Who's In the Race

Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) faces fellow Democrat Angela Gonzales-Torres in the Nov. 3 general election in California's 34th District. California uses a top-two primary system, in which all candidates appear on the same ballot, and the two highest vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of party. ​

Both nominees are Democrats, setting up an intraparty contest in one of the California House races drawing attention this cycle.

Gomez has represented the district since 2017, previously serving in the California State Assembly from 2012 to 2017, where he chaired its Appropriations Committee, and working before that as a union organizer and renters' advocate.

In the June 2 top-two primary, Gomez led the field with about 46 percent of the vote; Gonzales-Torres finished second with about 31 percent, edging out Republican Calvin Lee, who received about 14 percent. Gonzales-Torres is a housing advocate who grew up in Section 8 housing, and her campaign describes her as a community advocate.

What They Stand For

Gomez has supported Medicare for All, describing it on his official House website as a single-payer system that guarantees healthcare regardless of income. He's also supported:

  • Expanding federal rental assistance and increasing the supply of affordable housing,
  • Expanding eligibility for the Health Care Affordability Act of 2025,
  • Eliminating tuition and fees for qualifying public higher education; and
  • Prohibiting federal agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, from using private, for-profit detention facilities.

Gonzales-Torres has proposed permanently affordable housing for all residents, according to her campaign website. She's also supported:

  • Co-sponsoring Medicare for All and canceling medical debt,
  • Fully funding early-childhood and special education, canceling student debt, and making public college tuition-free; and
  • Ensuring mixed-status households have access to essential services, including healthcare and housing support.

The Money Behind the Race

Jimmy Gomez raised about $1.2 million through June 30, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings, and had about $782,000 in the bank. Angela Gonzales-Torres raised about $229,000 through the same period and had about $44,000 cash on hand, with about $24,000 in debt, per FEC filings.

Outside spending in the race totaled negative $24,800 as of Oct. 13, according to the race record. The United Democracy Project reported support totaling about negative $28,160, and the Working Families Party PAC reported about $3,350 in support of Gonzales-Torres.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

Cook Political Report rated the race Solid Democratic as of Oct. 9; Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it Solid Democratic as of Oct. 11; and Inside Elections rated it Solid Democratic as of Oct. 2. On Kalshi, Democrats had a 99.49 percent chance of winning the race as of Sept. 5.

Gomez won the district with about 51 percent in 2022 and about 56 percent in 2024. Democrats held a commanding advantage in California's congressional delegation in both cycles, winning 40 of the state's 52 House seats in 2022 and 43 in 2024. In the 2024 presidential race, Democrat Kamala Harris carried California with about 58 percent of the vote.

Voters must register by Monday, Oct. 19; online and mail registration are both available, and mail registrations must be postmarked by that date. The deadline to request a mail ballot is Tuesday, Oct. 27, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.

In-person vote centers in Los Angeles County open Saturday, Oct. 24, and run 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., according to the California Secretary of State.

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