This year’s filing deadline for candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives in California was March 6, 2026.

A record 289 candidates, 5.6 per district, are running for California's 52 congressional districts in the state’s June 2 top-two primaries. That’s the most candidates to run for the U.S. House since 2014 and the most candidates per district since 2022, when California was apportioned 52 districts following the 2020 census.

These primaries are happening against the backdrop of mid-decade redistricting. On Nov. 4, 2025, California voters approved Proposition 50 64.4% to 35.6%. The constitutional amendment allows the state to use a new, Legislature-drawn congressional district map for 2026 through 2030. The state’s Citizens Redistricting Commission will redraw congressional districts in 2031.

According to The New York Times’ Kellen Browning, the new congressional map makes five Republican-held districts more favorable to Democrats. As of April 6, 2026, California’s U.S. House delegation includes 43 Democrats, seven Republicans, one independent, and one vacancy.

Of the 289 candidates running, there are 154 Democrats, 97 Republicans, and 38 independent or minor party candidates. The chart below shows how the total number of candidates running and the number per district compare to recent years.

Democratic and Republican candidates are running in all 52 districts. However, it is possible that two candidates of the same party could advance from a primary election.

That's because California uses a top-two primary system, in which all candidates are listed on the same ballot. The top two vote-getters, regardless of their partisan affiliations, advance to the general election. Consequently, two candidates from the same political party could win in a top-two primary and face off in the general election. In 2024, two Democrats advanced to the general election in California's 12th, 16th, and 34th Congressional Districts. Two Republicans advanced to the general election that year in the 20th Congressional District.

Forty-eight primaries are contested this year.There were 42 contested primaries in 2024, 52 in 2022, 47 in 2020, 41 in 2018, 40 in 2016, and 38 in 2014.

Incumbents are running in 42 of those contested primaries. Those incumbents include 36 Democrats, five Republicans, and Rep. Kevin Kiley (I). That's the second-highest number of incumbents facing primary challengers since 2014. Thirty-six incumbents faced primary challengers in 2024, 47 in 2022, 32 in 2020, 39 in 2018, 36 in 2016, and 32 in 2014.

For two incumbents, their primary challengers are each other. Representatives Ken Calvert (R-41) and Young Kim (R-40) are running against each other in the redrawn 40th Congressional District. According to ABC7’s Josh Haskell, Calvert represents 51% of the new district, and Kim represents 35%. As of April 6, 2026, the 40th Congressional District and Texas' 18th Congressional District are the only two U.S. House districts in which two incumbents are running for re-election. Texas also conducted mid-decade redistricting ahead of the 2026 congressional elections.

Six U.S. House districts are open. Seven districts were open in 2024, five in 2022, four in 2020, two in 2018, four in 2016, and six in 2014.

Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-11), Julia Brownley (D-26), and Darrell Issa (R-48) are retiring from public office. Representative Eric Swalwell (D-14) is running for governor of California. The 1st Congressional District is vacant due to the death of Doug LaMalfa (R). The 38th Congressional District is open because Rep. Linda Sánchez (D) is running for the 41st Congressional District.

Two of the districts with retiring incumbents have attracted a high number of candidates. Twelve candidates — nine Democrats, two Republicans, and one independent — are running for the open 48th Congressional District. That's the most candidates running for any district in California this year. The district with the second-most candidates running — the 11th Congressional District — is also open because the incumbent is retiring. There are 11 candidates — eight Democrats, two Republicans, and one independent — running in that district.

California and five other states — Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota — are holding U.S. House primaries on June 2.