the general election for California's 42nd Congressional District on November 3, 2026. Garcia, a former Mayor of Long Beach first elected to Congress in 2022, advanced from the primary with 54.5% of the vote alongside Burley, a business owner and elected school board member who received 21.5%. The contest hinges on a stark ideological contrast between Garcia's progressive platform on Medicare for All, climate action, labor rights, and sanctuary protections, and Burley's conservative priorities focused on tax relief, border security, supporting law enforcement, and parental involvement in education. ## Candidates - **Robert Garcia** (Democrat, incumbent) · [Campaign site](https://robertgarcia.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Robert_Garcia_%28California%29) - **Brian Burley** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://www.burley4congress.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Brian_Burley) ## Issues ### Economy and taxation Salience: high Garcia advocates for progressive labor reforms like a $15 federal minimum wage and union protections, whereas Burley prioritizes tax relief for businesses and families alongside fiscal restraint. **Robert Garcia:** Supports progressive labor and tax policies Garcia advocates for economic policies that bolster working-class families, including a nationwide $15 minimum wage, reform of overtime rules, expanded paid family leave, and public banking options. He supports federal tax relief targeted at workers, such as expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit and passing the PRO Act to strengthen union organizing. - Supports a federal $15 minimum wage and expanded paid family leave - Pledges to pass the PRO Act to make union organizing easier - Voted Yea on the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 (H.R. 7024) - Voted Nay on the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 (H.R. 2811) and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) > “I’ll fight for a nationwide $15 minimum wage, reform overtime rules, public banks, expand paid family leave, and boost programs that help working families like the earned income tax credit.” > — Robert Garcia, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Robert_Garcia_%28California%29) **Brian Burley:** Supports tax relief for families and businesses Burley's economic platform focuses on providing tax relief to local families and business owners to combat rising living costs. He emphasizes responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, pointing to his record on a local school board. - Advocates for tax relief targeted at families and business owners - Emphasizes fiscal discipline and responsible management of taxpayer dollars - Focuses on mitigating rising costs faced by district households > “I know what families in our district are facing: rising costs, public safety concerns, and a government that too often forgets who it works for.” > — Brian Burley, via [Campaign site](https://www.burley4congress.com/) ### Immigration and border security Salience: high Garcia supports sanctuary city policies and citizenship pathways for undocumented immigrants, while Burley pledges to take a firm stand against illegal immigration. **Robert Garcia:** Supports immigration reform and sanctuary protections Garcia supports creating broad pathways to citizenship for undocumented residents and eliminating legal discrimination based on immigration status. As mayor, he established Long Beach as a sanctuary city and created a legal defense fund for residents facing deportation. - Established sanctuary city policies and a legal defense fund in Long Beach - Supports expanding pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants - Voted Nay on enforcement legislation including the Laken Riley Act (S. 5), SAVE Act (H.R. 22), and Secure the Border Act (H.R. 2) > “In Congress, I will fight hard to expand pathways to citizenship for undocumented residents and fight to end legal discrimination against undocumented residents.” > — Robert Garcia, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Robert_Garcia_%28California%29) **Brian Burley:** Opposes illegal immigration Burley places opposition to illegal immigration among his top campaign priorities. He pledges to take a firm stand against illegal immigration to protect border security and uphold the rule of law. - Pledges to take a strong stand against illegal immigration - Aligns with conservative border security priorities ### Education Salience: medium Garcia promotes federal student loan cancellation and tuition-free public college, whereas Burley highlights his school board record fighting for parental rights and fiscal oversight. **Robert Garcia:** Supports universal pre-K and tuition-free college Garcia advocates for canceling federal student loan debt and making public higher education tuition-free across the nation. He also supports universal pre-K and child care, building on a two-year free tuition initiative he implemented as mayor. - Supports canceling federal student loan debt and enacting cost-free public college - Advocates for universal child care and pre-K education - Voted Nay on the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 (H.R. 28) **Brian Burley:** Supports parental rights and educational opportunity Burley draws on his experience as an elected member of the Huntington Beach City School District Board of Trustees to emphasize protecting parents' voices in education. He advocates for ensuring student opportunities while maintaining fiscal accountability. - Serves on the Huntington Beach City School District Board of Trustees - Pledges to protect parents' involvement and voices in local schools - Focuses on expanding opportunities for all students to succeed > “As a school board member, I’ve worked to protect parents’ voices, ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed and I have strived to be a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars.” > — Brian Burley, via [Campaign site](https://www.burley4congress.com/) ### Public safety and law enforcement Salience: medium Garcia supports federal police accountability reforms like the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, while Burley emphasizes unwavering support for law enforcement and local safety. **Robert Garcia:** Supports federal police accountability reform Garcia advocates for systemic policing reforms and civil rights protections through federal legislation like the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. His platform emphasizes eliminating institutional racism and modernizing anti-discrimination statutes. - Supports the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act - Established municipal equity programs as mayor of Long Beach - Supports expanding federal civil rights and anti-discrimination laws **Brian Burley:** Supports law enforcement and neighborhood safety Burley prioritizes backing law enforcement personnel and addressing community crime concerns. He commits to protecting police funding and fighting for safe neighborhoods. - Pledges to fully support and protect law enforcement officers and the military - Identifies public safety concerns as a major focus for district families > “I know what families in our district are facing: rising costs, public safety concerns, and a government that too often forgets who it works for.” > — Brian Burley, via [Campaign site](https://www.burley4congress.com/) ### Healthcare and social safety net Salience: medium Garcia supports Medicare for All and expanded safety net entitlements, while Burley limits his safety net platform to preserving Social Security. **Robert Garcia:** Supports Medicare for All and safety net expansion Garcia considers healthcare a fundamental human right and co-chairs Mayors 4 Medicare in support of a single-payer system. He advocates for protecting and expanding eligibility for Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and municipal guaranteed income initiatives. - Co-chairs Mayors 4 Medicare and supports passing Medicare for All - Advocates expanding eligibility and benefits for Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security - Voted Yea on the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 (H.R. 82) > “Healthcare is a human right and your coverage shouldn’t depend on your employment.” > — Robert Garcia, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Robert_Garcia_%28California%29) > “In Congress, I will fight to protect and expand eligibility and benefits for Medicaid, Social Security and Medicare.” > — Robert Garcia, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Robert_Garcia_%28California%29) **Brian Burley:** Supports protecting Social Security Burley pledges to protect and restore Social Security as a key item in his platform. He focuses on preserving safety net protections for seniors and current workers. - Pledges to work to save, protect, and restore Social Security ### LGBTQ+ and civil rights Salience: low Garcia champions expanded federal protections for LGBTQ+ Americans, whereas Burley campaigns on restoring traditional family values. **Robert Garcia:** Supports expanded LGBTQ+ protections Garcia advocates for strengthening federal civil rights laws to protect LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination. As mayor, he enacted trans-inclusive health benefits and achieved top equality ratings for Long Beach. - Enacted trans-inclusive municipal healthcare coverage as mayor of Long Beach - Pledges to pass federal non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ Americans - Voted Nay on the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 (H.R. 28) **Brian Burley:** Supports traditional family values Burley includes restoring traditional American family values as a central pillar of his platform, reflecting a conservative social agenda. - Pledges to fight to restore American family values ### Democracy and voting rights Salience: medium Garcia supports federal voting rights legislation and overturning Citizens United, whereas Burley has no documented position on election policy in the sources. **Robert Garcia:** Supports federal voting rights legislation Garcia views defending democracy against far-right threats as a paramount duty in Congress. He supports passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, the Freedom to Vote Act, and overturning Citizens United while refusing corporate PAC contributions. - Supports the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and Freedom to Vote Act - Supports ending Citizens United and refuses corporate PAC contributions - Voted Nay on the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) requiring documentary proof of citizenship to vote > “The most important issue facing Congress today is to defend our democracy against attacks from the extreme far-right.” > — Robert Garcia, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Robert_Garcia_%28California%29) **Brian Burley:** No documented position in our sources ### Energy and climate policy Salience: medium Garcia strongly supports the Green New Deal and a transition away from fossil fuels, while Burley lists no documented energy platform in the sources. **Robert Garcia:** Supports the Green New Deal Garcia endorses the Green New Deal and supports a rapid transition away from fossil fuels. He signed the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge and previously advanced local climate initiatives such as bus fleet electrification and youth climate corps. - Strongly supports the Green New Deal and signed the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge - Spearheaded local clean energy and fleet electrification programs as mayor - Voted Nay on the Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R. 1) > “I strongly support the Green New Deal.” > — Robert Garcia, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Robert_Garcia_%28California%29) **Brian Burley:** No documented position in our sources ### Housing policy Salience: low Garcia considers housing a human right and supports expanding public housing construction, while Burley has no documented housing position. **Robert Garcia:** Supports expanded affordable public housing Garcia views housing as a fundamental human right and supports expanding federal investments in public and affordable housing development. He advocates for permanent supportive housing, shelter, and services for unhoused populations located near transit and job hubs. - Declares housing a human right and supports constructing quality public housing - Advocates federal development incentives near transit corridors and urban jobs - Supports supportive housing and services for unhoused individuals **Brian Burley:** No documented position in our sources ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/ca-42-house-election-winner) — CA-42 House Election Winner: Democrats 96.7%, Republicans 1.9% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXHOUSERACE-CA42-26) — CA-42 House winner?: Robert Garcia 96.4%, Brian Burley 3.4% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-ca-42)