The Winner
If you live in California's 33rd U.S. House District, you will continue to be represented in Congress by Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA) , who has been declared the winner of the 2026 congressional race, according to the Associated Press . The Associated Press called the race for Democrat Pete Aguilar at 8:52 p.m. on Nov. 3, and the general-election vote count has not yet been certified. The seat stays in Democratic hands.
The Race
Vargas, the Republican opponent, advanced to the general election through California's top-two primary on June 2, 2026, taking about 17.5 percent of the primary vote. Cook Political Report rates the seat Solid Democratic, and Inside Elections rates it the same way, while Sabato's Crystal Ball rates it Safe Democratic.
The 33rd District covers parts of Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including the cities of Highgrove, Colton, Fontana, Grand Terrace and Highland, according to the California State Senate Office of Demographics . San Bernardino, with about 212,910 residents in the district, is the largest place in the district; the district as a whole has a total population of about 764,959, a median household income of about $86,400, a median age of 33.8, and about 21.1 percent of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to Geographies data for the district. The district's population is about 62.9 percent Hispanic, with an unemployment rate of about 6.3 percent and about 13.8 percent of residents living below the poverty line.
What's Next
Aguilar is set to take office on Jan. 3, 2027, when the 120th Congress is seated. Aguilar said he will continue pursuing housing, healthcare, public safety and local economic priorities, with fiscal year 2027 funding bills awaiting full House consideration, according to the Office of Rep. Pete Aguilar in an Aug. 3, 2026 press release.
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