Who Is Running in California Congressional District 51st in 2026?
Last updated: March 4, 2026
Sara Jacobs
(Incumbent)Economy
HighRep. Sara Jacobs voted against the FY26 NDAA, criticizing its $901 billion Pentagon budget as failing American families and benefiting corporations. She advocates for affordable college, including the College Affordability Act, and champions federal scholarships for student parents and students of color. Jacobs supports stronger labor rights, a national $15 minimum wage, and protecting Social Security. She also aims to make the economy more equitable by incentivizing financial institutions to invest in small- and medium-sized enterprises and advocates for significant changes in the care economy.
Immigration
HighRepresentative Sara Jacobs advocates for comprehensive immigration reform, emphasizing humane policies, expanding legal pathways, and addressing root causes of migration. She supports fully resourcing immigration courts, fixing visa backlogs, welcoming refugees, and protecting individuals under Temporary Protected Status and the DREAM Act. Jacobs also seeks to reform border enforcement agencies, end for-profit detention, and ensure asylum processes prioritize dignity and family unity.
Healthcare
HighRepresentative Sara Jacobs supports universal healthcare, considering it a fundamental human right, and advocates for Medicare for All. She also champions full access to reproductive health services, believing in every person's right to such care. Jacobs supports repealing the Hyde Amendment and codifying Roe v. Wade, and voted in favor of the Right to Contraception Act, Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act, and Women’s Health Protection Act (H.R.3755).
Republican Candidate
No Republican candidate has been confirmed for this race yet. Check back after the primary.
| Issue | Sara Jacobs |
|---|---|
| Economy | Rep. Sara Jacobs voted against the FY26 NDAA, criticizing its $901 billion Pentagon budget as failing American families and benefiting corporations. She advocates for affordable college, including the College Affordability Act, and champions federal scholarships for student parents and students of color. Jacobs supports stronger labor rights, a national $15 minimum wage, and protecting Social Security. She also aims to make the economy more equitable by incentivizing financial institutions to invest in small- and medium-sized enterprises and advocates for significant changes in the care economy. High |
| Immigration | Representative Sara Jacobs advocates for comprehensive immigration reform, emphasizing humane policies, expanding legal pathways, and addressing root causes of migration. She supports fully resourcing immigration courts, fixing visa backlogs, welcoming refugees, and protecting individuals under Temporary Protected Status and the DREAM Act. Jacobs also seeks to reform border enforcement agencies, end for-profit detention, and ensure asylum processes prioritize dignity and family unity. High |
| Healthcare | Representative Sara Jacobs supports universal healthcare, considering it a fundamental human right, and advocates for Medicare for All. She also champions full access to reproductive health services, believing in every person's right to such care. Jacobs supports repealing the Hyde Amendment and codifying Roe v. Wade, and voted in favor of the Right to Contraception Act, Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act, and Women’s Health Protection Act (H.R.3755). High |
| Climate & Energy | Sara Jacobs supports a transition to an entirely clean energy economy by 2030, advocating for a Green New Deal and strong environmental regulations. She has signed the No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge and holds a consistent 95-100% voting record with the League of Conservation Voters. She has voted against bills that would limit environmental review or defund clean energy initiatives. High |
| Abortion & Reproductive Rights | Sara Jacobs supports reproductive rights, including voting in favor of the Women’s Health Protection Act (H.R.3755) to protect the federal right to abortion. She also supports codifying Roe v. Wade and repealing the Hyde Amendment to ensure low-income individuals have access to reproductive health care. Jacobs believes in every person’s right to access reproductive health services. High |
| Foreign Policy | Sara Jacobs voted against the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act, citing its $901 billion budget as excessive and expressing concerns about insufficient oversight for presidential troop deployments. She advocates for ending "forever wars" and supports repealing the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force while amending the 2001 AUMF to include time limits and enhanced congressional oversight. Jacobs also supports a two-state solution to ensure Palestinian autonomy and dignity, advocating for a ceasefire to facilitate humanitarian assistance and the return of hostages. High |
| Education | Sara Jacobs advocates for significantly more federal funding for Head Start programs, including incentives for states to support training and higher pay for educators. She also believes that all students should have the opportunity to attend college without accumulating debt. These positions were stated on her 2020 campaign website. High |
| Gun Policy | Sara Jacobs supports measures to address gun violence. She voted in favor of H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, requiring universal background checks, and H.R. 7910, the Protecting Our Kids Act. Jacobs also introduced the Silver Shield Operational End Use Monitoring Act of 2025 to monitor U.S. weapons use abroad, stating it is the nation's responsibility to prevent misuse. High |
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