Who's In the Race

Rep. Luz Rivas (D-CA) faces fellow Democrat Angélica María Dueñas in the Nov. 3 general election in California's 29th Congressional District. California uses a top-two primary system, which sends the two highest vote-getters to the general election regardless of party. The district's boundaries changed under Proposition 50's new congressional map for 2026. ​

Rivas is an engineer and educator who was elected to represent the 29th District in 2025. In the June 2 top-two primary, she took about 51 percent of the vote. Dueñas is a mother, activist, and community organizer born and raised in the San Fernando Valley who is raising five children attending Los Angeles Unified School District schools. Dueñas finished second in the primary with about 25 percent of the vote, edging out Republican Rudy Melendez, who took about 24 percent.

What They Stand For

Rivas has proposed expanding access to undergraduate research in STEM, introducing a bill on the subject in August 2026, according to her official House website. She has also supported:

  • Co-chairing the STEM Education Caucus,
  • Introducing a resolution commemorating National STEM Day; and
  • Legislation to broaden STEM education opportunities, per her House press-release page.

Dueñas has called for a "people first approach to governance," according to her campaign website. She has also supported:

  • Healthcare, jobs, and housing,
  • Clean energy and immigration reform; and
  • Criminal justice reform.

The Money Behind the Race

Rivas raised about $671,000 through June 30 and had about $377,000 in the bank, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings. Dueñas raised about $37,000 through June 30 and had about $3,300 on hand, per FEC filings.

Outside spending in the race totaled just over $10, all of it supporting Rivas, as of Oct. 13.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

The Cook Political Report rated the race "Solid Democratic" as of Oct. 9; Sabato's Crystal Ball gave it the same rating as of Oct. 11; and Inside Elections also called it "Solid Democratic" as of Oct. 2.

On Kalshi, Democrats were given a 96 percent chance of winning California's 29th U.S. House District as of Sept. 5.

The district has backed Democrats in each of the last two cycles: Tony Cárdenas won it in 2022 with about 59 percent of the vote, and Rivas carried it in 2024 with about 70 percent. Democrats won 43 of California's 52 U.S. House seats in 2024. Kamala Harris carried California in the 2024 presidential election with about 58 percent of the vote.

Voters must register online or by mail postmarked by Monday, Oct. 19; same-day conditional registration is available from Tuesday, Oct. 20 through Election Day. The deadline to request a mail ballot is Tuesday, Oct. 27. In-person early voting at Los Angeles County's 11-day Vote Centers runs Saturday, Oct. 24 through Monday, Nov. 2, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

---

AllCiv makes it easy to stay politically informed and involved.

---

Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article