Incumbent Linda Sánchez (D) and Mitch Clemmons (R) advanced from the top-two primary for California's 41st Congressional District on June 2, 2026. As of May 2026, Sánchez and Hector De La Torre (D) led in endorsements and fundraising.

The election took place in the context of redistricting in California that changed the 41st District's boundaries from those used in 2024. Incumbent Ken Calvert (R), who was elected 51.7%–48.3% in 2024, ran for re-election in the new 40th District. Inside Elections' Nathaniel Rakich said the "new map would much more dramatically reconfigure the 41st District, which would retain nothing except its number ... [the new district] is a D+16 seat in eastern Los Angeles County that would be a near-automatic pickup for Democrats."

The most recent Democrat to run against Sánchez was Michael Tolar (D) in 2020. Sánchez defeated Tolar 77.7%–22.3% in the primary and 74.3%–25.7% in the general election.

Sánchez was elected in 2002. She earlier worked as an attorney in private practice and as executive secretary and treasurer of the Orange County branch of the AFL-CIO. In a campaign ad, Sánchez said, "Republicans in Congress have done nothing to address rising costs. ... I'm fighting to lower prices and stand up for the hardworking people who keep our communities running." Sánchez's campaign website said she had "passed legislation to prevent health insurance companies from making women pay more for the same insurance that men get, and she’s fighting to pass legislation to make child care more affordable for working families." U.S. Reps. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) endorsed Sánchez.

De La Torre was, as of the 2026 election, executive director of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments. He served in the California Assembly from 2004 to 2010. De La Torre's campaign website said, "[W]hen Hector De La Torre sees a powerful interest abusing the system, he fights back. He builds coalitions, takes on personal risk, writes the laws, and sees it through — even when it takes years and multiple attempts." A De La Torre campaign website alleged Sánchez had spent campaign funds on personal expenses and failed to report stock trades. Former U.S. Reps. Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.) and Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.), whose districts overlapped with the new 41st District, endorsed De La Torre.

Also running in the primary was Shonique Williams (D).

In a top-two primary, all candidates running for a given office appear on the same ballot. The top two finishers—regardless of partisan affiliation—advance to the general election.

As of June 2026, major election forecasters rated the general election Solid/Safe Democratic.