Who's In the Race

Democrat Mike Levin and Republican Armen Kurdian will face each other in the general election for California's 49th U.S. House District. Both candidates advanced through California's top-two primary on June 2, with Levin taking 55.8 percent of the vote and Kurdian 26.1 percent. The general election will take place on Nov. 3.

What They Stand For

Levin supports reducing families' prescription-drug, health-care, and energy costs through measures including the Inflation Reduction Act, according to his campaign website. He supports a public health-insurance option and an early Medicare buy-in through insurance marketplaces, along with additional federal enrollment assistance. On Social Security and Medicare, Levin's campaign says he supports preserving and strengthening both programs. He supports reproductive freedom and has cosponsored legislation to expand abortion coverage through Medicare and Medicaid.

On veterans, Levin supports improving their health care, opposes privatizing the Department of Veterans Affairs, and backs ensuring veterans' disability compensation does not disqualify them from affordable-housing assistance. He also supports converting federal land-management fleets to zero-emission vehicles and expanding charging infrastructure, and backs removing spent nuclear fuel from the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station's site as quickly and safely as possible.

Kurdian identifies jobs, veterans, and families as his campaign's central priorities. He supports encouraging legal immigration while excluding people with criminal histories or terrorist intentions, according to an Orange County Register questionnaire.

The Money Behind the Race

Total outside spending in the race reached $8,081 as of Oct. 5, 2026. Of the total, $3,530 went toward supporting candidates and $4,552 toward opposing them.

| Party | Total | Count |
| ----- | -------: | ----: |
| DEM | 5,081.36 | 31 |
| REP | 3,000 | 2 |

| Support/opposition | Total | Count |
| ------------------ | -------: | ----: |
| oppose | 4,551.51 | 6 |
| support | 3,529.85 | 27 |

The five largest outside spenders in the race were The Conservative Caucus DBA Americans for Constitutional Liberty at $4,552, Reform Leaders PAC at $3,000, Activate America at $395, GiveGreen United Action at $86, and Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties' Community Action Fund PAC at $29. The committee leaderboard reflects total spending amounts and does not indicate the direction of spending for every committee.

| Committee | Total | Count |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------: | ----: |
| THE CONSERVATIVE CAUCUS DBA AMERICANS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL LIBERTY | 4,551.51 | 6 |
| REFORM LEADERS PAC | 3,000 | 2 |
| ACTIVATE AMERICA | 394.8 | 5 |
| GIVEGREEN UNITED ACTION | 86.33 | 4 |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF ORANGE AND SAN BERNARDINO COUNTIES' COMMUNITY ACTION FUND PAC | 28.96 | 12 |

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

Three major race-rating services all call this contest "Solid Democratic": Cook Political Report as of Sept. 25, Sabato's Crystal Ball as of Sept. 29, and Inside Elections as of Oct. 2. Prediction market Kalshi put the Democratic candidate's probability of winning at 96.4 percent as of Oct. 5, with the Republican at 3.6 percent.

Levin won this district in both 2022 with 52.6 percent of the vote and 2024 with 52.2 percent. Democratic candidates were listed as the winner in 40 races and Republican candidates in 12 races. In the 2024 presidential race, Democrat Kamala Harris carried California with 58.5 percent of the vote.

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